JACKSONVILLE, FL - OCTOBER 28: Florida Gators head coach Jim McElwain reacts in the third quarter of a game against the Georgia Bulldogs at EverBank Field on October 28, 2017 in Jacksonville, Florida. Georgia defeated Florida 42-7. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

One of Florida's top coaching choices deflects on future at his school while building up main competitor

He's deflecting!

Many people believe that hiring Chip Kelly or current UCF head coach Scott Frost would be a fantastic hire for Florida. However, when Frost was asked about Kelly potentially becoming the next Gators head coach on his weekly for appearance for the Open Mike radio show he said he wasn't really sure because Kelly plays everything so close to the vest. He did give him a ringing endorsement though.

"Chip's just a good football coach. I think when you're in a vacuum and a really tough media market like Philly that he got a bad rap on a couple of things he didn't deserve. It started out really good (with the Eagles), but didn't end well. That doesn't take away from the fact of how good a football coach he is.

"Wherever Chip lands, they're going to be lucky to have him."

He didn't answer any questions about taking over the job himself and there haven't been reports of him taking the job since Florida initially fired Jim McElwain. That's led to a lot of speculation about Kelly since there would be no real red tape —- especially since the SEC cleared the school to pursue him —- to go through for him like negotiating a buyout or convincing him to move from a current school since he is with ESPN.

Frost is from the Kelly coaching tree as they worked together at Oregon. Frost was a wide receivers coach under Kelly and eventually became the quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator after Kelly left for the NFL. So that has led most people to come to the logic of "why get a branch from the tree when you can have the trunk?" We shall see if that holds up in the coming weeks as Florida should have a coach lined up fairly soon to combat the new early signing period for recruiting.

[h/t Orlando Sentinel]