Report: LSU expected to interview Top 10 team's defensive coordinator
Cincinnati had one of college football’s top defenses in 2020. Now LSU is reportedly targeting the Bearcats’ defensive coordinator.
Brandon Saho of WLWT NBC 5 Cincinnati reports that Marcus Freeman is expected to interview with LSU this week. Saho adds that Freeman wants to be a head coach next, but is listening to LSU and others with defensive coordinator openings.
Freeman was a finalist for the Broyles Award which goes to the top assistant coach in college football. 247Sports named Freeman its Defensive Coordinator of the Year for 2020, citing his unit’s pre-Peach Bowl numbers top 10 rankings in scoring (16 points per game) and total defense (314.4 yards per game). Freeman’s Bearcats extended its streak of forcing a turnover to 20-straight games.
The 34-year-old former Ohio State Buckeye standout has been in coaching since 2010, starting as a grad assistant at his alma mater. He has also coached at Kent State (linebackers, 2011-12) and Purdue (linebackers 2013-16; co-defensive coordinator 2016).
LSU fired defensive coordinator Bo Pelini on Dec. 22 after one season on Ed Orgeron’s staff.
Sources: Cincinnati DC Marcus Freeman is expected to interview for the LSU defensive coordinator job this week. Freeman wants to be a head coach next, but is listening to LSU and other DC jobs. #Bearcats
— Brandon Saho (@BrandonSaho) January 4, 2021