Penn State commenced the season with genuine hopes for a national championship. Now, the university is seeking a new coach after terminating James Franklin on Oct. 12.
Franklin’s decline was shocking, rapid, and unprecedented, starting with a defeat (Oregon) that has marked his time at Penn State, and followed by two additional losses (against significant underdogs UCLA and Northwestern) that were unexpected. A season-ending injury to starting quarterback Drew Allar during the game against Northwestern compounded the misery of a disastrous day in Happy Valley.
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In an instant, Franklin’s tenure of over 11 years at Penn State concludes, in the same year that Penn State neared the national championship game, only to lose to Notre Dame in a CFP semifinal. The team approached this season with a win-or-bust mentality, and indeed, it went bust. While Franklin’s downfall was swift, it became increasingly difficult to foresee a way forward, despite his numerous achievements at Penn State.
What is the next step for PSU? The institution has made substantial investments in facilities, NIL, and other sectors. Athletics director Patrick Kraft is focused on football and aims for top-level success. Penn State has access to talent in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Midwest, enabling them to compete for significant achievements consistently. The team can aspire to attract high-caliber candidates, including those within the Big Ten, particularly those known for success in critical matches. However, two coaches who would have been high on the list of potential targets have re-signed with their current institutions. Indiana’s Curt Cignetti signed an eight-year contract worth approximately $11.6 million per year on Oct. 16. Additionally, Matt Rhule, Nebraska’s coach and a Penn State alumnus, secured a two-year extension to remain with the Cornhuskers until 2032 on Thursday.
Here are several candidates Penn State may consider, along with the roster and recruiting landscape amidst a coaching transition. — Adam Rittenberg
Candidates | Transfers | Recruits
Five candidates for the position
Vanderbilt’s coach Clark Lea: The prospect of Penn State hiring Vanderbilt’s coach once more may not please some fans, yet Lea and Franklin differ significantly, and Lea would integrate well within the State College setting. He has propelled his alma mater to remarkable heights this autumn, as Vanderbilt has entered the CFP conversation behind standout quarterback Diego Pavia. Lea’s shift towards Pavia and others from New Mexico State, including former Big Ten coach Jerry Kill, revitalized a Vanderbilt program that previously posted a 9-27 record during his first three seasons. The 43-year-old brings experience from the Northeast, having worked at Syracuse from 2013 to 2015, along with stints at Wake Forest and Notre Dame. While Penn State might be taking a risk here, Lea has achieved notable victories at Vanderbilt and could elevate the Nittany Lions to greater success.
Texas A&M’s coach Mike Elko: The Aggies’ impressive start and a potential CFP appearance might hinder any transition, but Elko undoubtedly aligns with what Penn State desires in its next coach. He is establishing himself rapidly as a championship-level coach at a Texas A&M program that has frequently underperformed. Elko, 48, has also experienced success at Duke and has connections to the Northeast, having grown up in New Jersey and playing college football at Penn. He holds a 32-14 overall record as an FBS coach, and while he has yet to capture a championship, Texas A&M is clearly on an upward path. The timing may not be suited for this season, but Penn State should certainly pursue Elko.
Chaz Coleman: The true freshman pass rusher has made a significant impact since joining the team and would be highly sought after should he consider a transfer. Coleman was an ESPN 300 recruit at 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, also playing quarterback in high school. In his initial year with the program, he has already gained weight, now at 246 pounds, and has displayed considerable potential with 11 pressures in his first five games, three tackles for loss, and a strip sack against FIU that he returned for 39 yards.
LB Tony Rojas: We’re discovering how crucial Rojas is for a Nittany Lions defense that struggles to halt the run in his absence. Rojas, a 20-game starter, suffered an undisclosed long-term injury in practice soon after the loss to Oregon, and it’s uncertain when he will be back. The 6-foot-2, 230-pound junior was tied for the team lead in TFLs with 4.5 when he was injured and would still have two more seasons of eligibility if he opts for a medical redshirt in 2025.
Anthony Donkoh: Assuming Olaivavega Ioane enters the professional ranks following this season, Donkoh would be Penn State’s most seasoned returning lineman next year. The 6-foot-5, 323-pound redshirt sophomore made 10 starts at right tackle last year, earning honorable mention All-Big Ten honors, before experiencing a season-ending knee injury in November. He began this season starting at right guard. Donkoh has two more years of eligibility remaining and is expected to be a key leader for the offensive line next year.
CB A.J. Harris: Harris transferred from Georgia in 2024 and quickly showcased his potential as a difference-maker in his sophomore year, accruing 15 starts and concluding with 48 tackles, one interception, and five pass breakups, along with the seventh-best defensive rating among Big Ten starting corners, according to Pro Football Focus. If Harris returns for his senior year, he could contend for All-Big Ten honors. True freshman cornerback Daryus Dixson also shows the promise of a future star and would be another vital player to retain.
TE Luke Reynolds: Tyler Warren is becoming one of the premier tight ends in the NFL as a rookie, leaving Reynolds with the responsibility of stepping up as Penn State’s next exceptional tight end. The 6-foot-4, 250-pound sophomore garnered four starts during his inaugural season and ranks fifth among Big Ten tight ends with 197 receiving yards on 18 receptions this fall. He will be a crucial target for the inexperienced QBs to conclude this year and has two more years of eligibility available. — Max Olson
Noteworthy recruits
OT Kevin Brown, ranked No. 80 in the ESPN 300: ESPN’s second-ranked prospect in Pennsylvania this cycle, Brown represents the type of offensive tackle talent that Penn State has occasionally struggled to secure as it seeks to compete at the top of the Big Ten in recent years. This makes Brown a vital component of Franklin’s latest recruiting class as one of the earliest commitments of the cycle. Brown, who hails from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, has visited Penn State over a dozen times, but with offensive tackle prospects being scarce at this point, local ties may have limited impact in maintaining the commitment of the 6-foot-5, 245-pound lineman to the Nittany Lions.
RB Messiah Mickens, ranked No. 135 in the ESPN 300: Mickens is a teammate of Brown’s at Harrisburg (Pennsylvania) High School and is the longest-serving member of the Nittany Lions’ recruiting class. Currently ranked as ESPN’s 14th-best running back for 2026, Mickens considered switching to Notre Dame earlier this year before halting his recruitment in March. He has been out due to injury for the past month. However, with the upheaval at Penn State, Notre Dame—especially with former Nittany Lions running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider now on staff—should be among the many programs re-engaging with Mickens, who was named Pennsylvania’s 2024 Gatorade Football Player of the Year. — Eli Lederman
