Auburn vs Ole Miss Football

Auburn offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee is shown before the Ole Miss game at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford Miss., Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014. (Mark Almond/malmond@al.com)

AUBURN, Alabama -- Auburn offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee has emerged as one of the "top candidates" for the head coaching job at Tulsa, according to 247sports.com.



The report Tuesday comes on the heels of the Tulsa World reporting Lashlee is showing interest in the position, which was vacated Dec. 1 with the firing of Bill Blankenship after a 2-10 season.



Lashlee, 31, is in his fourth season as an offensive coordinator on the college level and his second at Auburn. Auburn coach Gus Malzahn handles the primary play-calling duties, but he seeks input before and during games from Lashlee, who also makes several calls and adjustments.

"He was one of the best in the business last year and I've felt that way for a long time," Malzahn said in October. "He's very good at what he does and I feel the same way this year."



Maryland defensive coordinator Brian Stewart and former Arkansas and Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt are also considered top candidates for the job, according to 247sports.com.

Lashlee could not be reached Tuesday night.



Lashlee, a Broyles Award finalist as the nation's top assistant coach in 2013, has strong ties to the Tulsa area. He grew up in Northwest Arkansas, where he played quarterback for Malzahn at Shiloh Christian Schools in Springdale in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He nearly followed Malzahn to Tulsa as a graduate assistant in 2007, but stayed in Arkansas, where he handled business operations for a high school sports magazine.



Malzahn's offenses at Tulsa led the nation in 2007 and 2008.



Lashlee was the offensive coordinator at Samford in 2011 and Arkansas State in 2012. His hurry-up offense at Samford broke school records and he helped Malzahn at Arkansas State, where the Red Wolves won the Sun Belt.



Auburn was the first SEC team in history to lead the country in rushing (328.3 yards per game) last season. The Tigers finished the regular season ranked 11th in the same category this season and 17th overall in total offense.



Lashlee is one of a handful of well-known coaches to be connected to the opening at Tulsa.



TCU co-offensive coordinator Doug Meachem declined to interview for the Tulsa job last week, according to the Tulsa World. Texas A&M offensive coordinator and Tulsa native Jake Spavital, 29, interviewed last week, according to the report.