Report: Falcons hire South Carolina Kitchings as running backs coach



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Arthur Smith searched from afar for his new coaching staff, picking up names unrelated to the new head coach like Chicago Bears’ Dave Ragone for the offensive coordinator.

Now Smith is in college for his running back coach. University of South Carolina running back coach Des Kitchings will join the Falcons in the same role, according to multiple reports.

Running back coach Des Kitchings is leaving the Gamecocks program to take the same position with the Atlanta Falcons, according to a source familiar with the situation at The State. FootballScoop was the first to report the news. There hasn’t been an official announcement from the Falcons yet.

Prior to this COVID-19 shortened college season, the Gamecocks hadn’t had a 1,000-yard rusher since Marcus Lattimore in 2010. That rusher Kevin Harris won’t be draftable this offseason, but it raises questions about who the Falcons might target with a running back. a major need.

According to the report, Carolina lost their former running back coach to the Los Angeles Rams in 2019.

Kitchings has a long history in college and has been widely respected for his work in Carolina, according to Football Scoop.

Kitchings had been positioned for a raise with the Gamecocks, according to the sources, and was also highly regarded in the athletics department, according to program sources. Kitchings has also consistently been one of the top talent recruiters and running back developers at the college level.

The Falcons could desperately use the latter as the team have failed to develop a back since Devonta Freeman exploded under Kyle Shanahan (then exploded in a whole other way after signing a long-term overtime).

We’re still trying to figure out what to expect from Smith, but he makes a lot of bold choices we haven’t seen under the team’s former head coach.

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