The UCLA Bruins shocked the college football world on Sunday, firing head coach Jim Mora Jr. following a loss to the rival USC Trojans on Saturday (more on that here).
Almost immediately after the announcement, one report surfaced noting that both Jim McElwain and Chip Kelly are on the short list to replace the ousted head coach.
https://twitter.com/AllbrightNFL/status/932327252750229504
Kelly — seen as a candidate for the Florida Job — isn’t necessarily too much of a surprise. His success at Oregon before moving on to the NFL ranks is by now well known.
An innovative offensive mind, Kelly would also be somewhat of a recruiting boon outside of the California market. That includes high school football powerhouse states such as Florida, Louisiana and Texas.
McElwain’s entrance as a potential candidate is a bit more questionable. He was just recently fired by Florida after a disastrous and drama-filled start to the season. How UCLA could possibly view him as an upgrade over Mora remains to be seen.
While the Bruins themselves lag behind USC in Southern California college football, they are still an attractive destination. We promise to hear more names pop up before a decision is made.