OSU RB coach Alford turns down LSU offer
Ohio State running backs coach Tony Alford told The Dispatch on Tuesday night that he turned down an offer by new LSU coach Brian Kelly to join him in Baton Rouge.
Kelly left Notre Dame Monday for the LSU coaching job in one of several recent moves that has shaken the college football world. The Athletic cited a source saying Kelly tried to lure Alford.
Alford confirmed that to The Dispatch and explained his decision to stay in Columbus.
“I LOVE it here,” he said in a text. “Not like it — LOVE IT!!. Ryan Day is the best coach in the business.”
Alford coached wide receivers and then running backs under Kelly at Notre Dame from 2009-14 before Urban Meyer hired him at Ohio State.
Since Saturday's upset loss at Michigan, Buckeye coaches have been on the road recruiting. On Monday, Alford tweeted he was in Memphis, Tennessee. Ohio State is recruiting four-star running back Dallan Hayden from Christian Brothers High School.
Alford has reason to stay. His unit includes freshman Treveyon Henderson, who has run for 1,118 yards this season, averaging 7.0 yards per carry. Miyan Williams, Evan Pryor and Marcus Crowley provide quality depth.
“I've got a great room,” Alford said. “I've got great kids that I have so much respect and admiration for. I hope that they believe that I give them as much as they give me.
“I'm working with the best head coach in all of college football, and I've got unbelievable kids. Why would I leave?”
Ohio State drops in College Football Playoff rankings
Ohio State has fallen outside of the top four of the College Football Playoff rankings following its 42-27 loss at Michigan.
In the penultimate rankings released Tuesday night, the Buckeyes dropped five spots to No. 7.
The Wolverines are now ranked second behind Georgia, followed by Alabama at No. 3, Cincinnati at No. 4, Oklahoma State at No. 5 and Notre Dame at No. 6. No. 8 Ole Miss, No. 9 Baylor and No. 10 Oregon round out the top 10 behind the Buckeyes.
Bill Rabinowitz covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch. Contact him at brabinowitz@dispatch.com or on Twitter @brdispatch. Joey Kaufman also contributed to this report.