Penn State football adds longtime NFL assistant, Pa., native in analyst role
Penn State football is adding a longtime NFL assistant and Pennsylvania native to its lengthy roster of analysts. Former Ravens quarterbacks coach James Urban is now a member of James Franklin’s staff. He comes to State College after spending the last six years in Baltimore. The first five of those were as the AFC North team’s quarterbacks coach. He then moved into the role of senior football analyst/game planning for the 2023 season before leaving the team this past February. The 50-year-old from Mechanicsburg, Pa., who played at Trinity High School, also spent seven seasons as the Cincinnati Bengals’ receivers coach. He broke into the professional ranks as an assistant to the head coach for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2004. He spent seven seasons in the City of Brotherly Love before moving on to Cincinnati.
Urban was a receiver and kick returner at Washington and Lee College during his playing days. His coaching career started as a graduate assistant at Clarion in 1997. And, he also made a four-year stop at the University of Pennsylvania before moving on to the NFL. His title at Penn State is offensive analyst and analytics coordinator.
Urban brings a versatile background to Penn State
Like the rest of the Penn State analysts, Urban will wear many hats in State College. A new NCAA rule passed this year allows off-field staffers to participate in practice and game-day instruction. He could help in that regard in any number of ways, considering his background with quarterbacks, receivers, and returners. However, his biggest role could be in the game planning department. While it goes without saying that he will have some duties in that regard, considering the fact that analysts are hired to break down opponents film, do self-scouts, and evaluate high school and transfer portal prospects, among other things, the fact that longtime Ravens coach John Harbaugh put him in a game planning role last season suggests he has a unique level of expertise in that area.
Regardless of his exact duties, no college football team is hurt by having another experienced set of eyes to evaluate it. And, that’s what Penn State has now with Urban.
Meet the Nittany Lions’ analysts
Here’s the full list. We project how each analyst might help Penn State on the practice field, though do note those are unofficial.
Thomas Allen: Defensive analyst/general defense
Keith Bruno: Special teams analyst
Dan Connor: Defensive analyst/linebackers
Mark Dupuis: Offensive analyst/receivers
Vic Hall: Defensive analyst/cornerbacks
Frank Leonard: Offensive analyst/offensive line
Jeff McInerney: Defensive analyst/general defense
Danny O’Brien: Offense analyst/quarterbacks
David Parker: Offensive analyst/receivers
Bill Queisert: Offensive analyst/offensive line
David Rocco: Offensive analyst/general offense
Eric Sachse: Special teams analyst
Robb Smith: Offensive analyst/offense and defense
Zach Terrill: Defensive analyst/general defense
James Urban: Offensive analyst/general offense
Charles Walker: Offensive analyst/running backs
