The Tony Elliott rumors never end for Clemson football fans
It hasn’t even been a few hours yet and there are already rumors swirling about Clemson football Offensive Coordinator Tony Elliott and a new job opening.
Elliott was considered behind-the-scenes to be strongly considering the open Tennessee head coaching position according to reports, but he ultimately declined the offer.
Elliott was among several names, including Luke Fickell, Sonny Dikes and James Franklin, who were pursued by Tennessee. The Vols ultimately hired UCF Head Coach Josh Heupel.
#Tennessee has a new coach and it’s #UCF’s Josh Heupel, sources tell @ClowESPN. New AD Danny White went with a familiar name after a challenging search. Clemson OC Tony Elliott, SMU’s Sonny Dykes, Cincinnati’s Luke Fickell, Penn State’s James Franklin among those pursued.
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) January 27, 2021
While it would seem that would be the end of Clemson football fans having to hear about Elliott leaving for a while, the rumors are already heating up again.
WESH (Orlando) Sports Director Daren Stoltzfus laid out an early list of potential candidates for the now open UCF job and Elliott was among that mix.
Potential candidates at #UCF: #Gators OC Brian Johnson, #OleMiss OC Jeff Lebby, #TheU OC Rhett Lashlee, former Auburn HC Gene Chizik, UNCC HC Will Healey, Coastal Carolina HC Jamey Chadwell
— Daren Stoltzfus WESH (@DarenStoltzfus) January 27, 2021
And you wanna get crazy? #Clemson OC Tony Elliott
There are also other media pundits who are beginning to associate Elliott’s name with that UCF job.
Re: Tony Elliott
— @sapakoff (@Sapakoff) January 27, 2021
UCF is a better job than Vols, better chance of CFP
Re: UCF
Tony Elliott is an upgrade
Re: Potential Tony Elliott-Jeff Scott rivalry
Florida fun
Clemson fans relieved Tony Elliott didn’t end up at Tennessee but realizing they could be about to do this all over again with UCF pic.twitter.com/dHTsD32zlN
— Matt Connolly (@MattConnollyOn3) January 27, 2021
Clemson football fans will have to endure a little more chatter over the next few days
There’s certainly more intrigue, in my opinion, over that UCF job than Tennessee.
Tennessee is faced with NCAA sanctions that could absolute decimate that program for the next decade. Even if they are given a conservative punishment, you’re still talking about starting out behind the eight-ball with more than 20 players transferring out of your program and a dark cloud hanging of you in recruiting for the next several years.
UCF, on the other hand, is a top-tier AAC program that has been inside the top-10 nationally recently. The Knights have been on the cusp of making the CFB Playoff and there is major room for growth and upward trajectory there.
Elliott was linked to the UCF job when it came open back in 2017 and he ultimately decided that he needed to stay at Clemson. Will he make the same decision this time around?
Only time will tell.