Our list of highest-paid running backs coaches is ready, with a couple of notable exceptions.
West Virginia's Chad Scott is due to make $430,000 for the upcoming season, except head coach Neal Brown promoted him to offensive coordinator in January. The $430,000 figure would make him the fourth-highest assistant on the staff, which would undoubtedly make West Virginia the only staff in the country to pay its offensive play-caller below three of his peers. For what it's worth, Graham Harrell earned $600,000 as WVU's OC in 2022 and would've earned $800,000 had he returned this season.
At Auburn, Cadillac Williams earned $400,000 in 2022, but events of the '22 campaign demonstrated his value is well beyond that. First there was the inspiring 4-game run as the Tigers' interim head coach, which then led into Hugh Freeze retaining the former Auburn All-American as associate head coach and running backs coach. (At press time, Williams's 2023 salary was not public.)
"I think the word I would use (for Williams) is invaluable," Freeze said in November. "I don't that I can describe it any more than that."
What's the monetary value of "invaluable"? Cadillac's agent undoubtedly has an idea.
Even still, it's unlikely Scott or Williams approach Frank Wilson's $950 grand this season.
The full list:
1. Frank Wilson, LSU -- $950,000
2. Dell McGee, Georgia -- $805,000
3. Tony Alford, Ohio State -- $773,000
4. DeMarco Murray, Oklahoma -- $615,000
5. Curtis Luper, Missouri -- $575,000
6. Robert Gillespie, Alabama -- $565,000
7. Jay Boulware, Kentucky -- $550,000
7. Tashard Choice, Texas -- $550,000
7. Mike Hart, Michigan -- $550,000
10. Todd Goebel, NC State! -- $505,000
11. Tony Hughes, Mississippi State -- $500,000
11. Craig Johnson, Indiana -- $500,000
11. David Johnson, Florida State -- $500,000
11. Kenny Perry, Texas Tech* -- $500,000
11. Larry Porter, North Carolina -- $500,000
11. Thad Ward, Illinois -- $500,000
17. Jabbar Juluke, Florida -- $450,000
17. CJ Spiller, Clemson -- $450,000
19. Chad Scott, West Virginia -- $430,000
20. Jerry Mack, Tennessee -- $425,000
20. John Wozniak, Oklahoma State -- $425,000
22. Brian Anderson, Kansas State -- $400,000
22. Montario Hardesty, South Carolina -- $400,000
22. Lee Marks, Washington -- $400,000
22. Cadillac Williams, Auburn -- $400,000
26. DeShaun Foster, UCLA -- $385,000
27. Ladell Betts, Iowa -- $380,000
28. Jimmy Smith, Arkansas -- $360,000
29. Keith Bhonapha, Oregon State -- $350,000
29. Elijah Brooks, Virginia Tech -- $350,000
29. Keith Gaither, Virginia -- $350,000
Missing: Chris Barclay, Louisville; Marquel Blackwell, Texas A&M; Gary Harrell, Colorado; Jordan Langs, Iowa State; Kevin Smith, Ole Miss;
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* Special teams coordinator
For what it's worth, Blackwell was set to earn $425,000 at Ole Miss before taking the Texas A&M job.
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.