Footballscoop.com is saying . . .

That Iowa assistant coach Eric Johnson is a candidate to replace former Alabama assistant head coach Kevin Steele, who accepted the defensive coordinator position at Clemson recently.

http://www.footballscoop.com/?cat=24

After six seasons coaching tight ends, Johnson switched to recruiting coordinator/linebackers after Kirk Ferentz shuffled the staff last winter. Johnson told me his job was "70/30," with the higher number being spent on recruiting coordinator. Ferentz said it was a de facto GM position.

Johnson has some south in his history. He's a '95 grad of Vanderbilt and spent three seasons on the coaching staff there as quality coordinator and graduate assistant.

There have been some rumbles about changes on the defensive side, but that's all I've heard. Defensive coordinator Norm Parker said in Tampa that he's good to go for another season.