Alabama head coach Nick Saban will not have Kirby Smart by his side next season, and per Ben Bornstein of Georgia Fan Buzz, he may not have secondary coach Mel Tucker either.
From three sources: #Bama DB coach Mel Tucker will be new #UGA DC. Confirms my report that the new DC will come from Bama.
— Mr. Football Talk (@Mr_FootballTalk) December 30, 2015
Reports have confirmed that Smart, Georgia’s newest head coach, has made two hires. Tucker and Virginia Tech special teams coach Shane Beamer. Tucker, 44, was exceptional this year in improving the Crimson Tide’s defensive backfield.
Alabama collected 18 interceptions, with four returned for touchdowns. Safety Eddie Jackson leads the group with five picks for 230 yards and two scores.
With Saban hiring Jeremy Pruitt (former Georgia defensive coordinator) back to Tuscaloosa, there may not be enough room for three defensive back minds on one staff.
Pruitt was at Alabama from 2007-09 as a director of player personnel and served as secondary coach from 2010-12.
Saban was able to keep strength and conditioning coach Scott Cochran and offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin, but the hire of Pruitt left Tucker as the odd man out.
Stephen M. Smith is a senior analyst and columnist for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @ESPN_Future.
