UPDATED: According to Chris Vannini for The Athletic, Josh Gattis has accepted a position at University of Michigan at offensive coordinator. This is a huge pickup for Jim Harbaugh and his staff.
This would be a huge blow to the University of Alabama.
After he turned down the initial offer of following Michael Locksley to the University of Maryland, the rumors of Josh Gattis leaving the Crimson Tide have return.
If not the Terrapins, rumors have also sparked in favor of Gattis landing at Temple.
Per sources, Touchdown Alabama Magazine has learned that the 34-year-old is not expected to be on Nick Saban’s for the 2019 season.
In one year as Alabama’s wide receivers’ coach, he was instrumental in teaching a young group of talented players on how to be productive.
RELATED: Josh Gattis possibly staying at Alabama as wide receivers’ coach
With Gattis, five receivers totaled at least 500 yards – including sophomore Jerry Jeudy, winner of the Fred Biletnikoff Award in 2018 with 1,315 yards and 14 touchdowns. He was named a consensus All-American.
Jaylen Waddle, a true freshman, totaled 848 yards receiving with seven scores on 68 catches, to earn All-Freshman Team honors from the Southeastern Conference, Associated Press and Football Writers Association of America.
Henry Ruggs III, who embraced Gattis’ teachings of toughness, brought in seven touchdowns and 741 receiving yards.
As for receiver DeVonta Smith and tight end Irv Smith, Jr., both guys turned in 40-plus receptions through 15 games. While the hero from the 2018 College Football Playoff title game posted 693 yards with six scores, the explosive tight end had 710 yards and seven touchdowns.
He was an elite recruiter, but what made Gattis special was his ability to make sure each player knew how to be impactful at wide receiver. All five guys averaged over 16 yards a catch and made it easy for Tua Tagovailoa to represent the school as a Heisman Trophy finalist.
Prior to being hired to the Tide, Gattis served at Penn State, Vanderbilt and Western Michigan.
Continue to follow tdalabamamag.com for all updated concerning Gattis and the Tide.
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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.
