From Tiger Tracks. Bruce Feldman also quoted as saying Kodi Burns would be top candidate to replace Craig if he does go.
Auburn receivers coach Dameyune Craig has emerged as a “serious candidate†to join LSU’s staff, according to 247Sports.com.
Craig, a former Auburn quarterback now known as one of the nation’s top recruiters, just finished his third season as Auburn’s receivers coach. It’s unclear what title Craig would have with the Tigers.
LSU has openings for receivers coach and recruiting coordinator after the departures of Frank Wilson last month and receivers coach Tony Ball this week.
A source at LSU told The Advocate that the school is “still in the interview process†for the job openings. The Tigers announced the hire of running backs coach Jabbar Juluke on Saturday. FoxSports.com also Sunday reported that Craig is a “strong candidate†to join LSU’s staff.
Craig landed at Auburn after a three-year stint as receivers coach and recruiting coordinator at Florida State, where he led the Seminoles to a pair of top-5 signing classes. Craig is familiar with Baton Rouge. The Pritchard, Alabama, native began his collegiate coaching career as an offensive graduate assistant at LSU in 2004, Nick Saban’s last season with the Tigers.
Craig’s coaching stops also include the Miami Dolphins (2005), Tuskegee (2006-07) and South Alabama (2008-09). Craig makes $500,000 a year at Auburn in a contract that expires in June 2018, according to AL.com. Wilson made $675,000 a year as LSU’s running backs coach and recruiting coordinator. Ball made $310,000.
Craig helped recruit 2013 Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston while in Tallahassee . He was recognized as the 2012 Scout/FoxSportsNet ACC Recruiter of the Year as well as the Rivals.com ACC Recruiter of the Year. He was named one of the top 25 recruiters in the country by Rivals and one of the top 50 recruiters by 247Sports.
Craig tutored Florida State quarterbacks E.J. Manuel and Christian Ponder. Ponder and Manuel combined to throw for 2,905 yards while Ponder completed 61.5 percent of his passes and Manuel completed 69.9 percent of his passes. Ponder was a first-round pick of the Minnesota Vikings in the 2011 NFL Draft.
Craig played quarterback at Auburn from 1994-97, where he still holds numerous Auburn passing records, including completions (216) and passing yards (3,227) in a season as well as a single-game record for most net yards gained (445 vs. Army in 1996; 75 rush, 370 pass). Craig led Auburn to an 18-7 mark in 25 career starts.
He signed as a free agent quarterback with the NFL’s Carolina Panthers and appeared in six games over a four-year stretch.
Craig’s hire would be another inner-division move that’s becoming so familiar in the SEC West. LSU lost its last two defensive coordinators to SEC West rivals (John Chavis to Texas A&M last year and Kevin Steele to Auburn this year). The Tigers replaced Steele with Wisconsin’s Dave Aranda, a much-ballyhooed hire of one of the country’s up-and-coming defensive gurus.
Auburn also made a run at LSU defensive backs coach Corey Raymond last month. Coach Les Miles gave Raymond a one-year extension through the 2017 season and a $65,000 raise, making his yearly salary $375,000.
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