As expected, Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain announced today that he will forego his senior season and enter the 2010 draft pool.
Somewhat -- kinda, sorta -- unexpectedly, however, the Tide received some very good news on the coaching front.
Kirby Smart, who was being plied by SEC rival Georgia, has decided to turn down UGA’s offer -- an offer that would’ve reportedly doubled his current salary -- and will instead remain at Alabama as their defensive coordinator, head coach Nick Saban announced shortly after McClain’s decision went public.
The offer made by Georgia would’ve reportedly made Smart the third-highest paid assistant in the country, behind only Tennessee’s Lane Monte Kiffin and Texas’ Will Muschamp. It’s unknown what “tweaks” the Tide made to Smart’s current contract as incentive for him to remain on staff.
As for McClain, it’s been thought for months that he was leaving early, and the speculation finally came to fruition this afternoon.
“I’m going to leave the university pretty satisfied with what I’ve done here,” McClain said according to the Mobile Press-Register.
McClain’s decision was an easy one as the All-American LB can pretty much punch his first-round ticket in the April draft.