Former West Virginia Football Head Coach Neal Brown has had his name thrown around recently in regards to some of college football's most high-profile landing spots.
First, it was rumored that Brown was a leading candidate to follow former running back CJ Donaldson Jr. to Columbus and take the Offensive Coordinator opening with the Ohio State Buckeyes after it was announced Chip Kelly was returning to the NFL. It was quickly announced that Ohio State was hiring in-house and promoting wide receivers coach Brian Hartline to Offensive Coordinator. But now, another top team is rumored to have interest in Brown as well.
It seems that WVU's bitter rival Virginia Tech is now the latest team interested in hiring Neal Brown. After firing three assistants, Virginia Tech's offensive coordinator Tyler Bowen hung around the program even after fans called for his head after he was scrutinized for questionable play-calling. Sources have now indicated that he has left the program to accept the Offensive Line Coach vacancy with Ryan Day and his aforementioned Ohio State staff.
With Virginia Tech veteran quarterback Kyron Drones returning to the program in the fall, Neal Brown would have a mobile signal caller who fits his scheme perfectly. Neal Brown has quite a history of coaching stops on the offensive side of the football -- Power 4 programs like Kentucky and Texas Tech are among them.
Some WVU fans might be offended by the move if it were to happen, considering the rivalry between the Hokies and the Mountaineers, but the majority just wanted Brown to exit the program regardless of where he would end up. Plus, any gig Brown takes at this point helps offset his buyout at WVU and makes things a little easier for the Mountaineers. While the Ohio State gig was a bit of a juicier potential opportunity, taking the gig at Virginia Tech could also open a quick route to the College Football Playoff. Brown will undoubtedly be a name to keep an eye on in the coming days.