Alex Atkins, Florida State offensive line coach/offensive coordinator
The biggest longshot on this list has to be Florida State offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Alex Atkins. If he didn’t get promoted back in December, he would be a serious option, but it could be hard to pull Atkins away from Tallahassee.
Atkins is a young coach that has worked hard to get where he is at FSU. Within three years, he went from just the offensive line coach to be the coordinator, so that should tell you what kind of man he is.
While it’s been a challenge at FSU, which required a lot of tweaking, Atkins has 10 games where the offense rushed for at least 200 yards. The Seminoles have seen 14 different starting offensive line combinations in 21 games, but they are still finding ways to put up numbers.
Atkins already has two Freshmen All-Americans and two all-conference players under his belt, so developing is a strength. He has also done a great job on the recruiting front picking up guys in the last two years to help build the offensive line he wants.
However, he did earn a raise back in August before taking the promotion, increasing his salary from $500,000 initially to $575,000 in 2021 and $625,000 in 2022.
It isn’t sure if there was another one with the offensive coordinator position, but the Dawgs maybe be able to offer him more to be the offensive line coach. While it would somewhat be a lower position than an offensive coordinator, he could take the opportunity.
Atkins is unlikely, though, but it is a name that continues to be on the shortlist.