REPORT: Penn State football letterman, DC candidate agrees to extension with USC

In the end, it appears that it won’t be a homecoming for USC defensive coordinator and Penn State football letterman D’Anton Lynn after all. As of Thursday evening, all indications point to the former Nittany Lions defensive back remaining in Los Angeles instead of joining James Franklin’s staff.

ESPN’s Pete Thamel is reporting tonight that Lynn and the Trojans have agreed to a contract extension. Lynn had been one of the top candidates to replace Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Allen, who left Happy Valley earlier this week for the same role at Clemson.

Sources: USC defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn has agreed to a contract extension to remain at USC. He’s received coordinator interest in this coaching cycle. pic.twitter.com/F3uW6nPTYw

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 17, 2025

James Franklin and his staff were out recruiting in the Los Angeles area on Thursday, further fueling speculation that Penn State football was making a play for the first-year USC defensive coordinator.

James Franklin (w/ ubiquitous to-go coffee) and Penn State WR coach Marques Hagans at Mater Dei H.S. (Distance from Mater Dei to USC: 37 miles) https://t.co/8f7PW9Zrpp

— Mike Poorman (@PSUPoorman) January 16, 2025

James Franklin has been keeping his eye on Lynn, other Penn State football lettermen

“[He] had a top-15 defense last year at UCLA and has done a really good job already at his time at USC changing that defensive scheme and changing that defensive identity,” James Franklin said of Lynn in the days leading up to the Nittany Lions’ October matchup with the Trojans.

“I don’t know him very well, but I think you guys know, I’ve said this before, guys from Pennsylvania, guys that are Penn State grads, I track. Obviously, the success that he had last year, he’s a guy that we had on our radar and have on our radar.

“I want to make sure I know where all the Penn State grads in the NFL and in college football are coaching as well as Pennsylvania people that were born and raised in this state. I think that’s an important piece to be aware of when you’re putting your staff together.”

This fall, Lynn helped the Trojans defense improve its points allowed per game by over 10 points, going from 34.4 to 24.1. At UCLA in 2023, he improved the Bruins defense from the No. 87-ranked unit nationally to No. 11 in one season.

Lynn was a three-time All-Big Ten honorable mention for Penn State football. Playing under Joe Paterno from 2008 to 2011, Lynn recorded 162 tackles and four interceptions in his Nittany Lion career. He spent nine years as an assistant coach in the NFL before returning to the college game in 2023.

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