James Franklin comments on commitment to being head coach at Penn State
There’s been a lot of speculation about James Franklin’s commitment to Penn State this season. The intensity turned up earlier this year when Clay Helton was let go as the head coach at USC, creating a vacancy in California.
Franklin’s name has surfaced multiple times regarding the vacancy, and while he’s downplayed the significance of it, he hasn’t exactly put the rumors to bed.
Monday, as Penn State prepares for a Top 25 clash against Penn State on Saturday, Franklin was asked about his commitment to the school. He responded with a fairly typical answer.
“My focus is completely on (Ohio State) and this team and this program,” Franklin said, per Audrey Snyder of The Athletic. “I think I’ve shown over my 8 years my commitment to this university and this community.”
Asked James Franklin if he's committed to being PSU's head coach beyond this season:
"My focus is completely on Illinois, and this team, and this program. I think I've shown over my 8 years my commitment to this university and this community. And that's kind of my statement."
— Audrey Snyder (@audsnyder4) October 26, 2021
Some of the talks about a potential move for Franklin quieted down after back-to-back losses to Iowa and Illinois. However, a report from FootballScoop.com revealed that the Penn State head coach recently changed agents and representation.
Obviously, that stirred the talks up again.
Because of his success at Penn State, Franklin is often going to be considered a top candidate for various vacancies around the country. Will any pull him out of State College?
Right now, the answer appears to be no.