What did James Franklin say about Penn State assistant Ja'Juan Seider's pending departure to Notre Dame?
STATE COLLEGE — Penn State is on the cusp of losing co-offensive coordinator and running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider to Notre Dame. News first broke back on Sunday that the Florida native was preparing to move on to the Fighting Irish after seven seasons with the Nittany Lions. The 2025 College Football Playoff runner-up has not yet announced the hire as of Noon ET on Feb. 11, when PSU coach James Franklin held his first news conference of the 2025 season. But, it is expected to happen at any moment. And, thus, the 12th-year leader of the Lions was asked about the news on Tuesday.
“Obviously, we have two positions that we need to fill, Ja’Juan Seider, after being with us for seven years, did a great job for us, has moved on,” Franklin said. “We wish him nothing but the best. Seven years. In some way, it’s a shame that seven years is a long time. But gave our program and our community seven years, and did a really good job for us. So we’re appreciative of that.”
Franklin also confirmed that recruiting assistant Khalil Ahmad is leaving Penn State for a promotion at Temple. That news broke over the weekend, as well.
What is the timeline for finding Seider’s replacement?
“It’s very detrimental to lose people in your organization this late in the process,” Franklin said. “But, it’s something that is very, very challenging.
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“We have to go out and get the very best candidate we can. There’s a list that’s probably not as deep as people think of candidates who can come to Penn State.”
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Penn State has a talented running backs room in 2025
Seniors Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen return to the Nittany Lions for what should be their fourth and final seasons in State College. They represent the best running back duo in the country and will be on many preseason All-Big Ten and All-American lists. Besides them, Penn State returns redshirt sophomore Cam Wallace, who is coming off an injury, and second-year Nittany Lions Quinton Martin Jr., and Corey Smith. Freshmen Jabree Coleman-Wallace and Tiqwai Hayes are also joining the program from the Class of 2025.
It goes without saying that Seider did a ton of good work at Penn State as both a recruiter and an on-field coach. He kept and developed Singleton and Allen most recently but others like Miles Sanders before them. So, his replacement has a high bar to clear. And, you can expect that Franklin will not take long to get that person in place.
