Top Big 12 assistant, former FBS head coach 'in the mix' for Penn State running backs coach job, report says
Could Penn State dip into the Big 12 for its next running backs coach? It’s at least a possibility, according to On3’s Pete Nakos. He reports on Tuesday night that Oklahoma assistant DeMarco Murray is a candidate to replace Ja’Juan Seider, who is leaving the Lions for Notre Dame. Nakos also reports that former Temple head coach Stan Drayton is “another name in the mix” to replace Seider. Drayton was on BWI Sean Fitz’s Sunday hotboard of names to know for the job.
“Multiple sources tell On3 that Oklahoma assistant DeMarco Murray and Penn State have been in communication about the Nittany Lions’ open running backs job,” Nakos writes. “There is strong mutual interest between Murray and Penn State, sources said.
“In recent days, the former Oklahoma star and Dallas Cowboys running back has had multiple calls with James Franklin and Penn State to discuss the move.”
Murray has worked for his alma mater since 2020. After a number of years as a player in the NFL, he entered the coaching ranks at Arizona in 2019. The Las Vegas native has fine marks as both a recruiter and a coach. OU landed four-star and On300 member Tory Blaylock in the Class of 2025, who is the No. 18 running back in the On3 Industry Rankings. Back in the Class of 2024, he reeled in Taylor Tatum, a four-star who was the No. 1 running back in the On3 Industry Rankings and its No. 40 overall player.
As for Drayton, he was let go by the Owls after going 9-25 over three seasons. The Ohio native has a lengthy track record as a developer of talent and also as a recruiter. He has spent time in both the NFL and at numerous Power Five programs.
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Penn State seeks the right fit to replace Ja’Juan Seider
At his first news conference of the 2025 offseason on Tuesday, Penn State coach James Franklin discussed the need to find both the best available candidate to replace Seider but also the right fit.
“Are they a fit for the university, are they a fit for the community? Are they a fit in recruiting? Probably changed a little bit with the Big Ten expansion, because we’re probably doing more national recruiting than we’ve ever done,” Franklin said.
“But I would still say, the majority of our class and majority of our team still comes from the footprint. So I think that factors in. It’s not the end all-be all, but I think when we can get somebody that’s from either the Northeast or the Big Ten footprint, that’s important too.”
