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Penn State Football: Defensive Line Coach John Scott Jr. Reportedly Set to Join Detroit Lions

Defensive line coach John Scott Jr. is leaving the Penn State football program for an NFL job, Nittany Lion head coach James Franklin confirmed on Monday night. Scott will join the Detroit Lions in a similar role, according to reports by the Centre Daily Times, Blue White Illustrated and Lions247.

It will mark Scott’s second stint in the NFL having spent the 2015 and 2016 seasons with the New York Jets in quality control and defensive assistant roles. Scott spent times at Arkansas and South Carolina prior to joining the Nittany Lions.

“I would like to thank John for everything he has contributed to our program over the past three years. John is a great coach and also a great man,” Franklin wrote on Twitter. “I am grateful for his friendship and the impact he has had on our student-athletes. This was a great opportunity for him in the NFL and I wish him and his family nothing but the best.”

Scott will head to Detroit joining former Nittany Lion DeOn’tae Pannell, who is currently with the franchise in the William Clay Ford Minority Coaching Assistantship. Scott leaves Penn State after joining the program in 2020 as the defensive line coach. He was elevated in title to run game coordinator and defensive line coach prior to the 2022 campaign. While contract details are not publicly released, title changes are generally a result of increased compensation.

The departure will mark the second staff change for the Nittany Lions this offseason. Receivers coach Taylor Stubblefield was fired earlier this offseason and was subsequently replaced by Marques Hagans from Virginia. Who head coach James Franklin turns to in this role remains to be seen but Penn State’s long history of success along the defense front ought to attract plenty of capable suitors. The Nittany Lions find themselves in a bit of a transition period along the defensive front which will give a new defensive line coach plenty to deal with with spring practice not far away.