ESPN’s Chris Low reports that Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart turned down Georgia’s offer of a three-year contract paying $750,000 per year to take the same position on the Bulldogs’ staff. Smart wants to be a head coach.
Georgia coach Mark Richt has reportedly now made Dallas Cowboys defensive line coach Todd Grantham his primary focus.
Grantham, 43, has a fairly impressive resume. Not only does he have a long history with the 3-4 defense Richt intends to implement, the Nick Saban disciple was the Cleveland Browns’ defensive coordinator from 2005-2007 and was targeted by Saban to coordinate the Miami Dolphins’ defense prior to that. Grantham also coached up the Indianapolis Colts’ defensive line from 1999-2001, a period during which the team went 29-19.
According to Low, Grantham is “very interested” in the position at Georgia, but wants to wait for the Cowboys’ playoff run to end before committing. Of course, Grantham and Richt could always reach a wink-nod agreement so the move wouldn’t serve as a distraction in Dallas.
Either way, it appears Richt has found his new defensive boss, and it’s just a matter of time before the marriage is finalized.