Penn State football: 5 replacements for James Franklin if he leaves for USC or LSU

Dan Lanning leads the best defense in football and will be a head coach soon

Dawg Nation must accept the fact this is almost certainly the last year defensive coordinator Dan Lanning will be in Athens. His defense is the most dominant unit in the country through seven games. Though he has been tabbed as a future head coach for a year or so, this is the year it finally happens for him. As to where he could potentially end up leaving Georgia for, why not Penn State?

Before he joined Kirby Smart’s staff he had worked for Mike Norvell in Memphis and Todd Graham before that at Arizona State and Pittsburgh. Given that he specializes in coaching up the linebackers, Penn State fans will absolutely love that, even if he spent a year at Pitt. While Nittany Lions alum Matt Rhule is not leaving the NFL right now, Lanning can make Penn State LBU again.

Though he is not that emotional of a head coach, Lanning knows how to put his players in position to succeed. We know that he can recruit from his current run at Georgia. The question is what type of head-coaching gig will he get right out of the gate. As with Freeman, Penn State feels like the pinnacle of what Lanning can get at this time. He may not get it, but should be considered for it.

If Mel Tucker leaves Michigan State for LSU, Lanning may replace his former defensive coordinator.