Chryst, Watt, Clay Watch - Thursday, January 6

We don't do this often, but there's enough going on today to warrant a continuously updated post on what is happening with Paul Chryst, J.J. Watt and John Clay.

And remember, for the absolute latest, you should follow @B5Q on Twitter.

Paul Chryst

11:21 pm: Rivals.com's Tom Dienhart is reporting Paul Chryst is no longer a candidate for the Pitt head coaching job.

9:17 pm: The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Jeff Potrykus reports Dallas Cowboys' head coach Jason Garrett will retain play-calling duties, which would hinder any chances of Chryst going to Dallas. He also says the Badgers continue to work on a raise for their offensive coordinator.

4:04 pm: OrangeBloods.com is reporting Boise State offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin and Major Applewhite will be co-coordinators at Texas. If true, that obviously means Chryst won't be going Austin.

2:29 pm: The Hartford Courant is reporting Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Bradley, reportedly the favorite for the Pitt job, is at UConn today. UConn is also searching for a new head coach.

1:32 pm: From Paul Zeise who covers the Pitt Panthers for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: 

Paul Chryst either did interview yesterday or will interview today but he is a legitimate candidate now. I think it was actually Wednesday as Steve Pederson is back in Pittsburgh today and has a series of meetings to attend to, but I don't know that for sure which day it was. At any rate the important thing is, he is legitimately a candidate and no longer just a rumor mill guy.

12:25 pm: Recruitocosm reported this morning that Chryst "has but a few hours to sign on the line that is dotted or his ship at UT would have sailed." Careful with this one though, as this same site reported Monday night that Chryst and Bob Bostad were already hired by the Longhorns. Plus, that quoted sentence is just horrible English.

11:56 am: Multiple reports indicate Paul Chryst will interview (or already has) for the vacancy at Pittsburgh.

This may have Texas moving onto Plan B as far as their offensive coordinator position is concerned and B5Q can confirm that there is a private jet that left Boise, Idaho en route to Austin, Texas at 11:14 a.m. CT. We cannot confirm that Boise State offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin is on that plane, but he has been on Texas' wish list during its entire search. That plane is scheduled to land in Austin at 2:18 CT.

Chryst has been rumored to be in the mix for the Dallas Cowboy's OC job, assuming Jason Garrett has the interim tag taken off and is named the team's head coach. That will happened today, according to ESPNDallas.com. A press conference has been scheduled for 1:30 p.m. CT. It's another wrinkle in this story to watch.

J.J. Watt

2:10 pm: J.J. Watt announced on Twitter that he will forgo his senior season and enter the 2011 NFL Draft.

11:56 am: There's been nothing but silence from the J.J. Watt camp this week since he announced on Twitter Sunday that he would make a decision mid-week. Watt arrived back in Wisconsin Tuesday after spending a couple extra days in California after the Rose Bowl.

John Clay

11:51 pm: The Racine Journal-Times' Gery Woelfel reported today that Clay will meet with Bret Bielema Friday to discuss his future. Clay has spent the last few days in his hometown of Racine "relaxing".

11:56 am: There aren't many concrete reports on either John Clay or J.J. Watt, but 247Sports' Kyle Heikkinen wrote on Twitter this morning:

Rumors surfacing that John Clay has told people that he will be back next year; Internet chatter. Still no official word. #Badgers

No matter what Clay and Watt decide, I expect there to be a formal press conference called by the Badgers to announce their intentions.

We will add to this post as news surfaces today.