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Coming on the heels of Georgia’s announcement that Mark Richt wouldn’t return as head coach in 2016, a source tells 247Sports that current Houston head coach Tom Herman would be highly interested in the opening in Athens.

The 40-year-old Herman is regarded as the hottest up-and-coming coaching candidate in college football. He spent three seasons as Ohio State’s offensive coordinator — winning a national title in his final year with a third-stringer in Cardale Jones — prior to landing the head job at Houston last offseason. While with the Buckeyes, one of Herman’s primary recruiting territories was the Atlanta metro-area, which could help him if he were to be hired by Georgia.

Herman has been linked to the opening at South Carolina, but reports say he’s withdrawn his interest. Industry sources believe he’d be content waiting at Houston for something to open at Texas or Texas A&M (Herman played college in Texas and GA’d with the Longhorns), but an offer from Georgia would be enticing for Herman to turn down.

According to the 247Sports Team Talent Composite, the Bulldogs have the seventh-best roster in college football, based on recruiting history.

In Richt’s 15th season at Georgia, the Bulldogs are 9-3 but third in the East Division, despite entering the year as the favorites to wind up in Atlanta.

UGA alum Kirby Smart and Dan Mullen will also be considered, 247Sports’ Rusty Mansell believes.

Herman has Houston at 11-1 in Year 1 and will play in the AAC title game this weekend.

"All that the South has ever desired was that the Union, as established by our forefathers, should be preserved, and that the government, as originally organized, should be administered in purity and truth." – Robert E. Lee