CFB notebook: Rodriguez interviews at Ole Miss

Former Arizona and Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez interviewed for an opening at Ole Miss this weekend, according to multiple media outlets. Rodriguez, who was fired by Arizona on Jan. 2 after six seasons at the school, was in Oxford, Miss., on Friday and Saturday meeting with Ole Miss coach Matt Luke about the vacant offensive coordinator opening. The visit by Rodriguez initially was reported by the Ole Miss Spirit and confirmed by FootballScoop.com. Rodriquez was 43-35 at Arizona before his dismissal, which followed a 7-6 record in 2017. He also was the subject of a sexual harassment lawsuit from his former administrative assistant. Rodriguez was named the Pac-12 Coach of the Year in 2014 -- his third year at Arizona. He previously spent three seasons at Michigan, compiling a 15-22 record from 2008 to 2010 after going 60-26 in seven years at West Virginia. In 16 seasons as a college head coach, Rodriguez owns a 118-83 record while leading the three schools to a combined 11 bowl appearances. --Boise State running back Alexander Mattison will skip his senior season and head to the pros. Mattison announced on his Twitter account that he will forgo his final year of eligibility with the Broncos and plans to enter the 2019 NFL Draft. Mattison had a superb junior season in leading the Broncos to their 16th consecutive bowl appearance, but their matchup against Boston College in Wednesday's First Responder Bowl was canceled 10 minutes into the game because of severe weather in Dallas. The 5-foot-11, 210-pound Mattison rushed for 1,415 yards and 17 touchdowns in 13 games for Boise State (10-3), which won its final seven regular-season games. He also had 27 receptions for 173 yards. Mattison closed the season in spectacular fashion with consecutive 200-yard rushing games. He rushed for at least 144 yards in his final four games while amassing seven touchdowns during that span. --A defense that propelled Fresno State to the Mountain West Conference championship is losing two key players. Middle linebacker Jeff Allison and safety Mike Bell both announced via social media that they are leaving the school early to enter the 2019 NFL Draft. Allison was named the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year after registering 132 tackles and two interceptions in receiving first-team all-conference honors for the second straight season. Bell was a second-team all-conference selection in 2018 after accumulating 87 tackles and three interceptions in 14 games for Fresno State. The 6-foot-3, 203-pound Bell was an MWC honorable mention pick as a sophomore. The Bulldogs finished 11-2 overall and 7-1 in conference play, capping the season with a 19-16 victory over Boise State in the MWC championship game before rolling to a 31-20 win over Arizona State in the Las Vegas Bowl. Fresno State permitted only 198 points in 14 games. --Auburn cornerback Jamel Dean ended his college career on a winning note. Hours after Auburn trampled Purdue 63-14 in the Music City Bowl on Friday, Dean announced via social media that he plans to make himself available for the 2019 NFL Draft. Dean registered 30 tackles, two interceptions and one sack in 12 games for the Tigers this season. He appeared in 26 games during the past two seasons, making 22 starts. The 6-foot-2, 208-pound Dean had 43 tackles and eight pass deflections in 14 games in 2017.