One of the cornerstones of Billy Napier’s blueprint for Florida football’s success is to bring in the best and brightest to join his staff down in the Swamp.
Among the many talented assistants and staffers he has brought into the fold is tight ends coach [autotag]Russ Callaway[/autotag], who was promoted this past offseason after the departure of William Peagler to the Arizona Cardinals. His star appears to be quickly rising as he was included in On3’s list of 30 rising star Power Five assistant coaches you need to know, courtesy of Matt Zenitz.
Callaway’s collegiate body of work includes a good deal of Southeastern Conference experience, starting his coaching career with the Alabama Crimson Tide as a defensive analyst. Ed Orgeron, his former boss with the LSU Tigers, had some glowing words for Calloway back when he was in Baton Rouge.
“I didn’t know how good he was, to be honest with you, until we got him. And his enthusiasm is infectious. He’s an outstanding coach and (was) taught well by his dad (veteran coach Neil Callaway) and learned well. I do believe the guy’s going to be a coordinator and a head coach, and it won’t be long because he’s one of those type(s of) minds.”
Callaway also had stints with the New York Giants and Murray State Racers, and was offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Football Championship Subdivision Samford Bulldogs before LSU. With Samford, he helped quarterback Devlin Hodges win the Walter Payton Award as the top offensive player in the FCS when he also broke the FCS record for career passing yards previously held by 2003 NFL MVP Steve McNair.
His role with the Gators as the tight ends coach this season is his first on-field job at a Power Five school.
Zenitz’s picks are based on votes and feedback from numerous sources around the coaching world. It doesn’t include coaches who were on previous On3 preseason rising star lists and is limited to coaches 45 years old and under.
Florida opens its 2023 schedule on the road against the Utah Utes on Thursday, Aug. 31, with a kickoff time of 8 p.m. EDT.
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