Tag: cornerbacks coach

Ricky Manning Jr. joins Raiders as cornerbacks coach

Ricky Manning Jr joins Raiders as cornerbacks coach

While we await the filling out of the offensive staff for the Raiders, the defensive staff is mostly still intact. And today added a position coach.

Today reports have the Raiders bringing on Ricky Manning Jr as their new cornerbacks coach.

Like head coach Antonio Pierce, Manning is a former NFL player. The UCLA alum was a third round pick by the Panthers in 2003 and played six NFL seasons for the Panthers, Bears, and Rams.

Manning also spent the 2009 offseason with the Raiders which was his final NFL stop.

Manning broke into the NFL as a coach with the Seahawks in 2016. He spent two years in Seattle, then seven years with the Jets, all as an assistant DB coach. Which means if the report is correct, this is Manning’s first shot at being a CB coach.

5 potential candidates to become Alabama’s next cornerbacks coach

With defensive backs coach Travaris Robinson leaving for Georgia, Alabama will now have to hire a new cornerbacks coach. Roll Tide Wire takes a look at five potential candidates to become Alabama’s next cornerbacks coach.

In what came as a surprise to most, Alabama defensive backs coach Travaris Robinson has left the Crimson Tide and accepted a coaching gig at Georgia. He will be the Bulldogs’ co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach.

Robinson spent the last two seasons coaching for the Crimson Tide. Now, Alabama will be forced to find someone to replace Robinson. During his time at Alabama, Robinson was known predominantly for being an elite recruiter and helping foster close relationships with his players.

With that being the case, Alabama will have to find someone who can work similarly.

Roll Tide Wire lists five potential candidates to become Alabama’s next cornerbacks coach.

Report: Alabama is targeting Jay Valai as cornerbacks coach

Jay Valai could be off to his fourth job in the past month. According to AL.com, Alabama is expected to hire Valai to be their CB coach.

Since the moment Jay Valai was not retained by Steve Sarkisian, the former Texas cornerbacks coach has been on the move. First, he was hired by the University of Houston for the same position. Only 12 days later, it was reported that he would be accepting a coaching role with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Now, Valai could be off to his fourth different job within the past month.

According to Matt Zenitz of AL.com, Alabama is targeting and expected to hire Valai to be their cornerbacks coach. He will be replacing Karl Scott, who recently accepted the defensive backs position with the Minnesota Vikings.

Getting back in the college ranks will help Valai do what he is best at — recruiting. During his time in Austin, the cornerbacks coach was credited with landing five prospects, including J.D. Coffey, Ishmael Ibraheem (both 2021 class), and Jaylon Guilbeau (2022 class).

If Valai does accept the position in Tuscaloosa, it will be another coaching switch between the two programs this offseason. When Sarkisian was hired, A.J. Milwee, Jeff Banks, and Kyle Flood came to Texas from Alabama.

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Former Texas coach changes mind, opts for the NFL

Former Longhorns cornerbacks coach Jay Valai leaves the University of Houston after 12 days.

Former Longhorns cornerbacks coach Jay Valai was expected to join the University of Houston in the same role. Continue reading “Former Texas coach changes mind, opts for the NFL”

Former Texas CB coach Jay Valai is expected to be hired by Houston

Roughly a week after tweeting goodbye to Texas players, cornerbacks coach Jay Valai appears to have found a new home in Houston.

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian is assembling an entirely new defensive staff. Continue reading “Former Texas CB coach Jay Valai is expected to be hired by Houston”

Longhorns cornerbacks coach Jay Valai is proving his worth

The Longhorns new cornerbacks coach Jay Valai is proving his worth on the recruiting trail. He has been huge in getting three players.

Before Jay Valai was hitting the recruiting trail for the Texas Longhorns and before he was training professional athletes, he was playing for Chris Ash in Wisconsin. Ash was his defensive backs coach in the final year of his collegiate career in 2010.

As a player, Valai was a four-year letter winner for the Wisconsin Badgers. During his career he accounted for 153 total tackles, four forced fumbles and two interceptions in the 48 games he played for Wisconsin. Valai was twice named second-team All-Big Ten for his efforts. Following his stint training athletes in his performance center, he would join the Georgia Bulldogs as their defensive quality control coach. That team made it to the College Football Playoffs Championship game.

He would leave to the NFL working for the Kansas City Chiefs as an assistant defensive backs coach and quality control. He would join Ash at Rutgers before coming to Texas as the cornerbacks coach. He has been instrumental for the Longhorns without them playing a game. It is hard to not love the energy and passion from Valai.

Valai has been credited with the recruitments of recent commits Jamier Johnson, J.D. Coffey and Ishmael Ibraheem. All three are four-star prospects for the 2021 class. For the 2022 class, he is hot on the trail for another California product Domani Jackson. The three commits that Valai has been getting to come to the Longhorns did so without a single visit.

Due to the NCAA’s dead period, coaches and players are prohibited from face to face visits. Given that all of their contact is done through video messaging, phone calls or texts messages Valai is proving his worth already. Even before coaching a single game, it appears as if Ash was right to bring in one of his former players to help mold this defense into his vision.