10 potential candidates for Oregon Ducks defensive coordinator

EUGENE – Andy Avalos’ departure to the state of Boise leaves Oregon in search of its third defensive coordinator in four years under Mario Cristobal and the fifth in seven years.

Below is a summary of 10 potential candidates to be Oregon’s next defensive coordinator, listed in alphabetical order. This is not a comprehensive list, as the position naturally generates a lot of interest from coaches with varying levels of experience.

Internal candidates

Keith Heyward, Oregon security coach

Of Oregon’s current defensive officials, Heyward will likely be considered for the position of coordinator.

Heyward was heavily considered for the job two years ago and has spent the past two seasons with Avalos in the press room.

The Oregon State graduate who worked in Washington and USC has aspirations to be a defensive coordinator and is one of Oregon’s best recruiters.

Its biggest challenge is that it is never called play.

Pros: Perfect transition, experienced in Pac-12 | Cons: was never a play-caller

Oregon defensive line coach Joe Salave’a

Salave’a is unlikely to receive much consideration for the position of coordinator. He also never called the shots and Oregon’s internal defensive line comes from a below-average season, which, considering the talent the group had coming back, is difficult to rationalize.

Pros: perfect transition | Cons: was never a play-caller

Ken Wilson, Oregon linebackers coach

Of the three internal candidates, Wilson is the only one to summon plays, while the defensive coordinator in Nevada, where he spent 23 seasons before moving to Washington state.

Pros: was a player who called, worked on Pac-12 Cons: the newest member of the defense team

EXTERNAL CANDIDATES

Detroit Lions defensive line coach Bo Davis

Davis is in talks with Texas about joining the coaching staff, but the deal has yet to close. He has never been a defensive coordinator before, so if Davis is hired, he is more likely to be a position coach.

Pros: Renowned recruiter with links to the South | Cons: was never a play-caller or coordinator

Jim Leonhard, Wisconsin defensive coordinator

Leonhard has chaired the Wisconsin defense since 2017 and has been a strong top 10 scoring defense against the race almost every year since.

UW is Leonhard’s alma mater, so getting him out will be difficult, even by a raise. He is also a defensive defense coach, which can result in more confusion for the Oregon team.

He has no draw on the west coast, but Leonhard is a proven defensive coordinator, Broyles Award finalist and a future training coach.

Pros: Proven top 10 defense player Cons: lack of ties to the west coast

Kevin Steele, former Auburn defensive coordinator

Steele is one of the most respected, respected and rewarded defensive minds in the game. Unlike two years ago, money is not a factor in OU, as Auburn is getting the $ 5 million purchase for Steele, who worked with Cristobal in Alabama in 2013-14 and they are good friends.

Auburn’s defense experienced a massive turnaround under Steele, whose scheme is no different from that of Avalos.

Steele produced a band of NFL players, particularly defensive line forward and edge rushers, where he would inherit Kayvon Thibodeaux.

Pros: Extensive experience, proven player | Cons: lack of west coast connections

Atlanta Falcons defensive line coach Tosh Lupoi

Lupoi spent a season as a defensive coordinator for Alabama, but his tenure as a defensive player was difficult and short-lived, which led to his departure from the offseason for the Browns and now the Falcons.

He played for Cal, where he later trained and was the Rivals Recruiter of the Year in 2010. Lupoi also trained in Washington before moving to Alabama, where he was Crimson Tide’s best defensive recruiter and worked with Cristobal.

Pros: Renowned recruiter, in-depth knowledge and connections on the west coast | Cons: ability to call in question

Chris Rumph, coach of external linebackers for the Houston Texans

Rumph and Cristobal were in Alabama in 2013, after which Rumph went to Texas, Florida, Tennessee and now the NFL.

He is a great recruiter and has hired most of his players from Georgia, Florida and Texas.

Rumph’s background was mostly as a defensive line coach, but he worked with outside linebackers in Tennessee and the Texans. Like Davis, he would probably be hired as a position coach and someone else would be the coordinator.

Pros: Talented recruiter in the Southeast | Cons: lack of playing experience, did not train on the west coast

Lance Thompson, former FAU defensive line coach, South Carolina, Tennessee

Thompson worked with Cristobal while in Alabama in 2013-14. He was one of the best recruiters in the country and hired Julio Jones, AJ McCarron, Mark Barron, DJ Fluker and Trent Richardson while with Crimson Tide.

Thompson trained the South Carolina defensive line, but coached outside linebackers in Alabama. He also served in Auburn, LSU, Tennessee, Georgia Tech, UCF and FAU.

It is difficult to see him leaving the South, but he has spent the last year without training to be more open to other geographic opportunities.

Pros: Great recruiter, history of victories in several stops | Cons: never been a full-time play-caller

Todd Orlando, defensive coordinator at USC

Orlando served in this role under the command of Cristobal at the FIU in 2011-12.

He delivered immediate results while in Texas and the drop that the Longhorns saw in 2019 was clearly not just in Orlando.

He has only been with the USC for a year and a purchase may be prohibitive, but it would also suck for Trojans to lure him away.

Orlando also operates a 3-4 scheme, which would probably make the transition easier.

Pros: Schema adjustment, reputable recruiter, impact on USC | Cons: Will be a successful primary coaching candidate