Is McElwain Florida’s Next Football Coach?

University of Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley is in Fort Collins, Colorado amid reports he is negotiating with Colorado State football coach Jim McElwain to possibly become Florida’s new football coach.

Foley flew out west yesterday and several media reports say he and McElwain did meet to discuss the job that became vacant when Will Muschamp was let go.

There could be more meetings between the parties today.   The Denver Post reported that Foley and McElwain spoke as early as this past Saturday about the Florida job.

McElwain, a former offensive coordinator at Alabama, has been the head coach at Colorado State for three seasons.   This year, the Rams are 10-2, and feature an offense that is one of the best in the country led by senior quarterback Garrett Grayson, the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year, and sophomore wide receiver Rashard Higgins, a Biletnikoff Award finalist after gaining over 1400 yards receiving this year with 15 touchdowns.

All indications are that McElwain is the top candidate for the job at Florida; the only possible stumbling block might be the 7.5 million dollar buyout clause in his contract but sources tell ESPN 850 WRUF that the buyout can be altered or negotiated to a different number.