Sources: Penn State Football coach James Franklin on LSU’s Radar
Penn State Football head coach James Franklin has been rumored to be a candidate for the USC job but he may be a top candidate for an SEC program as well
Penn State Football head coach James Franklin has been linked to the head coaching vacancy at USC over the last few weeks but it turns out Southern California might not be the only place calling Franklin this offseason.
Despite an upset victory over Florida this past weekend, LSU has announced they will part ways with coach Ed Orgeron after the season, leaving a vacancy at another premium program. This time, it’s an SEC school that won a national championship just two years ago, in 2019.
Sources tell FanSided, LSU is intent on hiring its first minority candidate, and Penn State Football head coach James Franklin has been mentioned as well as Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker.
Baylor head coach Dave Aranda is also a top candidate for the Tigers, according to sources. Aranda served as the defensive coordinator at LSU from 2016-2019 which included winning the national title.
Whether Franklin will indeed leave State College this winter is yet to be seen, but it seems he will certainly have his options whether it is LSU or USC.
Let’s take a look at the potential case for James Franklin Franklin to leave for LSU, while also making a case for him to stay in Happy Valley, and offer our prediction of whether or not he stays:
Why the Bayou Bengals make sense
LSU is a traditional blue blood in college football, and this is evidenced by their recent success and winning national championships.
The Tigers won championships in 2003, 2007 and recently in 2019, while also reaching the title game in 2012 where they fell to Alabama.
The issue in Baton Rouge is not whether they can win a title or beat Alabama, it seems once you do it it becomes the expectation. Just ask Les Miles or Ed Orgeron.
LSU consistently recruits at an elite level and has done so recently with three consecutive top five classes according to 247 sports, so the cupboard is far from empty for the next coach on the Bayou.
Their 2022 class currently sits at No. 12 in the nation, and with the right hire making a strong push before signing day, they once again can land within the top 10 potentially even the top five classes.
LSU is not short on money, or resources, and despite this being what will be their third head coach in the last six years, they have been rather patient and loyal to coaches.
According to reports, Orgeron was just out of control at LSU after getting divorced.
Some reports even stating he would have girlfriends and their children at practice and let the kids participate in team drills. It seems If he had just kept his focus on football, coach O could have been at LSU for a long time and would have been considered a legend.
One thing LSU has going for it that Penn State Football cannot compete with is location.
Just like in real estate, location can mean everything when it comes to the success of a college football program.
Access to talent is everything, and a study done by bannersociety.com broke out 2020 blue chip prospects by state and Louisiana had 16 compared to just four in Pennsylvania. Moreso, Texas and Florida, two surrounding states of Louisiana finished first and second in that study with 59 and 54 respectively.
it is just easier to get players from the south to stay in the south than it is to convince the elite players to want to come north and play in the center of Pennsylvania, surrounded by cows.
Franklin is a Pennsylvania native, but he began his head coaching career in the SEC on the bottom floor with Vanderbilt. A chance to coach at LSU is a move to the penthouse suites.