James Franklin was listed among 23 of the best coaches in college football when he was named to the Dodd Trophy watch list earlier this week.
The Dodd Trophy is described as “the most coveted national coaching award” that “honors, scholarship, leadership, and integrity.” The award has been given out to a coach at the end of each college football season since 1976.
Franklin was one of six Big Ten coaches to make the list, which is the most from any conference. Other coaches mentioned on the watch list include Jim Harbaugh, Nick Saban, and Dabo Swinney, among others.
Penn State’s head coach is entering his sixth season in Happy Valley. He has a 45-21 record over the course of his tenure, and a 31-9 record over the past three seasons. Franklin also has a Big Ten Championship victory and two bowl wins under his belt.
Franklin has a talented defenses and speedy players at skill positions this year but a new quarterback and questions on both sides of the ball will require plenty of coaching to get the Nittany Lions where they want to go in 2019 and beyond.
