Things are moving fast in Happy Valley.
Since Matt Campbell took over as Penn State’s new head coach, the Nittany Lions have seen a flurry of staff changes - from the front office to the position rooms. But one major piece of the puzzle remains unsolved: who’s going to run the defense?
With Jim Knowles now heading to Tennessee after just one season as Penn State’s defensive coordinator, the search is on. And one name has quickly risen to the top of the list - D’Anton Lynn.
Lynn, currently USC’s defensive coordinator and a former Penn State defensive back, is firmly on the radar. Multiple reports this week have confirmed that Penn State has serious interest in bringing him back to State College, and that Lynn is open to the idea.
This isn’t the first time Lynn’s name has surfaced in connection with the Nittany Lions' DC job. He was also in the mix last winter, before Penn State ultimately lured Knowles away from Ohio State following the Buckeyes’ national title run. Lynn, meanwhile, stayed put and earned a contract extension.
Now, the 36-year-old is once again in the spotlight - and for good reason.
Lynn brings a decade of coaching experience across both the NFL and college football. After wrapping up his playing days at Penn State in 2011, he had brief stints with the New York Jets and CFL’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats before transitioning into coaching.
He cut his teeth as a defensive assistant in the NFL, first with the Buffalo Bills (2015-16) and then with the Los Angeles Chargers (2017), where he worked under his father, former NFL head coach Anthony Lynn. From there, he carved out a reputation as a sharp secondary coach, spending time with the Houston Texans (2018-20) and Baltimore Ravens (2021-22).
In 2023, Lynn made the jump to college football, taking over as UCLA’s defensive coordinator - and he wasted no time making an impact. The Bruins' defense went from 87th in the country in total yards allowed in 2022 to 10th nationally under his watch. That kind of turnaround doesn’t go unnoticed.
USC certainly noticed. After a disastrous 2023 season defensively - one where the Trojans gave up 34.5 points per game and ranked near the bottom nationally in both rushing and passing defense - they made a bold move, hiring Lynn away from their crosstown rivals in December 2023.
The results in 2024 were immediate and measurable. USC’s defense improved significantly, cutting their points allowed per game to 24.1 and climbing to 56th nationally in that category. In 2025, the Trojans took another step forward, allowing just 22.4 points and 348.8 yards per game - good for 47th in both categories.
That’s not elite, but it’s a long way from where USC was just two years ago. And it speaks to Lynn’s ability to build a defense that competes - and improves - quickly.
Now, Penn State is hoping he might bring that same energy and expertise back to his alma mater. With Campbell reshaping the program and Knowles out the door, the Nittany Lions need a strong presence to lead the defense - someone who understands the culture, connects with players, and can scheme with the best of them.
Lynn checks a lot of those boxes. He’s young, experienced, and already proven at both the college and pro level. And if Penn State can land him, it could be one of the most important hires of the Campbell era.
Stay tuned. This one feels like it’s heating up.