Tag: John Scott Jr.

Penn State spring football preview: Defensive Line

Now that a new coach is in place, here’s a quick look at the Penn State defensive line situation this spring

It’s an exciting time for the defensive line unit at Penn State. Coach [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] recently announced that [autotag]Deion Barnes[/autotag] would be the new defensive line coach for the upcoming season.

Barnes, who played defensive line at Penn State from 2012-2014, is taking over the role after the departure of [autotag]John Scott Jr.[/autotag]

It seems like a natural progression for Barnes who served as a graduate assistant and was involved in the development of multiple players going to the NFL.

While the news of this hire is certainly exciting, the other electrifying thing surrounding the defensive line is they might be the best unit of Penn State football this season.

[autotag]Chop Robinson[/autotag] and [autotag]Adisa Isaac[/autotag] are the headliners of the line, but there are other players that could have a big year as well.

Here are names to watch as spring practices get underway.

Chop Robinson

Robert Goddin-USA TODAY Sports

Measurables: 6’3″ 240 lbs.

Year: Junior

Expected Role: Starting Defensive End

Chop Robinson was an absolute star for Penn State in 2022-23. After transferring in from Maryland, he was a game wrecker for the Nittany Lions. He recorded 26 total tackles, 10 of them for loss, and had 5.5 sacks.

His PFF grade of 90.6 ranked him sixth out of 862 edge rushers last season. Robinson’s pass rush grade had him fourth in the country. It’s crazy to think that he can improve his run defense to become an even better player. Robinson will be a household name if continues to produce like he did last year.

Coziah Izzard

AP Photo/Barry Reeger

Measurables: 6’3″ 292 lbs.

Year: Redshirt Junior

Expected Role: Starting Defensive Tackle

This is the starting position on the defensive line that should be watched. [autotag]Coziah Izzard[/autotag] is the projected starter, but he’ll be battling to secure that title. Last season he was expected to start alongside [autotag]PJ Mustipher[/autotag], but missed the first four games of the season due to the decision of coach Franklin.

After a bursting onto the scene in 2021 with 21 tackles and two sacks, he recorded 10 tackles and two sacks in nine games last season. Izzard has tons of talent and should be able to produce this year whether he’s a starter or not.

NEXT: Other potential starters up front

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4

The Lions finalize their 2023 coaching staff, announce 3 new official additions

The Lions finalized their 2023 coaching staff and announced 3 new official additions to Dan Campbell’s staff

The Detroit Lions announced via press release their full coaching staff for the 2023 NFL season. The team made official the reported signings of three new coaches in the process.

Two of the newcomers were widely known. New senior defensive assistant John Fox coming to Detroit was something head coach Dan Campbell confirmed during his 2023 NFL Scouting Combine interview. New DL coach John Scott Jr. also broke last week during the combine.

The one new name that was revealed is the new senior offensive assistant, Jim Hostler. He comes to Detroit to replace John Morton, who is now with the Denver Broncos. Hostler spent the last two seasons in the same role with the Washington Commanders. He’s got 24 years of NFL coaching experience, primarily working with receivers and quarterbacks along with one season (2007) as the offensive coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers.

All other newcomers, such as cornerbacks coach Dre Bly, were previously announced.

From the team’s media department, the list of the coaching staff from Campbell on down through the strength and conditioning coaches.

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P.J. Mustipher campaigns for Deion Barnes promotion

PJ Mustipher made it clear who he things should be Penn State’s next defensive line coach

When John Scott Jr. decided to leave Penn State for the NFL it left an opening on the coaching staff. [autotag]Manny Diaz[/autotag] and his defense showed tremendous growth last year and toward the end of the season, the defensive line started to click with it all.

Scott Jr. leaving has folks wondering who could step in and help them not to lose the momentum they have going into 2023, [autotag]P.J. Mustipher[/autotag] has a suggestion.

The former Nittany Lions defensive tackle and team captain spoke Wednesday at the NFL Scouting Combine and he was vocal in his support of [autotag]Deion Barnes[/autotag] getting the promotion from a defensive analyst.

“I want Coach Franklin to hire him,” Mustipher said. “I think he should because he’s put in a lot of work in our defensive line.”

Barnes returned to campus as a graduate assistant in 2020 following time spent as defensive coordinator at Northeast High School in Philadelphia. He would work closely and alongside Scott Jr. all the way up to his departure for the NFL last month.

[autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] has shown an affinity to be able to trust former players who come back to State College for a coaching career despite their experience. In the case of Barnes, he has never held a major coaching position within the program.

At the same time, Franklin has also shown he will look outside the program to make position coaching hirings as he did in January when he hired Marques Hagans from Virginia.

For the time being, the position remains vacant as spring practices continue on campus for the Nittany Lions.

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Penn State defensive coach leaving for NFL job

Penn State is now searching for a new defensive assistant coach after a reported NFL departure

It looks as though Penn State head coach [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] has a staff vacancy that needs to be filled for the 2023 season. Defensive line coach John Scott Jr. is leaving the program for a job with the NFL’s Detroit Lions. The Centre Daily Times was the first to report the news of the staff change with the Penn State program.

Franklin released a statement on his Twitter account on Monday evening to thank Scott for his assistance with the Penn State program.

I would like to thank John for everything he has contributed to our program over the past three years,” Franklin said in his released statement. “John is a great coach and also a great man. I am grateful for his friendship and the impact he has had on our student-athletes.”

“This was a great opportunity for him in the NFL and I wish him and his family nothing but the best,” Franklin added.

In addition to serving as the team’s defensive line coach, Scott was also Penn State’s run game coordinator. As a result, that is another responsibility that will have to be handed off or reassigned on the staff for the upcoming 2023 season.

This is the second staff change Penn State has made this offseason, but the first caused by a coach leaving for another job. Penn State made a switch with its wide receiver coach position by bringing in [autotag]Marques Hagans[/autotag] to replace [autotag]Taylor Stubblefield[/autotag].

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Report: The Lions have a new DL coach from the college ranks

Report: The Lions have a new DL coach from the college ranks in Penn State’s John Scott Jr.

The remaining hole on the Detroit Lions defensive staff might now be filled. A report from Pennsylvania indicates that the Lions are hiring current Penn State DL coach and run game coordinator, John Scott Jr., will be heading to Detroit to join Dan Campbell’s staff.

From the Centre Daily and reporter John Sauber,

John Scott Jr., the team’s current defensive line coach and run game coordinator, will be leaving the Nittany Lions to accept a job in the NFL with the Detroit Lions, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the situation.

The reporting does not indicate if Scott will be the Lions’ defensive line coach or will serve in a different capacity. Right now, the Lions already have an assistant DL coach in Cameron Lewis, whose fate remains unknown.

Scott, 47, was a DL assistant coach with the New York Jets for two seasons. He’s spent most of the last two decades coaching in the college ranks, including the last two years with the Nittany Lions.

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