Venables’ name pops up in talk about Hogs’ opening

It really was a just a matter of time before Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables’ name surfaced in the rumor mill around Arkansas’ coaching vacancy.

He is considered in some circles as the best assistant coach in college football these days and it’s kinda hard to argue with that.

He’s coached defenses that have played in back-to-back national championship games and won the last one, although it could be argued the defense didn’t exactly slow Alabama down that much in either game.

Barrett Sallee at CBSSports.com placed Venables’ name into the mix along with one we’ve heard numerous times in the past couple of weeks: Mike Norvell at Memphis:

Sources tell CBS Sports that Venables impressed many people tied to Arkansas when he was in Little Rock, Arkansas, receiving the 2016 Broyles Award given to the nation’s top assistant coach. His ability to consistently produce top-tier defenses in conjunction with Clemson’s high-octane, no-huddle offense is a trait that would translate well to an Arkansas program that recognizes the need to be more innovative offensively after Bielema’s more traditional approach never found sustained success.

We’ve heard from folks that Auburn coach Gus Malzahn is still the No. 1 target. Venables offers no quicker hiring options as the Tigers are poised to be in the College Football Playoff if they get past Miami in the ACC Championship game Saturday night.

Plus there’s still that question about whether Venables, who has turned down overtures on other head coaching jobs, is even interested in being a head coach.

“I love my job. I love the simplicity of it,” Venables said in a story with the Charleston Post and Courier in 2014. “I’m not going to be defined by a title or any kind of stature or pay. I just want to make sure I’m somewhere successful and got a quality family life.”

In a teleconference Sunday before the title game, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said nobody’s brought it up to him.

“We are 100 percent focused on Miami. I don’t know anything about that and I never get too worried or focused on any of that stuff,” Swinney said. “There are a million rumors and whatever. Our focus, Brent’s focus is on — I promise you — getting ready for Miami.”

He did say, however, it’s his policy to help his assistants get head jobs if they want them.

“I’ve always had a policy of if guys have opportunities somewhere down the road that they think is good for them, that’s great,” Swinney said. “But nobody’s sitting around worrying about any of that stuff. Everybody’s focused on trying to beat Miami this week. That’s it.”