Florida Gators' Russ Callaway tabbed a 'rising star' Power Five assistant
On Wednesday morning, On3’s Matt Zenitz dished out 30 rising star Power Five assistant coaches that fans need to know ahead of the 2023 season.
Included in that group is Florida tight ends coach, Russ Callaway, who was just promoted earlier this year after William Peagler accepted a job with the Arizona Cardinals.
According to Zenitz, these picks are based on votes and feedback from numerous sources around the coaching world. It doesn’t include coaches who were on previous On3 preseason rising star lists. It’s also limited to coaches 45 and under.
Callaway, 35, is entering his second season with the Gators after joining the staff in 2022 in an off-the-field role. He is an experienced coach who spent the 2021 season with the New York Giants, serving as an offensive assistant, and the 2020 season as a senior offensive assistant and analyst at LSU. His resume includes stops at Alabama and Samford as well.
While at Samford, Callaway served as the Bulldogs’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach from 2016-19. He also coached the wide receivers from 2015-17.
As a unit in 2018, Samford’s offense led the FCS in passing yards per game (392.7). The offense also ranked fourth in the FCS in total offense (515.9 ypg.) and eighth in both red zone offense (.898) and first downs (298).
Back in 2020 while coaching at LSU, Callaway’s consistency with the program produced quite the compliments from then head coach of the Tigers, Ed Orgeron.
“I didn’t know how good he was, to be honest with you, until we got him,” Orgeron said at the time. “And his enthusiasm is infectious. He’s an outstanding coach and taught well by his dad (veteran coach Neil Callaway) and learned well. I do believe the guy’s going to be a coordinator and a head coach. It won’t be long because he’s one of those type minds.”
Callaway is on the rise as a recruiter
The Gators assistant is starting to carve out a strong reputation on the recruiting trail as well.
Four-star Portal (Ga.) tight end Amir Jackson, a 2024 prospect, is locked in with the Gators and much of that can be credited to his relationship with Callaway.
That was a crowded recruitment featuring additional offers from Georgia, Alabama, Miami, Auburn, Florida State, Tennessee and South Carolina. Jackson is a top-15 prospect at the position and was being recruited as such. Landing a prospect like that, especially at a priority position, was significant.
It also marked Callaway’s first signature recruiting victory for the Gators.
“Russ is a superstar,” a coaching source said when speaking with On3’s Zenitz.
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