Sources: Georgia targeting Big 12 coach for assistant job

As Georgia makes changes to its coaching staff, the Bulldogs are turning to the Big 12 for their outside linebackers coach.

Georgia is set to hire TCU defensive line coach Chidera Uzo-Diribe as its new outside linebackers coach, sources told On3’s Matt Zenitz. Uzo-Diribe previously coached under Sonny Dykes at SMU and followed Dykes to TCU.

Georgia is expected to hire TCU’s Chidera Uzo-Diribe as its outside linebackers coach, sources tell @on3sports. One of the nation’s top young front seven coaches. A former Colorado defensive lineman who had 20 career sacks. https://t.co/oY1nWCa5tG

— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) February 3, 2022

After a four-year career as a defensive lineman at Colorado, Uzo-Diribe got his coaching start with the Buffaloes as a graduate assistant from 2016-18. He went to Kansas as outside linebackers coach from 2019-20 before joining forces with Dykes in 2021.

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Uzo-Diribe was one of the coaches joining Dykes at TCU after he replaced Gary Patterson as Horned Frogs head coach.

Georgia bringing back Bryan McClendon as wide receivers coach

Bryan McClendon made a name for himself playing and coaching for Georgia. Now, the former Bulldogs star is returning home to Athens.

After a journey that brought him to South Carolina, Oregon and Miami after leaving Georgia, McClendon is returning as the Bulldogs wide receivers coach, according to DawgsHQ.

“Georgia has made a move to fill the vacancy at wide receivers coach as sources have confirmed to DawgsHQ that Kirby Smart has hired Bryan McClendon away from Miami,” wrote Palmer Thombs of DawgsHQ. “The former Bulldog pass catcher was set to be a member of Mario Crisobal’s first staff at ‘The U’ after making the move from Oregon with him, but will now head home to Athens where he played and began his coaching career.”

From 2002 to 2005, McClendon was a reliable target for Bulldogs quarterbacks. The former Georgia wide receiver reeled in 56 receptions for 830 yards and six touchdowns over his time with the program. Then, spent some time with the Chicago Bears at the next level before turning to coaching.

In 2007, McClendon returned to Georgia as a graduate assistant, a post he held until 2008. Then, he moved up to running backs coach, where he helped recruit the likes of Todd Gurley, Nick Chubb and Sony Michel. After a season where he was named the interim head coach for Georgia’s bowl game, McClendon took his talents to a new program for the first time in his football career.

Now returning to Georgia, McClendon will have plenty to do. First, he must find suitable replacements for Georgia’s exodus of receiving talent.