If you asked experts a few days ago who the top defensive coordinators in college football were, two of the first names you would hear are the Texas Longhorns‘ Will Muschamp and Alabama Crimson Tide‘s Kirby Smart. Should things go as planned for athletic director Jeremy Foley, both may be wearing orange and blue next year.

According to numerous reports, Smart has been offered the Florida Gators defensive coordinator position under Muschamp, Florida’s new head coach and Smart’s former teammate at Georgia. The Tuscaloosa News reports that Muschamp and Smart have been “in discussions about the position in recent days.”

Additionally, a source close to UF told OGGOA on Monday afternoon that “things look really good for Smart to be at UF” though nothing is official as of press time.

Smart, who currently makes $750,000 a year while working for head coach Nick Saban at Alabama, won the 2009 Broyles Award for assistant coach of the year.

The story broke Monday when one of ESPN‘s Twitter accounts, @ESPN_MobileCFB, said Smart had “reportedly” already agreed to the job.

OGGOA will continue updating this story.

Tags: Alabama Crimson Tide, Broyles Award, Jeremy Foley, Kirby Smart, Texas Longhorns, Will Muschamp

1 » Florida Gators defensive coordinator Charlie Strong has been named as one of the five finalists for the 2009 Broyles Award, which is given to the top assistant coach in college football each season. Nominated along with Strong are defensive coordinators Kirby Smart (Alabama) and Dick Bumpas (TCU) and offensive coordinators Jeff Quinn (Cincinnati) and Bryan Harsin (Boise State). Strong has never won the award before, though he is a three-time finalist (2000, 2007, 2008).

2 » Also being honored as an award finalist on Tuesday is senior quarterback Tim Tebow. Tebow, one of 10 named to the 2009 Manning Award‘s short list, could become the first two-time winner in its history. It is his third consecutive nomination. The Manning is the only quarterback award in college football that takes into account the candidates’ bowl performances. Colt McCoy (Texas), Tony Pike (Cincinnati), Jimmy Clausen (Notre Dame), Ryan Mallett (Arkansas), Kellen Moore (Boise State), Dan LeFevour (Central Michigan), Case Keenum (Houston), Max Hall (BYU) and Andy Dalton (TCU) are the other nine finalists.

3 » Having secured their first Top 25 ranking since Jan. 19, No. 13/17 Florida basketball is back in action tonight against the Florida A&M Rattlers at 7 p.m. in the Stephen C. O’Connell Center. The game is the second part of a doubleheader that also features the schools’ women’s teams. The first game tips off at 4:30 p.m.

4 » Did you like the special Nike Pro Combat uniforms the Gators wore Saturday against the Florida State Seminoles? The Oregon-based shoe and clothing company is now letting fans bid on a complete uniform locker including a helmet, jersey, shoes and cleats. Bidding starts at $1,200 and all proceeds will benefit Gator Boosters, Inc. I will take this time to note that OGGOA does accept gifts and donations.

Tags: Broyles Award, Charlie Strong, Florida A&M Rattlers, Gator Boosters, Manning Award, Nike Pro Combat, O'Connell Center, Tim Tebow

Florida Gators associate head coach and defensive coordinator Charlie Strong has been named as a nominee for the 2009 Broyles Award. One of five finalists, Strong is a 26-year college coaching veteran who has continues to produce a dominating defense for the Gators year-in and year-out. Given annually to the best assistant coach in college football, the Broyles Award will be presented on Dec. 8 in Little Rock, AR.

“It would be a challenge to find someone more respected and well-liked in the college football world than Charlie Strong,” head coach Urban Meyer said. “He’s passionate and hard working, but he takes the job of molding men very seriously. Charlie is the type of man who can walk into any situation and be well-liked, well-received and represent the University of Florida to the highest degree.”

Going into the voting, Florida’s defense under Strong is No. 1 in scoring defense (9.8 points) and pass defense (139.3 yards); No. 2 in pass efficiency (86.1 percent), total defense (229.8 yards) and third down percentage (26.8 percent); and No. 3 in yards allowed per play (3.90). The Gators have only given up 10 touchdowns (including two interception returns) in 2009, two less than any other team in the nation, and held opponents to six red zone touchdowns, the fewest in the nation.

Tags: Broyles Award, Charlie Strong, Urban Meyer