Garrick McGee and Joe DeForest Two Top Candidates at TU

The Arkansas offensive coordinator and the Cowboys' associate head coach are two of the top candidates for the TU head coaching job.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 12:08 pm

By: News On 6

Garrick McGee and Joe DeForest Two Top Candidates at TU

Originally Published: Jan 11, 2011 10:20 PM CDT

Gerald Goodridge
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

TULSA, Oklahoma -- Steve Kragthorpe has been eliminated from talks of taking over as the Golden Hurricane’s head coach and reports have Chad Morris nearly moved in at Clemson, leaving the top two candidates out of consideration.

Rumors have surfaced that Arkansas offensive coordinator and quarterback coach Garrick McGee is one of the leading candidates to take over at TU.

McGee has been at Arkansas for the last three seasons, leading a high-powered offense under head coach Bobby Petrino. In 2010, the Razorbacks’ offense finished the season averaging 489.25 yards per game, ranking eighth in the nation.

In addition, McGee – a Booker T. Washington graduate and former Oklahoma Sooners' quarterback – coached quarterback Ryan Mallet to 62 touchdowns in two seasons and a projected first-round selection in the 2011 NFL Draft.

Another name surfacing is Oklahoma State associate head coach and special team’s coordinator Joe DeForest.

Under DeForest, the OSU special teams have flourished.

In 2010, the Cowboys ranked third in net punting, kicker Dan Bailey ranked second in the nation in field goals, Quinn Sharp ranked second in the nation and Justin Gilbert finished No. 24 in the nation in kickoff returns.