With a new head coach on the job, the Philadelphia Eagles are reportedly eyeballing a pair of SEC coaches for their open defensive coordinator slot.  Georgia defensive coordinator Todd Grantham and Florida defensive coordinator Dan Quinn have both been mentioned in connection with the job.

According to CSNPhilly.com, Grantham is the top choice to join new Eagles coach Chip Kelly as his D-coordinator.  Kelly made a Pete Carroll-like escape to the NFL this week (as the NCAA posse circles Oregon’s program).  Grantham just completed his third season as Mark Richt’s defensive coordinator.

Grantham came to Georgia from the National Football League in January, 2010 after a number of other candidates passed on joining the Bulldogs’ staff.  In the NFL, he coached with the Cowboys, Browns, Texans and Colts.  He also coached at Michigan State and Virginia Tech prior to this 1999-2009 stint in the pros.

Chip Towers of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution believes Grantham would take the job if offered because he remains “an NFL guy.”  However, UGA athletic director Greg McGarity told The Athens Banner-Herald last night that Grantham — as of that point — had not informed the school of anyone making an approach toward him, something he’s required to do contractually.

Meanwhile, former SEC scribe and current NFL Network employee Ian Rapoport tweeted last night that both Grantham and Quinn are names to watch in Kelly’s search.  The reason?  “Both schooled in stopping spread offenses, both with NFL experience.”

ESPN’s Adam Schefter has also heard Quinn’s name – along with Grantham’s — being tied to the Eagles’ opening.

Quinn has spent the past two years running Will Muschamp’s defense in Gainesville.  He came to the Gators in January, 2011 from the NFL.  From 2011 through 2001, Quinn coached with the Seahawks, Dolphins, and 49ers.  Before his pro run, Quinn coached at William & Mary, VMI, and Hofstra.

Florida finished second in the SEC in total defense this past season.  Georgia placed sixth in that category.  They also finished second and sixth, respectively, in SEC scoring defense in 2012.

Multiple internet sites are reporting that yesterday’s rumors have become today’s facts.

William & Mary defensive coordinator Bob Shoop has resigned and is expected to be hired in that same capacity at Vanderbilt.

FootballScoop.com is reporting that former Georgia Southern defensive coordinator Brent Pry will join James Franklin’s staff as Shoop’s co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.

It is expected that Shoop will coach the Commodores’ safeties.

(As for the photo, that’s Shoop on the left, Pry on the right.)

New Vanderbilt head coach James Franklin has already put the finishing touches on his offensive staff, but work on the defensive side of the ball remains.  According to FootballScoop.com, things may now be heating up in that area.

The website reports this morning: “Our sources tell us that James Franklin has offered a position to Georgia Southern defensive coordinator Brent Pry.”

Rumors have persisted all weekend that Pry would leave Statesboro for a job with the Commodores, but no one seems to know whether he’ll serve as Franklin’s defensive coordinator or not.

Pry has been a coordinator at two schools — Georgia Southern last season and Louisiana-Lafayette from 2002 through 2006.  He has also coached at Western Carolina and Memphis.  That’s not exactly an SEC resume, but at least Pry has recruited the Deep South, unlike most of Franklin’s new aides.

Pry currently coaches safeties for the Eagles, but he has coached defensive linemen and linebackers at previous stops.

Other rumors making the rounds have William & Mary defensive coordinator Bob Shoop taking over the same spot in Nashville.  Don’t be surprised if VU goes the co-coordinator route.

Shoop has been at William & Mary since 2007.  Prior that he has coached at Yale and Villanova.  He was also head coach at Columbia from 2003 to 2005.

According to the W&M website, Shoop handles recruiting in Western Pennsylvania and Richmond.  And he coaches the secondary for The Tribe in addition to coordinating the defense.

While Yale and William & Mary might not look too impressive on an SEC coach’s resume — and they don’t — Shoop was named the FCS Coordinator of the Year by the aforementioned FootballScoop.com.  If Franklin turns to the FCS for his aides, Shoop would certainly be high on the list.

Vanderbilt has four spots open on the defensive side of the ball.