Vanderbilt Football: 9 potential head coach replacements for Derek Mason

7. Tony Elliott, OC, Clemson

Clemson Tigers’ offensive coordinator Tony Elliott has been at the helm of one of the best offenses in college football for the past few years. Most college football writers have wondered when Elliott would get the call to become a head coach. Vanderbilt could be that call.

Elliott is one of the best recruiters in the country and one of the country’s brightest assistant coaches.

Dabo Swinney has created an environment that makes it difficult to leave Clemson. Still, Elliot might leave for a more lucrative opportunity — Vandy is — and an opportunity to run his own program.

8. Clark Lea, DC, Notre Dame

Notre Dame defensive coordinator Clark Lea seems the most logical choice of all of the coordinators looking to become head coaches. He played fullback at Vanderbilt and understands the culture of the football program. It is his job to the candidate until he says that he does not want the job. The only issue that might keep him out of the running is Vandy just fired a defensive coordinator.

The Commodores might not want another defensive coordinator with no head coaching experience again. However, that does not mean Lea would not have a vision for the program. He’s learning from Brian Kelly, one of the best.

9. Charles Huff, RBs Coach, Alabama

It could be argued that Charles Huff does not have enough pelts on the wall to be a head coach, but neither Dabo Swinney, Ed Orgeron, nor Sam Pittman was head coordinators before they became head coaches. All three were position coaches before becoming head coaches. Huff is good enough to make such a transition.

Huff served under two of the best head coaches in college football, James Franklin and Nick Saban. He is one of the best recruiters in the nation, recruiting the likes of Saquon Barkley and Najee Harris. Recruiting has lacked at Vanderbilt for nearly a decade, and Huff could turn that around.