College football: Oregon hires Willie Taggart as coach; Christian McCaffrey to enter NFL draft

Willie Taggart has become known for rebuilding programs at Western Kentucky and South Florida. His next endeavor will be much more high profile, trying to turn around the struggling Oregon Ducks.

Oregon announced Wednesday that it had hired Taggart to take over following a disappointing 4-8 season and the dismissal of coach Mark Helfrich.

Taggart has been coach at USF for the past four seasons, guiding the team from a 2-10 record his first year to a 10-2 mark this year and a spot in the Birmingham Bowl.

Before he arrived in Tampa he spent three seasons at his alma mater, Western Kentucky, inheriting a winless program that he turned around with back-to-back winning seasons.

“Willie places an emphasis on ensuring a positive student-athlete experience and on winning, and his previous stops have proven his success at both,” Oregon Athletic Director Rob Mullens said in a statement. “We have a very bright future under his leadership.”

Taggart, 40, is the first coach Oregon has hired from outside the program since 1976. The Ducks’ previous three coaches, Mike Bellotti, Chip Kelly and Helfrich, were each assistants who were promoted.

Taggart will also be the first black head football coach at Oregon. The length and terms of his contract with the Ducks were not immediately released.

McCaffrey turning pro

Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey will skip his senior season to enter the NFL draft. McCaffrey announced his decision on Wednesday, saying he has done everything he could in college and now wants to pursue his dream of playing in the NFL.”

“Since I was 6 years old, I’ve wanted to play in the NFL,” he wrote in an announcement on Stanford’s website announcing his decision. “It’s been on every list of goals that I’ve ever written. Now, it’s time to take that step. There’s nothing more I can put on film.”

McCaffrey was the runner-up last season for the Heisman Trophy when he broke Barry Sanders’ NCAA record for all-purpose yards in a season with 3,864 yards. He has proven to be the ultimate all-around threat with the ability to run with power between the tackles, use his elusiveness and speed running on the outside or as a receiver and being a dangerous returner.

He rushed for 2,019 yards and eight scores, added 645 yards receiving with two more touchdowns and had 1,200 yards and two TDs as a returner in 2015 when he narrowly lost the Heisman to Alabama’s Derrick Henry.

McCaffrey was not as prolific this season as he was slowed in October by an injury. He still rushed for 1,596 yards and increased his yards per carry from 6.0 to 6.3 despite a less accomplished line and passing game. He also scored 16 touchdowns overall this season for Coach David Shaw and the 16th-ranked Cardinal (9-3).

“I’ve talked to many in and out of the game and received advice from people whose opinions I greatly respect, including Toby Gerhart, who was here for a game this season. I took their feedback and came to a conclusion: I’m ready,” McCaffrey wrote.

Etc.

Alabama quarterback David Cornwell said he is transferring. The redshirt sophomore announced his decision Wednesday in a Twitter post. Redshirt freshman Blake Barnett left the program early in the season after freshman Jalen Hurts won the starting job. Cooper Bateman is the backup. It was not immediately clear if Cornwell would remain with the team through the playoff. Cornwell enrolled at Alabama in January 2014 as a four-star prospect from Norman, Okla.