Report: Former SEC defensive coordinator considering move to Alabama

Todd Grantham, a coach that has been a defensive coordinator at several Power 5 programs such as Georgia, Louisville, Mississippi State and Florida, could be joining Nick Saban’s staff at Alabama, according to FootballScoop.com. The report also noted that Grantham most likely wouldn’t take over as DC, but would work closely with the front seven. He has extensive experience coaching defensive linemen and linebackers.

Grantham’s most recent run was last season at Florida, but he was out of the program before year’s end due to poor performances week after week from his defensive unit. Grantham has had multiple offers from various programs since the offseason began, but FootballScoop’s sources have noted the potential to join Saban’s coaching staff is likely to win his services. 

Grantham was one of college football’s highest-paid assistant coaches last season prior to his departure from Gainesville. The 55-year-old journeyman DC, per public records, had a $1.8 million salary with the Gators. His original deal was good for three years and worth more than $4.4 million prior to the 2018 season. He was eventually extended an additional year to sit him with the $1.8 million salary for last season. Only then-Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables was confirmed to have a higher salary among collegiate defensive coordinators last season.

Grantham’s best work as defensive coordinator might have been in 2017 when he was leading the defensive charge at Mississippi State. With his 3-4 defensive scheme, he took a Bulldogs’ run-stopping unit that had ranked below 100 and turned the Bulldogs into the top-10 national rankings. That year, Grantham was a Broyles Award semifinalist that year for his work with the Bulldogs, and award that goes to the nation’s top assistant coach.

Saban has already added to his defensive staff this offseason, poaching Travarris Robinson from Miami. Robinson, a former South Carolina defensive coordinator, will coach the safeties and defensive backs in Tuscaloosa in 2022. Will Grantham join him?