Prominent state of Georgia assistants are leading candidates to become the next Georgia State head coach.
The Athletic reported Wednesday that Georgia run game coordinator and running backs coach Dell McGee and Georgia Tech offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner are "strong candidates" for the head coaching opening in Atlanta.
FootballScoop can confirm McGee is deep into the process, with an interview already in the books.
A former Auburn and NFL running back, McGee was a Georgia high school coach for his first decade in the profession, beginning in 2002. He was the head coach at Carver-Columbus High School from 2005-12 before joining Gus Malzahn's Auburn staff as an analyst in 2013.
McGee became Georgia Southern's running backs coach a year later, spending two seasons there before joining Kirby Smart's charter Georgia staff in 2016.
Faulkner, whom sources confirm is also a leading candidate, is a Lilburn, Ga., native who starred at Valdosta State near the turn of the century and has coached at Valdosta and UGA in multiple stints across his two-decade career. He's also coordinated offenses for Murray State, Middle Tennessee, Arkansas State and Southern Miss, and is presently prepping for his second season as the offensive coordinator and tight ends coach at Georgia Tech.
The Yellow Jackets showcased one of the nation's most improved offenses in their first season under Faulkner's direction, bounding from 115th nationally in yards per play to 27th.
Other candidates who are slated to interview or already have spoken to Georgia State officials in some capacity are former Georgia wide receivers coach Bryan McClendon, who has taken the wide receivers job with the Tampa Bay Bucs but sources say has not signed his contract yet; Jess Simpson, a former Georgia State D-line coach with experience coaching the position throughout the Southeast and recently joined Georgia Tech's staff; and former Florida A&M head coach Willie Simmons, now the Duke running backs coach.
Sources say interviews in Atlanta began Tuesday, five days after head coach Shawn Elliott's departure for a job on Shane Beamer's South Carolina staff.
Elliott made $811,000 in 2023, below the $850,000 McGee made at Georgia but more than the $750,000 Georgia Tech paid Faulkner to coordinate its offense.
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.