Dan Mullen hires former All-SEC linebacker Jamar Chaney to recruiting staff

[Escambia94]

[TWEET]https://twitter.com/jc3watkins/status/1099434415640453120[/TWEET]

Dan Mullen has hired Jamar Chaney, a former All-SEC linebacker at Mississippi State, as assistant director of player personnel and development. During his time in Starkville, Chaney accumulated 286 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, two interceptions, four pass deflections and a forced fumble. He also earned Second Team All-SEC honors after switching to middle linebacker from weak-side linebacker. Chaney was named the 2010 Senior Bowl Defensive Player of the Game with eight tackles and a fumble recovery to show for it.

Chaney was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the seventh round of the 2010 NFL Draft, and through five seasons at Atlanta, Denver and Oakland, he piled up 163 tackles, three interceptions, one sack and one forced fumble before taking a coaching position at his high school alma mater in 2014. ​

Chaney served as the head coach of Centennial High School led the program to their first playoff game in roughly eight years as well. The Port St. Lucie native finished with a record of 11-8-1 at Centennial.

 

[DRU2012]

Glad to see that, of all the areas where our interests continue to evolve and advance, it is in recruiting that we continue to here and see concrete moves. Young and proven "up'n'comers" is exactly where "us just plain folks" out here would WANT to see ongoing effort made to gather and add to our already increasingly successful campaign to improve results (and hence Gator headway) in the endless competition for relative recruiting rank...Like it or not (and I certainly DON'T), there seems a direct connection between such after-the-fact "general consensus" among so-called "experts", improved product on the field in subsequent seasons, and overall a continued similar upward trend--in "rank" AND eventual "onfield product"--so I can only support and be encouraged by all positive action in this regard. By all signs and accounts, Mr Chaney's addition appears to be all of that and more.

 

[Escambia94]

Although I would like to see Mullen grab some 5* athletes, I am also confident that he can develop 4* and 3* athletes into almost-5* equivalents (see Dak Prescott, Alex Smith). Statistically no FCS team has won a national championship in the modern era without 5*, so Mullen is either going to have to find some 5* athletes or buck the trend with his method of development. Most of his staff is better at development than recruiting, but an interesting thing to note is that some of these recruiting assistants have deep ties to the Sunshine State.

 

[DRU2012]

Seems like the very process IS "a two-track deal":
Yes, our Coach does have his OWN "list", one that depends as much or more upon his (and carefully built staff's) ability to recognize and accelerate development of raw talent--especially where it is matched with drive and character. At the same time, as I noted with "some reservation" above, there is no denying the apparent practical, empirical connection between "generally recognized superiority of talent-striving-for-excellence" in the persons of those at the very top of such PUBLIC lists, and ("oh-by-the-WAY...") the rise of those teams who gather them in number, and their tendency to reach and become esconsed among those now annually competing for places in college football's Final Four. Whether reckoned as a direct, analytical "cause and effect" relationship, or some part of a more complex and circuitous process, clearly we are wise to pursue BOTH: It has been a notable and worrisome lack, our "missing 5-stars" over the last few years.
The sooner this seemingly growing trend reverses, and we begin picking up more and more of "our share" of 5-star recruits (especially from within our own state!), the better, the more hope we'll all feel--and no doubt it will come as little surprise if/when an accelerating climb "back to the top" also (not-so-coincidentally) ensues.

 

[Escambia94]

[TWEET]https://twitter.com/Jamar51Chaney/status/1100184974379155456?s=19
[/TWEET]

Here is Jamar Chaney's official announcement from Monday, February 25, 2019.

 

[DRU2012]

[TWEET]https://twitter.com/Jamar51Chaney/status/1100184974379155456?s=19
[/TWEET]

Here is Jamar Chaney's official announcement from Monday, February 25, 2019.

This one AND the Ratliff hire would seem to bode well for recruiting.
All in all, part of the lately-noted general improvement and accelerated upward momentum there.
In years past this has tended to be the time of year when some of our teams' "wayward restless souls" have managed to find ways to find trouble--maybe "too much time on their hands" giving rise to the kind of "news items" representing behavior that eventually requires discipline ( or "SHOULD have", in retrosoect, as the case may be). This time, hopefully speaking well of Coach, staff, team character and the way things are headed across-the-board, it is good and promising POSITIVE news alone that is so far grabbing our attention.
This continues, and it'll only further mark our overall resurgence.