James Franklin on role of Robb Smith, opportunity in Peach Bowl

With former Penn State football defensive coordinator Manny Diaz off to Duke to be their next head coach there’s a gap in the coaching staff. The Nittany Lions are actively looking for its next defensive coordinator. At the same time, they have a bowl game to prepare for. When Penn State will take the field on December 30th in the Peach Bowl against Ole Miss, Anthony Poindexter and Robb Smith will call the defense. James Franklin spoke about the opportunity at hand on Friday during his media availability.

James Franklin on role of Robb Smith, opportunity in Peach Bowl

Some of you reading this might ask the question, who is Robb Smith? Robb Smith holds a defensive analyst role with the Penn State football team. But he has a long track record of coaching success behind him. He started his coaching career in 2001 and has coached in college and the NFL. Smith has spent time with teams including Iowa, Rutgers, Arkansas, Minnesota, Duke, and in the NFL the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Most recently he served as the linebacker and cornerbacks coach with Duke in 2022 before joining the Penn State football team. Now, he holds a massive opportunity to help coach the defense alongside Anthony Poindexter in the Peach Bowl. The Nittany Lions are actively searching for their next defensive coordinator, so if Poindexter and Smith can make a good impression, James Franklin could have two more hats in the ring.

James Franklin explains the role of Robb Smith

During his media availability on Friday, James Franklin discussed where he is at with the defensive coordinator search. Additionally, he explained how the operation will work during the Peach Bowl.

Franklin said, “…Robb [Smith] became available, Robb’s from Pennsylvania. We have a number of people that he trusts that know me and that I trust that know him. And then he’s been a defensive coordinator at Duke, he’s been a defensive coordinator at Minnesota, he’s been a defensive coordinator at Rutgers, and he’s been a defensive coordinator at Arkansas. So, he’s got a track record, he understands our program and the culture.”

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