Nick Saban is zeroing in on Notre Dame offensive coordinator Tommy Rees as the highest goal to fill the identical roll at Alabama, based on a number of stories. Rees is scheduled to fulfill Saban in Tuscaloosa on Thursday.
Saban is in search of a brand new play-caller after Invoice O’Brien left this system this offseason for a similar job with the New England Patriots, although O’Brien was not anticipated to be retained both approach. Saban is in search of a fifth offensive coordinator since Lane Kiffin left to be the FAU coach previous to the 2017 Faculty Soccer Playoff Nationwide Championship.
At age 30, Rees can be Saban’s youngest coordinator since Will Muschamp held that place for LSU in 2002. Rees was Notre Dame’s quarterbacks coach 2017-19 beneath former coach Brian Kelly and added the offensive coordinator function in 2020. A Notre Dame quarterback from 2010-13, he has by no means held a full-time assistant teaching function at one other program however was an offensive staffer for the San Diego Chargers in 2016.
The Combating Irish offense thrived beneath Rees previous to a 2022 season that was hampered by a Week 2 harm to beginning quarterback Tyler Buchner. Within the different two years beneath Rees, the Irish averaged not less than six yards per play. This previous yr, Rees oversaw an offensive shift from Buchner to Drew Pyne at quarterback whereas specializing in a ground-based method.
The information that Rees is being focused by Saban comes simply two days after Washington offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb reportedly turned down the job to return to the Huskies. Grubb helped quarterback Michael Penix Jr. develop into the nation’s main passer final season at 357 yards per sport.