The team also added Brady Boyd from the transfer portal that can play inside or out. We like to say that everybody in this offense eats. But getting on the phone and doing some zoom calls with coach Helton over a couple week period, he was just a guy that I really felt a connection with. Please check your email for a confirmation. Mahomes closed his Red Raider career ranked third all-time in passing yards (11,252), touchdown passes (93), attempts (1,349) and completions (857) despite foregoing his senior season to enter the NFL Draft. We knew if we came in and operate[d] the game plan we would not get blown out by 40 points, Kittley said. A potential trio of Josh Allen, Stefon Diggs and Bijan Robinson would be exciting to watch at the next level. Houston Baptist also ranked second in the Southland Conference and 12th nationally after posting 426.6 yards of total offense that season. It didn't work out for the Gamecocks the last time they turned a wide receivers coach into an offensive coordinator following Bryan McClendon's ill-fated tenure, but this would be different. Texas Tech made one of the more underrated moves of the offseason with the hire of offensive coordinator Zach Kittley. Make no mistake, this is Dykes' scheme, but Riley is the facilitator on offense as a rhythmic play-caller for the unbeaten probable playoff team. @PatrickMahomes When the strong safety would begin to cheat down in an effort to eliminate the stick concept (often in the red zone), Y corner was the obvious constraint play because it took advantage of the open void that was now left behind the cornerback: As the safety came down, the Y would run a 4 step corner, giving a slight head fake to the Mike before cutting to an aiming point 1 yard inside the back pylon ( it is better to be too high on the corner route than too flat because it is easier to come back to the ball). Under Kittleys leadership, Zappe has had a record season as he currently leads the nation in passing yards (5,546) and touchdowns (56). I started doing my research, coach [Vic] Shealy was awesome to me and called me down for an interview me and my wife, we prayed about it, and we felt like it was the right move for us at the time I would never ever take back my time and that decision that I made., WKU student files lawsuit claiming assault, emotional distress and negligence against university, CVS Pharmacy near campus to permanently close next month, SGA Judicial Council unanimously votes against censure of President Bornefeld regarding use of social media, UPDATED: WKU experiences power outages across campus, Top of the Week: Student sustainability, and Cabonis Faculty Senate attendance, WKUs Folk Studies Program, voting guide, and gerrymandering: Top of the Week, 'Find the thing that delights you the most and then not be scared to fail: U.S. https://t.co/e35pdt6k2A, Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) December 14, 2020. WKU is doing it all behind a pass-heavy offense that is throwing the ball over 68 percent of the time. Kittley expressed confidence that his style of air raid offense will be able to thrive in Conference USA, citing the experience he gained when his Huskies faced North Most recently, Mullen was on the call for ESPN during Arkansas 55-53 Liberty Bowl win over Kansas. Red Raiders go into midseason open week with quarterback again a focal point of conversation Zappes favorite weapons, wide receivers Jerreth and Josh Sterns and Ben Ratzlaff, combined for 1,256 yards and 12 touchdowns on just 89 receptions. Texas Tech made one of the more underrated moves of the offseason with the hire of offensive coordinator Zach Kittley. Brenen Thompson will run track and miss spring practice. 95 in scoring offense, No. Meet Zach Shallcross Season 27 Contestant. FOX Sports Bruce Feldman then confirmed the news late Sunday night that sources indicated Kittley agreed to the position. A native of Lubbock, Kittley originally attended Abilene Christian to play basketball before transferring back to Texas Tech to complete his bachelors in history in 2014. The Gamecocks are coming off back-to-back wins over top 10 opponents for the first time in program history and the offense flourished during those two outings, including a 63-point explosion against Tennessee. The former Mississippi State and Florida head coach has an abundance of SEC experience and is one of top offensive minds in college football. However, Wake Forest star quarterback Sam Hartman did leave for Notre Dame this off-season. ?? This bodes well for SoRodorick Thompson, Xavier White, Tahj Brooks, and freshman CamRon Valdez. We had some success in that offense whether it be to FCS or Power Five, whatever the case may be, I think the offense is successful as it goes.. Now the defense has a numbers advantage to the snag side: This is why the complimentary passing concept placed to the backside is so important-it must take advantage of this overreaction by the defense. 120)Yards per play: 4.6 (No. The day I took the job here we had a zoom call with the HBU football team and [coach Shealy] let the guys know that I was taking this opportunity here. However, the weakness of triangle concepts like snag are brought to bear when the defense responds by over rotating to the triangle side. The cornerback jumps the shoot, isolating Sterns on the corner route against an outmatched linebacker: Against UTSA they put the back on tear motion, which allows Zappe to identify man coverage when the backer vacates the box to run with him. But for him, I felt like it was really just the relationship that he and I built where he was going to play had to be perfect for him. Led by transfers Bailey Zappe and Jerreth Sterns, WKU finished the season averaging 44 points and 536 yards per game, second behind only Ohio State in total offense. I'm biased clearly, but I don't think there's a more important football player in the whole country than Bailey Zappe is to this football program and this team.". The Cyclones are tasked with replacing All-American running back Breece Hall, longtime starting quarterback Brock Purdy and stud tight end Charlie Kolar. Name, Image and Likeness opportunity would be lucrative in Lubbock. First reported by @AaronDickens. Satterfield was one an expiring contract with the Gamecocks and his future with the program prior to Matt Rhule's arrival at Nebraska was shaky at best. Im really excited for Zach and this opportunity at Western Kentucky. He is incredibly sharp and is definitely one of the brightest young minds in the game, Kingsbury said in a statement. (LogOut/ Zappe broke BJ Symons record for most passing yards in a season and Joe Burrows mark of 60 passing touchdowns. I was fortunate enough to get my foot in the door there.. Western Kentucky football announced Monday it has hired Zach Kittley as the Hilltoppers' new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. The connections to Arkansas go without saying. 2 nationally)Passing offense: 434.6 ypg (No. Offense has always been a signature for the Red Raiders, dating back to the days of Mike Leach. Transfer quarterback Adrian Martinez will boost the Wildcats passing attack which ranked No. The good news for Sooner faithful is Jeff Lebby and Dillon Gaberial are no slouches. 1)Total offense: 528.5 ypg (No. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. He earned his masters degree in interdisciplinary studies from the university in 2016. The quarterback will now throw off of the flat defenders movement: If executed correctly, snag should be impossible to defend with zone coverage. 2022 review: CLAY SERVIN, RICE. Now Tech has the nation's best offensive coordinator of 2021. & Margaret Talkington Leadership Academy, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging. The read for the quarterback is simple-throw off of the cornerbacks movement and make him wrong. Like Trickett, Zach Kittley is another one of the top up-and-coming offensive coaches in the country. Today, he was named 247Sports' Offensive Coordinator of the Year. Ive known about Western Kentucky football for a long time, this is a brand thats known across the country, Kittley said. The Tops rank No. SOURCE: WKU OC Zach Kittley has agreed to become Texas Tech's new OC. Kliff Kingsbury got hired as the head coach and I said hey, this is a guy that I would love to learn from. While there are some questions regarding fit Kittley comes from an Air Raid, pass-heavy background this is the kind of hire that would be most intriguing. That being said, his Illini offense left a lot to be desired this season. 114)Passing offense: 164.3 ypg (No. Here out of empty Zappe initially checks the snag side, then looks back side and hits the slant return. The hire marks a homecoming for Kittley whos roots are firmly established in the Texas Panhandle. The Sooners have all season to prepare for Kittleys new-look offensive attack. Texas Tech hires Zach Kittley as new offensive coordinator, Its over: Law enforcement officials react to suicide of accused officer killer, Scottsville Police respond to accidents due to strong wind conditions, Project to upgrade lanes at a U.S. 68 intersection in Logan County begins, Nissan recalls over 800K SUVs; key defect can cut off engine, Second search for missing Caneyville woman yields no new information, WKU selects 18 for 2023-24 Cherry Presidential Scholarship, Hopkinsville man injured in Todd County accident. When coach Helton reached out to me to gauge my interest, coming here to lead this offense, I had already known how great it was hearing from coach Hamby, Kittley said. ?? Don would always tell me that Zach was his quarterback on defense. Now that Kittley had proven himself as the leader of an offense, it was time to make the jump to the FBS level. Kittley is the son of Wes Kittley, Texas Techs longtime Director of Track and Field who led the Red Raiders to a national title at the 2019 NCAA Mens Outdoor Championships. Sterns has also been successful this season, catching 137 passes for 1,718 yards and 17 touchdowns. His father, Wes Kittley, still coaches track and field for Texas Tech. TCU and first-year coach Sonny Dykes will have to open the checkbook very soon for Garrett Riley considering his success this season on staff with the Horned Frogs. According to 247Sports, Kittleys air raid attack was the third-most explosive offense in college football. @ZKittley Congrats!! This season, he led the Red Raiders to finishing No. The Brock product started his career at Texas A&M, but injuries dampened his time in College Station. The Red Raiders, who averaged more than 30 points per game in each of those three seasons, were also second nationally in total offense and scoring offense in 2015. The read for the quarterback is simple-throw off of the cornerbacks movement and make him wrong. Wide receiver Jerreth Sterns led the nation in receptions (137) and receiving yards (1,718) while catching 14 touchdowns. (LogOut/ The tailback would cheat his alignment out and run a shoot with an aiming point 2-3 yards out of bounds. Hambys praise of WKU seemed to have a strong effect on Kittley. Kittleys protg quarterback Bailey Zappe is the nations leading passer, despite it being his first season playing at the FBS level. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. In fact, there's a chance the 35-year-old could be leading a team in the NFL as early as next season. He also had three rushing touchdowns. The next play-caller will have notable personnel to work with in 2023 and beyond. He earned his masters degree in interdisciplinary studies from the university in 2016. Likely he would be the feature receiver who can snag 100 passes in this offense. Mahomes is one of two NFL Draft selections to tutor under Kittley as Western Kentucky gunslinger Bailey Zappe heard his name called in the fourth round this past May by the New England Patriots. Through the air, the Chippewas averaged 265.4 passing yards a game. The 2018 season would prove rough for the team, as HBU went 1-10 without a conference victory. Texas Tech ranks 12th nationally in passing offense, so Rattler and the South Carolina quarterback room would love to see an assistant coach of his caliber come to the SEC. The spot route presents another man beater element to the play with the rub it places on the defender covering the flat route. A lot of its predicated on what defense you play each week. I think that in their minds, the best thing for their career was to come here and continue to play in this offense with [Zappe] and me, they know how I operate, they know how I design plays, I felt like for them it felt more like home here, being able to have some continuity with me. Johnson's coaching careerbegan at Utah as the quarterbackscoach in 2010 and he later served under Dan Mullen as Florida's top assistant. By Wesley Ross Zach Kittleys electric offense this past season at Western Kentucky put the normally below-the-radar Hilltoppers program onto the national scene. Kliff Kingsbury truly took him under his wing and let Zach do a lot to learn that offense.. When I left [HBU], there was a little inkling in me thinking that he would leave, he had an SEC offer and a Big 12 offer. His 5,545 yards is 289 yards short from B.J. Running Backs should be heavily involved as well. WebZach Kittley, the architect behind one of the nations top offenses this past two years at both Houston Baptist at Western Kentucky, enters his first season on the Texas Tech staff as Copyright 2021 WBKO. South Carolina football and coach Shane Beamer will soon be on the hunt for a new offensive coordinator following the departure of Marcus Satterfield to Nebraska, a move that's expected to be finalized this week. 9. Zach Kittley represents one of the top, young offensive minds in college football, and He followed a year later by leading the Chiefs to a win in Super Bowl LIV, becoming the youngest quarterback in NFL history to be named Super Bowl MVP in the process. 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