Saban Quick and Decisive: Davis Out, Rumph In at Alabama Before Seat Gets Cold

In one of the fastest turnabouts in the college football coaching carousel, Alabama's Bo Davis accepts an offer from Mack Brown to become the University of Texas defensive tackles coach and Tide coach Nick Saban announces that Chris Rumph is moving to Tuscaloosa to fill Davis' vacated coaching position on the defensive line.

Rumph has spent five years at Clemson University, working through the transition between the firing of Tommy Bowden and subsequent takeover by offensive coordinator Dabo Swinney.

In each of his seasons at Clemson as defensive ends coach, the Clemson University defense finished in the top 25 in the nation in scoring defense and total defense. The current defensive coordinator at Clemson is former Alabama defensive coordinator Kevin Steele. Without question, the longtime friend of Nick Saban was consulted before the hire and advancement to the Tide staff.

Rumph has coached at the Division I level for eight years. During Rumph's stint at Clemson, he has been instrumental in the development of several defensive ends that have headed to the National Football League. In 2008, Philip Merling was selected 32nd overall in the NFL draft by the Miami Dolphins. All-ACC defensive end Ricky Sapp was drafted by the Philidelphia Eagles in 2010.

He has been instrumental in the development of current first-team All-ACC defensive end DaQuan Bowers and first team All-ACC defensive tackle Jarvis Jenkins. Bowers has also been named first team All-American by the Associated Press and Sports Illustrated.

Rumph played football at the University of South Carolina from 1991-1994. In his senior year, he posted 52 tackles in 11 regular season games. His senior season was capped off with a victory against West Virginia in the CarQuest Bowl, South Carolina's first bowl victory in the history of the football program.

From TideSports.com: addended 1/5/11

Clowney had planned to take an official visit to Clemson because of his relationship with Rumph. He said now that Rumph is gone he now has no plans on taking his visit to Clemson.

Rumph's hiring also helps in Alabama's recruitment of the Rock Hill, S.C., native.

"Yeah, I like (Alabama) even more now since they've got Rumph."

Clowney said he will choose between Alabama, Florida State, LSU and South Carolina on National Signing Day.