Baylor Football: 4 potential candidates who could replace Matt Rhule

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PHOENIX, AZ – JANUARY 09: Wide receivers coach Billy Napier of the Alabama Crimson Tide talks with the media during Media Day for the College Football Playoff National Championship at Phoenix Convention Center on January 9, 2016 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images) /

4. Billy Napier, Louisiana HC

Louisiana head coach Billy Napier’s name makes this list because it has to make this list. Napier is arguably the biggest name left on the Group of Five hot coaches list. He’s only been at Louisiana for two years, but they won 11 games this year and the Lending Tree Bowl.

He’s already said no to Mississippi State probably because he sees the rising tide — no pun intended there — in the SEC West and wants to go somewhere he can compete for both wins and recruits. In that regard, Baylor makes sense.

Athletic directors love Napier’s pedigree. He was the quarterbacks coach and the first offensive coordinator for Clemson’s first-year head coach Dabo Swinney. After leaving Clemson in 2010, he went from an offensive analyst to a wide receivers coach in 2013. He was Todd Graham’s offensive coordinator until becoming head coach of the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns. He doesn’t, however, have any Texas ties, and that one crucial fact might keep him from Waco.

However, if he’s as flexible as Matt Rhule was — Rhule had no Texas ties — that won’t matter much.

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