Franklin: Penn State football letterman, USC DC is ‘on our radar’

Penn State football is in for a whole bunch of “new” this week as James Franklin and the Nittany Lions prepare to cross the United States to battle USC. But there will be at least one familiar face when the Nittany Lions touch down in Southern California: former Penn State cornerback and new Trojans defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn.

“Defensively, D’Anton Lynn, who we know very well, is a Penn State grad that they hired from UCLA. Came across town to them,” Franklin said at his weekly press conference Monday. “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.”

Lynn is not only new to USC but also to the college game. Last season with the Bruins was Lynn’s first at the collegiate level after spending nine seasons in the NFL, most recently with the Baltimore Ravens. He led a defensive turnaround in Westwood, taking UCLA from the No. 87 defense in 2022 to No. 11 in just one season.

The former Nittany Lion is already starting a turnaround at USC, improving the Trojans’ total defense by over 116 yards per game and cutting points allowed per contest nearly in half. USC comes into the weekend with the nation’s No. 6 third-down defense and No. 13 passing defense.

James Franklin tracking D’Anton Lynn, Penn State lettermen, and Pennsylvania natives

© Grace Carella / Basic Blues Nation, 2024

It’s been 13 years since D’Anton Lynn finished his Penn State football career, but he’s still a subject of interest inside the Lasch Building. Even before his breakout season with the Bruins in 2023, James Franklin explained that he’s been keeping an eye on Lynn and others with ties to the Nittany Lions program and the region.

“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,” Franklin said. “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 grads. I just think, excuse me, 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.”

Comments that he already has a proven track record of following, Franklin hired Eire native Justin Lustig as the Nittany Lions special teams coordinator this offseason. He’s also brought multiple lettermen back to the program recently, including Jordan Hill, Jordan Lucas, and Andrew Nelson, to name a few.

Kickoff between Penn State football and USC is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS.

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