Tag: Charles Kelly

Elite CB Devin Williams to visit Auburn this weekend

Auburn is set to host four-star cornerback Devin Williams on a visit this weekend.

Georgia has always been a key recruiting area for Auburn and that is once again the case in the 2025 recruiting cycle. The Tigers already have commitments from two Peach State natives in Kendarious Riddick and Ryan Ghea and they are in the mix for several more.

One of them is four-star cornerback [autotag]Devin Williams[/autotag], who has scheduled a return visit to the Plains for this weekend, according to Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports. It will be his fourth visit to the Plains.

Williams is the No. 90 overall player and No. 12 cornerback in the 247Sports composite ranking. The Buford native is also the No. 14 player from Georgia.

It will be an important trip for Williams, it will allow him to meet new defensive coach [autotag]Charles Kelly[/autotag], who is expected to have a role coaching defensive backs.

“Although Coach (Wesley) McGriff has left for Texas A&M, excited to meet Coach Kelly to talk about the direction going forward and his defensive scheme,” he told Wiltfong.

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Report: Auburn starting cornerback Keionte Scott to enter the transfer portal

Auburn could be losing one of its most important players to the transfer portal.

Auburn could be losing one of its top returning players to the transfer portal as starting cornerback [autotag]Keionte Scott[/autotag] is expected to enter the portal, according to a report from Matt Zenitz of 247Sports.

Scott has been one of Auburn’s most productive and vocal players over the past two seasons after starting his career at Snow College, a JUCO program. He has excelled as the starting STAR (nickel) cornerback and punt returner in that time.

With starting outside cornerbacks [autotag]D.J. James[/autotag] and [autotag]Nehemiah Pritchett[/autotag] off to the NFL, Scott was expected to transition to outside corner, a role he played in Auburn’s loss to Maryland in the Music City Bowl.

Prior to the bowl game, there was speculation that Scott would also declare for the 2024 NFL draft, but he announced he would be returning for the 2024 season on social media. It was a massive break for a secondary that has already lost James, Pritchett and starting safeties [autotag]Zion Puckett[/autotag] and [autotag]Jaylin Simpson[/autotag].

Since then Auburn underwent coaching changes in the secondary with cornerbacks coach [autotag]Wesley McGriff[/autotag] leaving to take a job at Texas A&M and [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] bringing on former Colorado and Alabama defensive coordinator [autotag]Charles Kelly[/autotag].

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Auburn announces changes to football staff

One longtime Auburn coach’s departure makes way for an Auburn alum to return home.

The first major shakeup of the 2023 offseason has officially taken place.

Before Auburn’s TransPerfect Music City Bowl loss to Maryland on Saturday, it was announced that former Colorado defensive coordinator and Auburn alum [autotag]Charles Kelly[/autotag] would join the staff as a co-defensive coordinator.

Sunday, it was reported by TexAgs that Auburn secondary coach [autotag]Wesley McGriff[/autotag] is expected to take on a defensive role on Mike Elko’s staff at Texas A&M, thus paving the way for Kelly to replace him.

Kelly joins Auburn’s staff after building a successful track record at Alabama. Tennessee, Florida State, and Georgia Tech. Before joining Deion Sanders’ initial staff at Colorado in 2023, Kelly served as the assistant defensive coordinator and safeties coach at Alabama for four seasons. During that time, Kelly worked with several great athletes such as DeMarcco Hellams, Brian Branch, Jordan Battle, and Xavier McKinney. He was also a part of the 2020 staff that led Alabama to a College Football Playoff National Championship in 2020.

Kelly is also known as an avid recruiter. According to 247Sports, Kelly was responsible for being the head recruiter for nine five-star recruits during his coaching career. Several recruits he has worked with in the past include Caleb Downs, Will Anderson, Isaiah Bond, and Aaron Beasley.

McGriff departs Auburn after completing his third stint as a defensive assistant coach. He was responsible for being the secondary recruiter for recent Auburn signees such as [autotag]Amon Lane-Ganus[/autotag], [autotag]Kensley Faustin[/autotag], [autotag]Jayln Crawford[/autotag], and [autotag]Kayin Lee[/autotag].

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Colorado DC Charles Kelly reportedly leaving for assistant job at Auburn

Colorado DC Charles Kelly is reportedly moving back to the SEC

In what I’d consider to be a surprise move, Auburn is expected to hire Colorado football defensive coordinator Charles Kelly, according to a Saturday report from 247Sports.

Kelly, who was a defensive back at Auburn from 1986-89, spent just one season in Boulder on head coach Deion Sanders’ staff. His defensive unit allowed an average of 34.83 points per game in 2023.

Prior to joining the Buffs, Kelly was a co-DC and safeties coach at Alabama under Nick Saban.

Carl Reed Jr. of 247Sports reported that Coach Prime already has a replacement for Kelly, but nothing has been announced yet.

Here’s how social media reacted to Kelly reportedly leaving Colorado for the Tigers:

Fans rip defensive coordinator Charles Kelly following disastrous second half

Defensive coordinator Charles Kelly received plenty of criticism following Colorado’s undisciplined second half

Deservedly so, Colorado fans weren’t exactly pleased with the Buffaloes’ second-half defensive effort on Friday night.

After coming out of the halftime break up 29-0, CU’s defense proceeded to fall flat for the remainder of the game. Stanford produced a whopping 408 total yards of second-half offense and somehow left Folsom Field with a 46-43 double-overtime win.

Colorado defensive coordinator Charles Kelly, of course, received plenty of backlash for how his unit played in the second half. The Buffs had 12 men on the field four times, committed multiple other undisciplined penalties and allowed a 97-yard touchdown midway through the third quarter.

Here’s what fans and commentators had to say about Kelly’s rough night:

Charles Kelly unbothered by Dan Lanning’s comments

Charles Kelly wasn’t fazed by what Dan Lanning had to say about Colorado

From the drama between Sean Payton and Nathaniel Hackett to Dan Lanning’s recent shot at Colorado, both NFL and college head coaches have been rather vocal ahead of the 2023 season.

Lanning, who’s about to enter his second season as Oregon’s head coach, had this to say when asked about Colorado leaving the Pac-12 Conference: “Not a big reaction, I’m trying to remember what they won to affect this conference and I don’t remember. Do you remember them winning anything?”

Following the Buffs’ first official practice of fall camp on Wednesday, first-year defensive coordinator Charles Kelly spoke to the media and gave his own thoughts on Lanning’s comments (h/t Adam Munsterteiger of BuffStampede):

“It really doesn’t matter to me what he thinks,” Kelly said. “That has no impact on what we do. Our results will be about us. It will not be about what another coach says. It will not be about what somebody on the outside says.”

With Lanning being only the latest coach to attack Colorado in recent months, Kelly’s professional response suggests that his team can handle the seemingly relentless noise — both positive and negative —directed toward the Buffs.

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Charles Kelly sees similarities between Deion Sanders and Nick Saban

After working alongside both, Charles Kelly sees plenty of similarities between Nick Saban and Coach Prime

Although they haven’t seen eye-to-eye on everything, Deion Sanders and Nick Saban have quite a bit in common, at least according to Charles Kelly, who recently joined Coach Prime’s Colorado staff as a defensive coordinator following four seasons at Alabama.

Few have matched their respective success in the sport of football — whether via playing, coaching or both — and Kelly believes that Sanders and Saban share similar leadership philosophies. Here’s what Kelly told reporters on Friday at Pac-12 media day (h/t CBS Sports):

“There are a lot more similarities between coach Saban and (Deion Sanders) than there are differences,” Kelly told reporters. “When I say that, I always say this first of all: They are both very good men. They have conviction. When they believe in something, they fight for it. That is the sign of a good person. And they tell you the truth — not what you want to hear, but what you need to hear. They are very similar in that aspect.

“They have a way of setting the standard. They are not going to deviate off that standard. The standard is the standard. So they are not going to come off it. Everybody that works for them are going to be the same way. So when the standard is the standard, you’re a leader, and you bring people to that standard, it’s how you elevate your program. Those are the similarities I see between coach (Saban) and Coach Prime.”

For Saban, that approach has helped produce nearly 300 career wins and seven national championships throughout his 27 years as a college head coach. After winning 27 games during his three years at Jackson State, Sanders’ standards remain high ahead of his first season at Colorado.

While he was filling in for Sanders at Pac-12 media day, Kelly had much more to say about CU’s new head coach, which you can read about here.

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Charles Kelly praises Deion Sanders’ confidence-driven mindset

Coach Prime is instilling a confidence-driven mindset throughout CU football

The entire college football landscape has been turned on its head since Deion Sanders agreed to become the next head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes.

Sanders hired an all-star assistant coaching staff and continues to add talent to his roster. But perhaps most importantly, Coach Prime has changed the mindset of the entire program.

Defensive coordinator Charles Kelly acknowledged this fact during Friday’s Pac-12 media day in Las Vegas. Kelly praised Sanders for not only passing along his football knowledge but for sharing lessons on life as well. It’s no secret that Sanders is a confidence-driven coach and it seems that this mindset is spreading quickly throughout his program.

Here’s what Kelly said about Sanders at Pac-12 media day (h/t Adam Munsterteiger of BuffStampede):

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Jake Schwanitz: Colorado’s defense under Charles Kelly will be ‘leagues better’

With Charles Kelly now leading the charge, this Colorado reporter expects the Buffs’ defense to be “leagues better” in 2023

I am putting this out there for everyone to know: Colorado’s defense will be much improved in 2023.

After the Buffaloes’ struggles on D last season, new head coach Deion Sanders, defensive coordinator Charles Kelly and the entire defensive staff appear primed to turn things around in a major way.

How much of an improvement can Buffs fans expect in year one of the Sanders/Kelly era? Given the amount of talent that has been added to the roster on that side of the ball, Colorado could be in for a dramatic turnaround. However, several of the Buffs’ new defenders will be making the leap to Power Five football, so there could also be an adjustment period.

To keep us all level-headed as to what the Buffs can be next season, I asked Jake Schwanitz of DNVR Buffs to tell us what he expects from Colorado’s new-look defense:

This year’s defense will be leagues better than what CU had last year. The turnover was necessary and has given this team an injection of athleticism, speed and strength. Defensive coordinator Charles Kelly comes over with great experience from Alabama and Florida State and will give CU a much better coached, sound and disciplined defense.

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An updated look at Deion Sanders’ Colorado coaching staff

Here’s what Colorado’s assistant coaching staff currently looks like

If anything has become clear over the past few months, it’s that Deion Sanders’ coaching staff doesn’t lack passion. Colorado’s assistants hit the ground running and have helped revitalize the Buffs’ roster in short order.

As we’ve gotten to know Coach Prime’s assistants this offseason, it has also become obvious that their expectations for next season are high with new systems and standards being set in place throughout the team. Time will tell how things work out, but there is once again excitement surrounding Colorado football thanks in part to the program’s new-look staff.

Below is a quick breakdown of Coach Prime’s position coaches: