Wiggins to join Tide staff; Auburn gets Cadillac back
Alabama’s busy stretch of comings and goings on its football staff have continued this week, with the Crimson Tide hiring Virginia Tech receivers coach Holmon Wiggins, according to multiple media reports Wednesday.
Wiggins will replace Josh Gattis, who served this past season as co-offensive coordinator and receivers coach before leaving this month to become Michigan’s offensive coordinator. Alabama has the top collection of receivers in college football, with Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs and DeVonta Smith set to be juniors in the 2019 season and with Jaylen Waddle returning as a sophomore.
Jeudy won the Biletnikoff Award this past season as the nation’s top receiver.
Wiggins has spent the past seven seasons working for Justin Fuente, who went 26-23 in four seasons at Memphis (201215) before going 25-15 the past three years with the Hokies.
Alabama has yet to confirm any staff hirings since its 44-16 loss to Clemson in the championship game of the College Football Playoff on Jan. 7. ESPN reported Wednesday that Charles Kelly, who spent last season as Tennessee’s safeties coach and special-teams coordinator, would oversee Alabama’s defensive backs, and that Sal Sunseri, Tennessee’s defensive coordinator in 2012, would handle the Tide’s outside linebackers.
It has been reported that Steve Sarkisian is back as Alabama’s offensive coordinator after working in that role for
the Atlanta Falcons the past two seasons and that Tide co-defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach Pete Golding could be bumped up to defensive coordinator.
Former Auburn running back Carnell “Cadillac” Williams returned to the Tigers on Wednesday, when they announced he would be their new running backs coach.
Williams rushed for 3,831 yards and 45 touchdowns during his Auburn playing career (2001-04), with the Tigers winning the Southeastern Conference title and posting a 13-0 record during his senior season. He was
selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the fifth overall pick of the 2005 draft and played seven NFL seasons.
“Carnell Williams is one of Auburn’s all-time greats, and we’re excited to welcome him home,” Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said in a news release. “Cadillac is a great fit for our program. He understands and cares deeply for this university and the Auburn football program while bringing a great knowledge of the game.
“He knows first-hand what it takes to be a successful running back at the highest level and has a tremendous work ethic.”
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@ timesfreepress.com or 423757-6524.
“Carnell Williams is one of Auburn’s all-time greats, and we’re excited to welcome him home. Cadillac is a great fit for our program.” – GUS MALZAHN, AUBURN COACH
Williams will coach RBs under Malzahn