Report: Tony Elliott targeting SEC assistant for offensive coordinator role

Virginia football coach Tony Elliott is considering Mizzou running backs coach Curtis Luper to become the Cavaliers offensive coordinator, per 247 Sports reporter Chris Hummer. Elliott, previously the offensive coordinator at Clemson, was hired as the next Virginia coach Friday.

Luther brings experience as a co-offensive coordinator at TCU from 2017-19. Prior to that, he was a running backs and receivers coach for the Horned Frogs from 2013-16. He joined the Missouri staff in 2020.

He was also a running backs coach at Auburn (2009-12) and Oklahoma State (2005-08). Under Luper, the Cowboys’ rushing attack led the Big 12 from 2006-08. He was a member of the Tigers’ 2011 BCS National Championship staff.

Elliott was the second Clemson coordinator to take a head job this offseason after defensive coordinator Brent Venables left for Oklahoma. A former Clemson receiver, Elliott has spent the past 11 seasons with the Tigers and the past two as offensive coordinator.

Luper spent his playing days at Oklahoma State from 1984-87. He was a running back behind future NFL greats Barry Sanders and Thurman Thomas, so it’s safe to say he knows what it takes to succeed at the position.

In an interesting turn of events, he left college in 1987 to become an air traffic controller in the United States Army. He eventually came back to use his final year of eligibility at Stephen F. Austin in 1993.

While at New Mexico from 2002-04, Luper coached DonTrell Moore, who would go on to become the Lobos’ career leading rusher. He still hold the record to this day, with 4,973 yards. In 2010, he coached Auburn freshman running back Mike Dyer, who rushed for more than 1,000 yards to break Bo Jackson’s freshman school record.

Being a former offensive coordinator himself, Tony Elliott knows how to identify talent in the field. In Luper, he would bring on a coach that has ample experience after more than 20 years in the college ranks.