Sam Darnold denied a rumor that he might remain at USC for his junior season if the Cleveland Browns end up with the first pick in the 2018 NFL draft.

Darnold has been widely rumored to stay in school despite his high draft standing.

"I didn't say anything about the Browns," Darnold told reporters after the Trojans' practice Monday. "I've never said anything bad about (an NFL) team. They know I would never say anything."

Darnold's draft availability has been the topic of speculation since earlier this month, when the MMQB's Albert Breer said during a radio interview that Darnold would wait to see if the Browns had the No. 1 pick before deciding whether to enter the draft.

Jason Witten is not currently considering leaving the Dallas Cowboys to become head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers.

Witten has been linked to the job despite remaining an active player.

"Coaching is something I can see myself down the road, having one of those opportunities, but right now I'm all in with this team and my feet are planted firmly here and this opportunity that I have in 2017 and getting it right this week," Witten said. "And not only that, but I really love this team we have and what we're trying to build and get it right, right now and for beyond, for the future.

"So I feel too good to think that I'd consider something like that at this point."

Tennessee backed out of their agreement with Greg Schiano following backlash from fans.

Witten's name was mentioned as a possibility by outkickthecoverage.com, which said Witten would be willing to leave immediately to take over at his former school.

Chip Kelly has agreed to a deal with UCLA to become head coach.

Kelly will replace Jim Mora.

Kelly has worked in broadcasting this season after he was fired by the San Francisco 49ers.

Among the coaches Kelly could court as part of his new UCLA staff are former Oregon coach Mark Helfrich and California defensive line coach Jerry Azzinaro. 

Chip Kelly is expected to decide between head coaching jobs with Florida and UCLA.

Troy Aikman, a member of the school's search committee, is putting a "full-court press" on Kelly to accept the UCLA job, the source said.

Kelly was fired by the Eagles after the 2015 season and the 49ers after the 2016 season.

Kelly was considered an innovator and offensive guru at Oregon, where he coached for a national title at the end of the 2010 season.

His final team in 2012 went 12-1 and averaged 49.6 points per game.

In an informal poll of five NFL executives, all five said they would pick Sam Darnold over Josh Rosen.

"Both are talented passers and both are tough," said one executive. "Rosen is tougher than he is given credit for. Sam just has a little more savvy and feel for the position to me. (Darnold has) more ability to make a crazy, improbable kind of play than Josh, while still being a highly skilled passer. (I) like both of them, but I'd take Sam if in position to choose one."

"I'll take Darnold," said a second executive. "Rosen's likely a better natural talent, but Sam just has that 'it' factor that can be so hard to find and quantify."

"They are both going to be good," said a third executive. "Rosen is more polished and a finished product now, but I'm a Darnold guy. He (has) 'it'."

Saquon Barkley remains No. 1 on Mel Kiper Jr.'s Big Board for the 2018 NFL Draft.

Barkley has struggled over the past two weeks but remains highly productive this season and could run a sub-4.4 40 at the combine.

Josh Rosen remains No. 2 followed by Derwin James, Minkah Fitzpatrick and Sam Darnold.

Darnold dropped to No. 5 in Kiper's previous ranking.

1. Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State
2. Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA
3. Derwin James, S, Florida State
4. Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB, Alabama
5. Sam Darnold, QB, USC
6. Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming
7. Bradley Chubb, DE, NC State
8. Arden Key, OLB, LSU
9. Quenton Nelson, G, Notre Dame
10. Rashaan Evans, ILB, Alabama
11. Harold Landry, OLB, Boston College
12. Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson
13. Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame
14. Orlando Brown, OT, Oklahoma 
15. Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama
16. Connor Williams, OT, Texas
17. Ronald Jones II, RB, USC
18. Christian Wilkins, DL, Clemson
19. Maurice Hurst, DT, Michigan
20. Isaiah Oliver, CB, Colorado
21. Denzel Ward, CB Ohio State
22. Josh Jackson, CB, Iowa
23. Vita Vea, DT, Washington
24. Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, OLB, Oklahoma
25. Dallas Goedert, TE, South Dakota State