NFLMocks’ 5 for 5: Nick Sirianni Leads COTY Race, Jaren Hall Climbing NFL Draft Boards, and Dabo Swinney to the NFL?

Headline No. 5: College Coaches that Could Make the Leap to the NFL

•No. 1: Luke Fickell (Cincinnati)

The Cincinnati Bearcats have gone from relative obscurity to becoming the newest member of the Big 12 Conference. Luke Fickell pioneered the program to their first-ever College Football Playoff appearance in 2021. He will lead them to their new conference in 2023… maybe.

Fickell recently re-upped on a lucrative deal that is good through 2028, but this has never stopped a coach from leaping if the right opportunity comes up. It remains to be seen how things unfold if the right team comes knocking.

•No. 2: Dabo Swinney (Clemson)

Certain coaches were born to coach at the collegiate level. Dabo Swinney is one of them. Everything said about Fickell as a bricklayer for the Cincinnati program can be said ten times over about Swinney’s success with the Clemson Tigers.

Swinney is in year 15 as head coach. Under his watch, the team has won seven ACC titles and two National Championships. Swinney is a legend in Carolina but the college game looks like it has passed the veteran coach by at times. Perhaps the time is here for a new challenge; one that consists of chasing a Lombardi Trophy.

•No. 3: Matt Campbell (Iowa State)

Matt Campbell’s name comes up every year and it will be no different this coming offseason. The Cyclones’ head coach has held his position as the leader of the program since 2016 but Campbell has had a difficult time breaking through the 9-win barrier.

With the Big 12 losing its footing following planned expansions for the SEC and Big Ten, now might be the best time for Campbell to dip. His stock is still strong, but that could change quickly. One of these days, Campbell will be a head coach in the NFL. I would venture to guess that time will come sooner rather than later.

•No. 4: Rich Scangarello (Kentucky)

The only non-head coach on this list is Kentucky offensive coordinator, Rich Scangarello. Another thing that sets him apart from the rest on this list is that he has extensive experience at the NFL level. Scangarello served as a quarterback coach for the San Francisco 49ers on two separate occasions and has a stint as offensive coordinator for the Denver Broncos on his resume.

Scangarello took over the role for the Wildcats after Liam Coen departed for a coordinator position with the Los Angeles Rams. The Kentucky offensive coordinator has done well keeping the momentum with NFL Draft prospect Will Levis, and there is at least a chance that they end up with the same NFL franchise in half a year.

•No. 5: Dave Clawson (Wake Forest)

Wake Forest’s offensive firepower made them a sudden contender in the ACC in 2021. Dave Clawson won Coach of the Year for the conference and guided his squad to an 11-win campaign capped off by a Gator Bowl victory. Clawson will lose his starting quarterback Sam Hartman following the 2022 season, and considering his name is the hottest it has ever been, now could be the perfect time for Clawson to pursue other endeavors.