Carolina Panthers: Six college coaches the team should consider
By Luke Tucker
Dabo Swinney
Over the past five seasons, no college football coach has been more dominant than Clemson’s Dabo Swinney. During that time frame, Clemson has gone 69-4, appeared in four national championships, won two, and has a chance for a third later this month. Swinney has a career record of 130-30, and has more wins than any other coach since 2015. On top of that, he’s someone his players gravitate towards and have the utmost respect for.
Like Meyer, hiring Swinney could lead to a quarterback change, although Swinney did coach and win a championship with Deshaun Watson at Clemson. The difference between Watson and Newton, though, is that Watson is a more naturally gifted passer, and is more suitable to a spread offense–the system Swinney currently runs with the Tigers. That being said, a mobile, gifted passer, such as Oklahoma’s Jalen Hurts could be a better fit. On the defensive side of the ball, Swinney could potentially bring along defensive coordinator Brent Venables, who has consistently kept Clemson’s defense among the best in the country.
Ultimately, it would take a lot to draw Swinney away from Clemson. He’s at the top of his game, and quite honestly, he appears to be enjoying the college game more than any other coach in the nation. If he were to leave, though, it seems as if following Trevor Lawrence next offseason would be a more likely scenario. Nonetheless, he’s worth a shot for the Panthers.