Steve Sarkisian won the Broyles Award at Alabama last year and was subsequently hired to be Texas’ head coach. Joe Brady won the award the year prior and latched on to a sweet NFL gig. Other past winners include Lincoln Riley, Brent Venables, Pat Narduzzi and others.
The award, given annually to the top assistant in college football, is likely within reach for OSU defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, the man behind one of college football’s best — and most surprising — units in the game. In nearly every category the defense ranks tops in the Big 12 and among the best in the country.