College coaches on the NFL's radar as the coaching carousel starts spinning

It's "Black Monday" in the NFL, with head coaches being fired, and we will see lists and lists of possible replacements. Some are head coaching retreads (Todd Haley), some are NFL assistants (Pats defensive coordinator Matt Patricia) and some are the elusive white whales (Jon Gruden). There are also some in the college ranks who may be willing to make the leap into the professional ranks. Some have coached in the NFL before while others would be taking a chance that they can deal with the pressure.

So with jobs set to open across the league, what college names could be on GMs' wish lists?

Jim Harbaugh, Michigan
Harbaugh has done a great job getting Michigan back into the national discussion. Sure, the Wolverines fell just short of getting into the College Football Playoff (their two losses were on the final play of the game), but he got Michigan back into the conversation after taking over what was left of the Brady Hoke regime.

While Michigan is an elite college job, Harbaugh's name will come up every offseason for NFL gigs. His success in San Francisco was not only punctuated by a Super Bowl appearance but by the fact that the 49ers organization has seemingly fallen apart once he left. If the right franchise can deal with his energy and his confidence (or cockiness) then I can see him leaving sooner than later.

Chris Petersen, Washington
Petersen would be an interesting choice. It's obvious he can coach after he has rose Boise State into the big time and has taken a dormant Washington Huskies program to a Pac-12 championship and the College Football Playoff. He runs a pro-style offense so he isn't just some slick college coach that relies on the spread offense. He is smart and puts together a fine staff and quarterbacks excel with him. He's a West Coast guy and if a job opens up west of the Mississippi River, he'll be a guy to look at.

David Shaw, Stanford
Shaw has eight years of NFL experience with the Eagles, Raiders and Ravens and worked on Jim Harbaugh's staff before taking over for him at Stanford. He's run a pro-style offense in Stanford and has coached two Heisman runners-up. Shaw has been a name that keeps coming up in NFL circles, though he's never taken the bait. Yet.

Brian Kelly, Notre Dame
Even if it is a rumor, the fact that word came out that Kelly was looking around at other jobs had to jolt those in South Bend. After all, they tell you when you don't coach for them anymore, not the other way around. Kelly is on the hot seat at Notre Dame after a season that began with championship hopes and ended in a disastrous 4-8 record. If he was looking to jump ship, a NFL job would most likely be the next step. He had previously interviewed for the Eagles job so we know there's interest in the pros.

Paul Chryst, Wisconsin
Chryst has coached everywhere: WLAF, college, NFL, CFL. He's been a successful offensive coach wherever he's gone and while Wisconsin's offense doesn't really wow you, it is balanced and efficient. He's organized and would be a great hire at the next level.

Art Briles
Briles had outstanding success on the field at Baylor but was removed in wake of a sexual assault scandal that rocked the entire program in part due to the team's slow response to dealing with players accused of sexual assault and domestic violence. He's still a hot coaching commodity though it would be tough to get a top coaching position given what happened under his watch at Baylor. He's been consulting the Cleveland Browns this season and may find the NFL would be the best chance to get a prime head coaching job.

James Franklin, Penn State
After decades of seeing Joe Paterno lord over the Nittany Lions program, fans may need to get accustomed to seeing their coaches bolt for other jobs. Franklin shocked many by getting Penn State to a Big Ten championship this season and a Rose Bowl berth. He's had a taste of the NFL (one year as a receivers coach for the Packers) and his ability to adapt to his rosters shows his flexibility as a coach. He's a guy to watch.

Mike Riley, Nebraska
Sure, his stint with the Chargers didn't go very well but it seems like it's a tougher-than-expected job. He's done a masterful job and like other names on this list his offense translates well to the NFL. He won two Grey Cups with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and has done a decent job turning around middling programs. Maybe he gets one more crack at the NFL.

Jim Mora, UCLA
Mora is sort of in the same boat.  He is an NFL guy who is coaching in college but you know he'd love another chance at the top level after his one-year era with the Seahawks in 2009.

Nick Saban, Alabama
I don't think he's leaving (he's just said so) and I don't know why he would leave a situation that he currently has.  However, there are insiders that seem the think he still has an eye on the NFL. His tenure with the Dolphins wasn't great but we've seen coaches of his caliber do a little better the second time around (see: Bill Belichick). If a franchise is willing to give Saban control over the whole thing, it could entice him. And just because he has said he isn't leaving doesn't mean it is true.