Florida Gators football: 5 candidates to replace Jim McElwain

GAINESVILLE, FL - SEPTEMBER 30: Florida Gators tight end C'yontai Lewis (80) celebrates a touchdown with fans during the game between the Vanderbilt Commodores and the Florida Gators on September 30, 2017 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field in Gainesville, Fl. (Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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4. Chip Kelly

There won’t be an open college job this year that doesn’t bring at least some mention of Kelly, who is working for ESPN during what will surely only be a one-year hiatus from coaching. He’ll have his pick of jobs if he wants one, including three likely in the SEC alone now (Tennessee, Texas A&M and of course Florida).

Kelly doesn’t really need the money of a big new contract (easy for me to say), with the Philadelphia Eagles still playing him this year and the San Francisco 49ers owing him two more years on his contract after this one. So it’s safe to say a good fit will be Kelly’s priority more than salary, and he’ll be able to be selective with the idea he’ll just sit out of coaching one more year if need be.

Florida fans and boosters will surely remember Kelly’s fast-paced, prolific offenses as Oregon and think it can be replicated easily in the SEC. That would be the biggest question attached to him in any new job he entertains or eventually takes, but Kelly has to be at least a top initial candidate at Florida.

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