Penn State football: 5 replacements for James Franklin if he leaves for USC or LSU
By John Buhler
Marcus Freeman. 819. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. player. Defensive Coordinator. Notre Dame Fighting Irish. 4
Marcus Freeman could get a big-time head-coaching job as early as 2022
There are several top coordinators out there who would be outstanding fits at Penn State if James Franklin were to leave for another gig. The first guy we are going to touch on is Notre Dame defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman. The former Ohio State linebacker cut his teeth as a defensive coordinator on Luke Fickell’s Cincinnati Bearcats staff. Now he works for Brian Kelly.
After Cincinnati’s incredible run to the Peach Bowl a season ago, Freeman had options to go to a Power Five gig, opting to take the Notre Dame defensive coordinator job over replacing an ineffective Bo Pelini at LSU. Now in his sixth year as a college defensive coordinator, Freeman is ready to lead a program of his own. Penn State would be as good of a first-time spot he could get.
While Fickell is “technically” a candidate to leave Cincinnati for Penn State if Franklin were to bounce, he is up for the USC and LSU jobs, too. Since he is not taking over at Ohio State, it would have to be something like that for him to leave Cincinnati, a program that will be Power Five very soon. Freeman is the top candidate to replace Fickell, but he must be considered at Penn State.
Though Freeman may love the opportunity to go to Penn State, they do have better options.