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5 potential replacements for Chad Morris at Arkansas

By Brad Berreman

Chad Morris, Arkansas Razorbacks. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
Chad Morris, Arkansas Razorbacks. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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Mandatory Credit: Michael Chang/Getty Images
Mandatory Credit: Michael Chang/Getty Images /

3. Billy Napier, Louisiana head coach

Napier led the Ragin’ Cajuns to Sun Belt West Division title and their first-ever Sun Belt title game last year in his first season as head coach, as the team finished 7-7. After a 4-1 start this year, the program’s best start since 2012, he got a contract extension through the 2023 season.

Louisiana-Lafayette is now 5-2 this season, with a second straight bowl bid looking like a foregone conclusion. Entering Week 9 action, they were in the top-15 in the country in both total and scoring offense. Even taking into account a lower level of competition, that offensive output is pretty impressive.

Napier has solid Power 5 coaching roots, having served as an assistant at Clemson (tight ends coach, then offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach), Alabama (wide receivers coach) and Arizona State (offensive coordinator/ quarterbacks coach), with a year as quarterbacks coach at Colorado State (2012) mixed in.

If they fire Morris, Arkansas will probably have to go a little deeper for candidates who will see the job as a step up. Even with that new deal in his pocket, Napier may have a hard time turning away any overtures from an SEC school. And Louisiana will have a similarly hard time competing to keep him if they are forced to.

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