Ohio State assistant Stan Drayton interviews with Temple

While the rapid filling of the Cincinnati vacancy (with surprise hire Texas Tech head coach Tommy Tuberville) left many Ohio State fans feel like their outstanding staff might be coming back as a whole for a run at a national championship in 2013, it's now sounding like there's a chance that might prove to not be the case.

Sports Illustrated's Pete Thamel revealed Sunday evening that Ohio State wide receivers coach (and former running backs under Jim Tressel and WR coach under Urban Meyer at Florida) interviewed in Philadelphia earlier in the day for the Temple head coaching vacancy. The job was previously held by Steve Addazio, Meyer's former offensive line, assistant head coach, and ultimately offensive coordinator. Addazio departed the Big East program in the middle of last week to take the vacancy at Boston College.

While Drayton hasn't been a name we've heard mentioned all that often in the hot stove market of the coaching carousel, he's long been considered a great recruiter and would be a sizable loss for the Buckeyes. Here's a list of the other prospective candidates Drayton will be going head-to-head against:

OSU asst Stan Drayton interviewed at Temple today. Dave Clawson, Matt Rhule, Chuck Heater (interim) and Todd Bowles in mix.

— Pete Thamel(@SIPeteThamel) December 9, 2012

Heater, another former Meyer assistant (co-defensive coordinator) might just be the leader in the club house, but Clawson and Bowles are almost certain to be in play as well. Some felt one thing Urban Meyer didn't absolutely ace during his tenure in Florida (besides the obvious management of his own personal health) was replacing assistants. It'll be interesting to see if he has to do so this soon in his tenure as a Ohio State's head man.