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Rece Davis scratched his head over Chip Kelly stepping down as UCLA’s head coach to change into Ohio State’s offensive coordinator.
Discussing the choice with Pete Thamel on the School GameDay Podcast, Davis acknowledged that Kelly might favor to name performs with out coping with the additional recruiting pressures of a head coach. But he nonetheless thought of it an odd profession transfer.
“To stroll away from the UCLA job to take a coordinator job, even at a terrific place like Ohio State, strikes me as one of many extra peculiar strikes,” Davis mentioned (h/t On3). “I do know there was some strain, and perhaps the leash wasn’t so long as some may need anticipated. However I do not suppose this suits the quintessential ‘I am beating the posse out the door’ transfer. This appears extra like a selection that he is made based mostly on what he desires to do, and I believe it is actually uncommon.”
Thamel known as it “fairly clear” that Kelly would depart UCLA. The ESPN reporter added that Kelly explored NFL coordinating alternatives earlier than going to Ohio State.
Thamel claimed Kelly did not love the off-field duties of head teaching even earlier than the introduction of NIL. Kelly additionally has “a very good relationship” with Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day.
Kelly went 35-34 throughout six seasons at UCLA. The Bruins ended an 8-5 marketing campaign with the primary bowl victory of his tenure.
Relatively than lead UCLA into the Massive Ten, Kelly joins a brand new convention foe. Ohio State’s offensive coordinator place opened when Invoice O’Brien, employed final month, took Boston School’s head teaching emptiness.
Kelly inherits an offense that welcomes Will Howard and Quinshon Judkins through the switch portal, with draft-eligible stars TreVeyon Henderson and Emeka Egbuka returning for an additional yr. There’s immense strain on Ohio State to win the Massive Ten and make a nationwide title run in 2024.
