Top-10 coaches most likely to make the jump to the NFL
By Robert Judin
1. Hugh Freeze – Ole Miss Rebels
Realistically, Hugh Freeze should have looked for a job in the NFL after last season when he was the hottest name in all of college football. But we couldn’t have predicted Ole Miss would lose to the Florida Gators in what was supposed to be a transitionary year for Jim McElwain and his program.
And no would could dream the Rebels would lose to an unranked Memphis Tigers team — even if it was on the road.
Though his track record at Ole Miss speaks for itself. After taking Arkansas State to a 10-3 season in his only year as the head coach, Freeze landed the job at Ole Miss in 2012. He hit the recruiting jackpot in 2013 with Robert Nkemdiche, Laquon Treadwell, Laremy Tunsil and others, but those guys are all likely departing for the NFL after this season.
Ole Miss does have the No. 4 ranked recruiting class for 2016 with five-star quarterback Shea Patterson headlining the class, and that may be the recruiting class that carries Freeze back to the top.
Freeze has resurrected the Rebels, and has done so without a legitimate quarterback. Patterson could be his ticket to the NFL.
The Rebels have been ranked No. 3 twice in the past two seasons, which is the highest they’ve been ranked since they were No. 1 in 1964.
Again, hindsight is 20/20. We, as well as Freeze, couldn’t have known that his team would struggle as badly as it has so far this season, but his name is still a relatively hot commodity.
Realistically, him landing a job after this season doesn’t seem likely. But he could re-visit the idea in three years when Patterson becomes eligible for the NFL Draft.
It’s all about timing when it comes to finding a head coaching job in the NFL, and Freeze might not want to miss out on a second chance to jump to the league.