For a second straight year, Nick Saban will not go outside the University of Alabama program in searching for an offensive coordinator. With the likes of Michael Locksley heading to Maryland following the College Football Playoff, it has been reported by Football Scoop that Saban is expected to name Dan Enos as the next play caller going into the 2019 football season.
Enos served as quarterbacks’ coach this season, helping Tua Tagovailoa become a Heisman Trophy finalist while molding Jalen Hurts into a much-improved passer.
He coached the sophomore into being Saban’s fourth 3,000-yard quarterback, as he has 3,353 passing yards with 37 touchdowns to four interceptions.
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Tagovailoa has a single-season school record of 42 total scores.
Behind the confidence of Enos, Hurts entered the Southeastern Conference title game in the fourth quarter versus Georgia and delivered the team to a 35-28 win. He completed seven of nine pass attempts for 82 yards with two touchdowns – including a 15-yard rushing score that put the game away.
Despite not winning the Heisman, Tagovailoa took home both Walter Camp and Maxwell Player of the Year honors. He was also named SEC Offensive Player of the Year and was a first-team selection on postseason All-America Teams for different publications.
As a first-year assistant under Saban, Enos helped an offense average 47.9 points per game; the highest amount of the Saban era. Prior to the Crimson Tide, the 50-year-old was an offensive coordinator at Arkansas from 2015 to 2017. He mentored two 3,000-yard passers in Brandon Allen and Austin Allen, while providing the Razorbacks with a balanced attack on offense.
During his time as a head coach at Central Michigan University from 2010 to 2014, he coached four 3,000-yard passing seasons. Ryan Radcliff was a three-time 3,000-yard signal caller from 2010-12 and Cooper Rush continued the trend in 2014.
In a conversation over the summer with Enos’ brother, Gary, he told Stephen Smith of Touchdown Alabama Magazine that Dan Enos would two things for the Tide’s quarterback room: improve the mechanics of Jalen Hurts and make sure the quarterback position is the toughest one mentally.
He has done both this season.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
