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Vanderbilt head coach James Franklin has led the Commodores to a 23-15 record in three years in the tough SEC.

(AP photo)

Though Bill O'Brien's status as Penn State's head football coach had technically not changed as of Monday afternoon, those who would be running the search for his replacement should he bolt for an NFL job cannot be sedentary.

They are compiling a list of possible new coaches to interview with expediency in hopes that the new guy could persuade current underclass players and verbally committed recruits to stay at PSU.

Atop that list is Vanderbilt coach James Franklin, according to knowledgeable sources within the program. Franklin is the young, vibrant head coach at Vanderbilt who carries strong Pennsylvania ties through his upbringing in the Philadelphia suburb of Langhorne, high school at Neshaminy and his college playing career as East Stroudsburg University's quarterback (1991-94).

Not only are PSU's moneymen intrigued with his resume, athletic director Dave Joyner has direct knowledge of Franklin through family members and third parties who are very impressed with him.

Franklin's Vanderbilt team is playing Houston in the BBVA Compass Bowl in Birmingham on Saturday. In a press conference today, Franklin deflected questions about his availability for other jobs, not only Penn State if it opens but Texas which already is open. Franklin is reported to be among four main candidates for the UT position vacated by the pre-Christmas firing of Mack Brown.

Franklin, 41, is known as a college coach and that's what Penn State wants. The administration does not desire another former NFL coach whose ultimate desire is to return to the pro realm. Though Franklin did spend a year (2005) with the Green Bay Packers as wideouts coach and worked as an intern with three other NFL clubs (Eagles, Dolphins, Vikings), the overwhelming breadth of his career is sprinkled with five different major-college positions, the last three seasons at Vandy â all ending with bowl appearances. The last two years included 9-4 and 8-4 records and a combined 9-7 record in the SEC, unprecedented football success at the academically prestigious school.

Moreover, Franklin is known as a bright and engaging motivator, brimming with a vocal spirit. That could come in handy in keeping recruits in the fold.

And his main football acumen is offensive. All of his assistant jobs revolved around the passing game as either a quarterback coach, wideout coach or coordinator. His last two jobs before Vanderbilt were as offensive coordinator at Kansas State under Ron Prince (where he coached Josh Freeman) and Maryland under Ralph Friedgen. In a prior stint at Maryland, he was hired by Ron Vanderlinden (2000) in the subsequent Penn State assistant's last year as head coach of the Terrapins. That background would meld nicely in the tutelage of soph-to-be PSU quarterback Christian Hackenberg.

Joyner had no comment yesterday on possible candidates or O'Brien's status. But he is known to be familiar with Franklin through a mutual association with the late former East Stroudsburg assistant coach and Hershey native Gary Garver and his family. Franklin played for Garver at ESU.

Franklin's program was rocked last summer when four Vanderbilt players were thrown off the team after being accused of raping a co-ed. That case is ongoing. The former players have been barred from campus.

In 2012, Franklin raised eyebrows when he cracked on a Nashville radio station that he first made sure he saw the relative attractiveness of a prospective assistant coach's wife or girlfriend before hiring him. He later apologized for the comments.



PSU would likely need to act quickly and decisively to nab Franklin. Having started its search weeks ago before Brown's dismissal, Texas has the jump on Penn State if it decides on Franklin as its prime target and certainly could outbid PSU with its deep pockets and unlimited athletic budget.

In addition, as many as six NFL clubs with openings after the âBlack Mondayâ firings could come calling, although Franklin's relative dearth of head coaching experience (the three years at Vandy) and the only one year in the NFL could hurt him there.

For now, Penn State is, at least officially, proceeding as if O'Brien will stay and has not actively begun interviewing any candidates, sources are telling me. But the unusually late date of the possible transition has instilled a sense of urgency and readiness should he leave.

DAVID JONES: djones@pennlive.com.