Just a few days ago, rumors about Miami coach Al Golden heading to Penn State were swirling, but Golden later pulled out of the search. Now, Vanderbilt coach James Franklin appears to be the hot name associated with the Penn State opening.
Footballscoop.com is reporting that Penn State “plans to make James Franklin its next head coach” and that the school plans to offer Franklin the head coaching position.
At Penn State, sources tell us that PSU plans to offer their head coaching position to James Franklin http://t.co/sNnVtycOD5
— FootballScoop Staff (@footballscoop) January 7, 2014
This is happening folks — FootballScoop Staff (@footballscoop) January 7, 2014
Have every reason to believe the offer from PSU will be one that Franklin will accept
— FootballScoop Staff (@footballscoop) January 7, 2014
CBS’s Bruce Feldman also reported that Franklin “has emerged as the clear frontrunner” for the Penn State job, but Penn State has “yet to offer anyone the job.”
#Vandy coach James Franklin has emerged as the clear frontrunner for the vacancy at #PennState, per source — Bruce Feldman (@BFeldmanCBS) January 7, 2014
From sources close to the situation, #PennState has yet to offer anyone the job. Reports about an offer are inaccurate.
— Bruce Feldman (@BFeldmanCBS) January 7, 2014
Additionally, Yahoo’s Pat Forde tweeted that if Franklin is offered, “those who know him expect him to take the job.”
If Vandy's James Franklin is the clear favorite for Penn State, as @BFeldmanCBS says, those who know him expect him to take the job. — Pat Forde (@YahooForde) January 7, 2014
Another interesting tidbit in the Franklin-to-PSU rumblings came from some of Franklin’s top assistants at Vanderbilt. Vanderbilt defensive coordinator Bob Shoop and offensive coordinator John Donovan followed a handful of current Penn State verbally committed recruits. They later went on to follow some Louisville commits as well, but that certainly adds to the speculation.
Coupled with that, a Penn State commit told ESPN’s Tom VanHaaren that the Vandy coaches followed them “in case” Franklin takes the job.
A Penn State commit told me Vanderbilt coaches followed them on twitter "in case" James Franklin takes the job.
— Tom VanHaaren (@TomVH) January 7, 2014
Penn State athletic director Dave Joyner told the media last week that he expects a new coach to be in place in a matter of “days, not weeks.” An announcement might be coming soon.
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