Tag: Jeff Choate

Former Husker coach hired as Nevada’s offensive coordinator

It’s time for the next stop for a former Husker coach!

A former Nebraska Offensive Coordinator has been hired for the same position at Nevada. Former coach Matt Lubick was announced as the team’s offensive coordinator by head coach Jeff Choate on Monday.

Lubick was only a wide receiver coach and offensive coordinator with the Huskers for the 2020 and 2021 seasons before being dismissed. Prior to arriving in Lincoln, he had spent two seasons at Washington and the four seasons before that at Oregon, where he coached with Scott Frost.

For the last couple of seasons, Lubick has been a senior analyst at Kansas. He was diagnosed with leukemia last October and has been undergoing treatment.

Nevada head coach Jeff Choate is excited to see his new coordinator emerge from a tough battle.

“Matt has obviously had a long battle, and it’s really gratifying to see him come out the other end. One of the things he talked about with our team was gratitude, how grateful he was for the opportunity to coach at Nevada. And I can say the same thing—I’m extremely grateful that Matt is going to be our offensive coordinator. We’re very excited to have him in a position where he can engage with us now. Matt’s an extremely accomplished coach and an even better person, and I’m looking forward to what he’s able to bring.”

Choate will be entering his first season at Nevada after serving as Texas’ defensive coordinator for the last three years.

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Wish list to replace Texas co-defensive coordinator Jeff Choate

Texas’ linebacker coach position could be highly sought after among college defensive coaches.

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian is now hiring for a new linebacker’s coach and potential co-defensive coordinator alongside Pete Kwiatkowski. Given the talent present on the roster and the Longhorns’ involvement in the College Football Playoff, the role should be highly sought after in the coaching profession.

Texas fans want Gary Patterson after seeing how much the Texas defense improved with Patterson as a special assistant. The likelihood is, however, that Patterson is more interested in head coaching positions than roles underneath a defensive coordinator.

Other former big name head coaches have drawn the attention of fans on social media. Names like former Oklahoma defensive coordinator Mike Stoops and former Texas head coach Charlie Strong have been brought up by Texas faithful. Albeit, Texas donors don’t want Stoops and understandable pride could keep Strong from taking an assistant role at Texas.

While we won’t rule out those moves, let’s look at a few more options Texas might turn to at linebacker’s coach and potential co-defensive coordinator.

Nevada expected to hire Texas assistant Jeff Choate as head coach

Texas assistant Jeff Choate appears to be the next head coach for Nevada.

Texas could be losing an assistant from head coach Steve Sarkisian’s strong coaching staff. Longhorns co-defensive coordinator and linebacker coach Jeff Choate is expected to become the next head coach for the Nevada Wolf Pack.

Choate has certainly earned head coach consideration after a strong three seasons in Austin. While he has head coaching experience dating back to his time at Montana State, it’s his linebacker development at Texas that commands perhaps the most recognition.

The Longhorns’ assistant has helped develop on of the better linebackers in college football in Jaylan Ford. Several other players have benefitted from his guidance. Veteran linebacker David Gbenda is on an upward trend while freshman linebacker Anthony Hill has come into his own for the Texas defense.

Undoubtedly, Choate’s absence will be felt should he depart west to coach Nevada. Even so, he’s played an integral role in building a high IQ defense that should have staying power for the foreseeable future.

Texas’ Jeff Choate creating a Hawaii to Texas pipeline

Hawaii to Austin could eventually be a flourishing pipeline.

Despite Texas having the luxury of being in one of the four states in the country where you could build your roster with just in-state players, the Longhorns are a national brand.

This allows them to show up to any school in any state and catch the attention of recruits. However, there is one state in particular that many of the programs across the country do not really attempt to recruit, nor do they have right connections. That’s the lovely state of Hawaii.

On3‘s Jake Langi, who was a Player Personnel Analyst for Texas’ football program from 2019-2022, touched on the buzz still circling The Aloha State due to the efforts made by Jeff Choate during his time recruiting four-star linebacker Liona Lefau. The Kahuku product ranked as the No. 2 recruit in Hawaii and according to Langi may have been the first ever recruit from Hawaii to sign with Texas.

Langi explained that his contacts in Hawaii are still talking about Choate, and are now sporting Texas gear all over the island.

I have friends, family, and football contacts scattered all over Hawaii and they’re still buzzing over Choate signing Lefau, who might be the first ever recruit from Hawaii to sign with the Texas Longhorn football program. They’re telling me how crazy it is to see so many locals wearing Longhorn apparel nowadays because of Lefau. I’m sure Keonilei Akana’s winning serve in the volleyball national championship and her brother, Tausili, also joining the Longhorns definitely have a hand in that as well.

According to Langi, Choate has gained the respect of those in Hawaii which can only help Texas moving forward. Especially when you consider that the Longhorns sent out an offer to four-star offensive lineman Preston Taumua from Aiea High School.

While Langi doesn’t think the Longhorns will end up as the final destination for Taumua, he did express that for future classes to come the Longhorns could be the top contender for any recruit they target. This confidence stems from the fact that Choate put in the time, and has created what Langi tabbed “The Jeff Choate Effect”.

I saw firsthand that the Jeff Choate Effect is real. Although Texas will most likely not make a move in Hawaii this year, he’s laid the foundation for future classes. After signing Lefau and Akana, Choate is automatically in the running for the top player in Hawaii every year.

In a few years time, the Texas to Hawaii pipeline could be one of the more prominent connections in college football. If it is, Texas fans know exactly who to thank.

Texas LB’s Jaylan Ford and DeMarvion Overshown lead another category

Jeff Choate develops productive linebackers.

DeMarvion Overshown and Jaylan Ford have produced at a higher level than any other duo in the Big 12 the last two seasons. They are the only two linebackers in the conference to have recorded 150 tackles and 15 tackles for loss over the last two seasons.

Overshown is set to make his mark in the NFL after going from five-star safety recruit to first team All-Big 12 linebacker. It’s unknown where he will land in the draft, but he has the upside and production to warrant consideration from NFL teams.

Ford would be perhaps the best returning player on defense should he come back. He joins a formidable defensive group that could include T’Vondre Sweat, Jahdae Barron, Ryan Watts, Barryn Sorrell and many other productive players.

There was a time Texas’ critics could point to lack of development on the Forty Acres. When you consider the above players, it’s clear that critique for the current squad is now unfounded.

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Report: Texas assistant Jeff Choate a candidate for the Colorado job

Texas co-defensive coordinator Jeff Choate is a name to monitor in Colorado’s head coaching search. 

The college football coaching carousel is off to an early start this season.

Multiple Power Five programs have already announced they are moving on from their head coaches. Arizona State, Colorado, Nebraska and Wisconsin are among the schools looking for new coaches thus far.

Bruce Feldman of The Athletic recently reported a list of candidates to replace Karl Dorrell at Colorado. Texas co-defensive coordinator Jeff Choate is a name to monitor in Colorado’s head coaching search.

Choate handles inside linebacker coaching duties for the Longhorns. Texas linebackers Jaylan Ford and DeMarvion Overshown are playing excellent football so far this season. He has played a major role in the Texas defense drastically improving against the run.

The Texas assistant has head coaching experience as he led Montana State for back-to-back FCS playoff appearances in 2018 and 2019.

Steve Sarkisian saw running backs coach Stan Drayton receive the Temple head coaching gig last offseason. Choate is one of a few Texas assistants who could be in the mix for head coaching jobs in the near future.

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Predicting the best offenses in the Big 12 for 2022

Texas’ trio of Quinn Ewers, Bijan Robinson and Xavier Worthy has a chance to be special in 2022.

Over the years the Big 12 conference has built a reputation of having some of the best high flying, up-tempo offenses in the country.

Offensive minds like Mike Leach, Art Briles and Lincoln Riley are out of the league now but new faces such as Steve Sarkisian, Jeff Lebby and Sonny Dykes all have great offensive resumes of their own.

Texas Tech and West Virginia made moves to new offensive coordinators who specialize in the spread passing attack.

The majority of the Big 12 conference will also have new quarterbacks leading their offense in 2022. Only Baylor and Oklahoma State return their established starter from a year ago.

Outside of the quarterback position, the Big 12 returns some of the most electric players in the country. Bijan Robinson (Texas), Deuce Vaughn (Kansas State), Marvin Mims (Oklahoma) and Xavier Worthy (Texas) are just a few of many talented skill players.

Here is a way too early prediction of the best offenses in the Big 12 for the 2022 season:

Texas co-defensive coordinator Jeff Choate linked to Washington coaching search

Bruce Feldman’s likely candidates for the Washington head coach job include Texas’ Jeff Choate.

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The Washington Huskies chose to part ways with head coach Jimmy Lake in just his second season with the program. Continue reading “Texas co-defensive coordinator Jeff Choate linked to Washington coaching search”

Two Texas assistant coaches linked with Washington State head coach job

Even with Washington State being one of the more unattractive jobs in the Power Five, Steve Sarkisian’s staff has two names linked.

Midway through the season, Power Five head coaching jobs are beginning to open up. LSU and USC are the two biggest names, firing Ed Orgeron and Clay Helton, respectively, for poor performances on the field.

The latest is Washington State’s Nick Rolovich. After deciding to not get the COVID-19 vaccine, which was required by the state of Washington for their employees, Rolovich was let go by athletic director Pat Chun.

Even with Washington State being one of the more unattractive jobs in the Power Five, Steve Sarkisian’s staff has two names linked.

Texas assistant head coach/special teams coach Jeff Banks is “one name to watch” to fill the head coach role according to Dennis Dobbs of CBS Sports. He was the Cougars’ punter in the 1996 and 1997 seasons, going to the Rose Bowl in his final season.

Banks’ head coaching experience is limited to one game back in 2017 when Texas A&M fired Kevin Sumlin. The Aggies lost to Wake Forest in the Belk Bowl, 55-52. Texas is the first place he has been an assistant head coach as well.

Losing out on Banks would be a massive blow to recruiting. He is seen as one of the best on the staff, mainly based on his time in Tuscaloosa. You can tell how important of a prospect somebody is if Banks is one of the main recruiters.

Another coaches’ name has been thrown out there as well. According to Chris Vannini of The Athletic, linebackers coach Jeff Choate should be under consideration. He has tons of experience in the Pacific Northwest and even was once a coach at Washington State.

Texas co-defensive coordinator Jeff Choate was Montana State’s head coach from 2016 to 2020, and the Bobcats improved each year, capped by an 11-4 record and FCS semifinal appearance in 2019. He coached Washington State’s linebackers in 2012 after six years at Boise State and later coached at Washington.

Choate himself has never been a head coach of a Power Five program either. He’s a near west coast lifer, only spending one season outside of the region at Florida in 2013 before joining Sarkisian’s staff.

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Four-star LB Niuafe Tuihalamaka commits to Notre Dame over Arizona State, Stanford, and Texas

Niuafe Tuihalamaka announced his commitment to Notre Dame on Saturday. A four-star prospect, he chose over Arizona State, Stanford, and UT.

The last two weekends have been successful for Steve Sarkisian. He has landed four players after making visits. Three 2022 commits and running back Keilan Robinson from the transfer portal.

Sadly, not everything can go in favor of Texas, as a top priority defensive prospect went a different direction.

Linebacker Niuafe Tuihalamaka announced his commitment to Notre Dame on Saturday afternoon. A four-star prospect, the California native chose the Fighting Irish over Arizona State, Stanford, and Texas.

Tuihalamaka was in Austin on an official visit the first weekend of June. He said Austin “felt like home” and wanted to eventually come back. The Longhorns seemed to have made up ground for the linebacker, but a trip to South Bend sealed the deal for Notre Dame.

On the 247Sports composite, Tuihalamaka ranks as the No. 11 linebacker in the country. He will play middle linebacker for newly hired defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman. The four-star is the No. 10 player from his home state of California and No. 102 in the country.

For Texas, the key remaining linebacker target is Sebastian Cheeks. Notre Dame was thought to be a player for Cheeks but with the commitment of Tuihalamaka, there will be no room.

Jeff Choate has already taken a commitment from three-star Trevell Johnson as well. Landing him and Cheeks would be a successful cycle for Texas’ linebacking core.