Report: Arkansas OC Kendal Briles offered job in ACC

According to Brett McMurphy of The Action Network, Arkansas Razorbacks offensive coordinator Kendal Briles has been offered the same position with the Miami Hurricanes. New head coach Mario Cristobal has not filled the position yet and is looking to hire one of the top young minds in college football.

Briles led Arkansas to their most points scored per game since the 2015 season with 30.9. The Razorbacks were dominant on the ground this season behind quarterback KJ Jefferson and a trio of running backs headlined by Trelon Smith.

Before being hired by Sam Pittman in Fayetteville, Briles has made stops at Baylor, Florida Atlantic, Houston, and Florida State as the offensive coordinator. He began his coaching career in Waco during the 2008 season with his father, Art, serving as an inside wide receivers coach and offensive recruiting coordinator.

As a player, Briles began his career at the University of Texas as a defensive back in 2002. He transferred to Houston for the 2004 season, where he was a wide receiver for two seasons for his father. Briles caught 70 passes for 680 yards and a touchdown during his time with the Cougars.

Miami is attempting to replace Rhett Lashlee as offensive coordinator. Before Cristobal took over the program, Lashlee took the SMU head coaching job after Sonny Dykes left for TCU.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Tyler Van Dyke took over at quarterback this season for the Hurricnaes. He threw for 2,931 yards, 25 touchdowns, and six interceptions in 10 appearances. If Briles were to take the job, he would have a young quarterback at his disposal.

Kendal Briles lands new quarterback for Arkansas

The Arkansas Razorbacks have made their move to bolster the quarterback room for 2022, adding South Florida transfer Cade Fortin on Monday. Fortin, a North Carolina signee out of high school, played two seasons for South Florida before opting to finish his career at Arkansas.

Fortin got into four games for the Bulls this season. He completed 25 of 48 passes for 183 yards and zero touchdowns with two interceptions.

The Razorbacks did not sign a quarterback in the 2022 class but after injuries and the threat of transfers out of the program, Sam Pittman clearly changed his mind.

Cade Fortin joins starting junior QB KJ Jefferson, redshirt freshman Malik Hornsby, freshman Lucas Coley and former Ole Miss walk-on Kade Renfro for 2022.

Since this is Fortin’s second transfer of his career, he may not be immediately eligible to compete for Arkansas this year without a waiver. However, it’s likely that as a graduate transfer, the NCAA will grant him that eligibility.