LSU defensive coordinator candidates

As most LSU football fans know, the program is currently focusing on filling the offensive and defensive coordinators roles moving forward.

A litany of candidates under consideration for the jobs deserve closer looks but the potential choices for the defense in particular bring high quality.

Some names to ponder for defensive coordinator’s role…

Ryan Nielsen

From 2013-’16, he was the defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator at North Carolina State where the Wolfpack were among top units defensively nationwide. He played defensive tackle at USC (1998-’01) where he was coached by Ed Orgeron and later served as an assistant coach at Ole Miss (2005-’07) under Orgeron. The pair share a close bond.

Will Muschamp

The 49-year old was LSU’s linebackers coach 2001 before being elevated to defensive coordinator (2002-’04) under Nick Saban. His star was rising, leading to stints as head coach at Florida (2011-’14) and South Carolina (2016-’20). His defensive coordinator experience also includes jobs with Texas, Auburn and Valdosta State.

Glen Schuman

The 30-year old, Georgia Bulldogs co-defensive coordinator also coaches inside linebackers. Schiman also spent eight seasons at Alabama as a graduate analyst, director of player development and associate director of player personnel. Georgia has one of the better defenses in SEC.

Kris Richard

The 41-year old spent six seasons in the NFL as a defensive back. He played for USC while Orgeron was on staff. Richard served as DBs coach under Pete Carroll at USC and later with the Seattle Seahawks (2015-’17) before working as their defensive coordinator. He moved on to the Cowboys as defensive play caller as well.

Jeremy Pruitt

This candidate has an asterisk due to the fact that he is still head coach at Tennessee. The 46-year old recorded a 3-7 record this past season with the Vols, who are also under investigation for recruiting violations and alleged impermissible benefits to athletes. He was defensive coordinator at Georgia, Alabama and Florida State (in 2013 when the Seminoles captured the national title). His record at Tennessee is 16-19. He may be looking for new employment soon.

Marcus Freeman

Freeman is the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Cincinnati, where the Bearcats have enjoyed a special season in 2020. He has been at Cincinnati since 2017 after coaching four years as an assistant at Purdue. Freeman played from 2004-08 at Ohio State and was a fifth-round pick in the NFL Draft. He also coached previously at Kent State after starting as a graduate assistant at Ohio State. Freeman is 34.

Ryan Walters

The 34-year old is the defensive coordinator at Missouri (past two years) and also coaches safeties. Loved by his players, the 55-year old Walters has a solid but not flashy scheme. He played safety at Colorado where he had 33 starts in 46 appearances while earning honors as 2008 team captain and MVP.

Derek Mason

Mason was relieved of his duties as the head coach at Vanderbilt during this past season after seven years on the job. Prior to Vanderbilt, Mason coached at Stanford, Utah and at other stops. He also has NFL coaching experience, working defensive backs for the Minnesota Vikings from 2007-09. Mason played college football at Northern Arizona.

Morgan Scalley

The 41 year old is considered one of the brightest minds in college football. Very energetic, Scalley is lauded for his attention to detail. He’s a great recruiter as well. The finalist for the Broyles Award in 2019 does come with baggage. Suspended for texting racial slur earlier this year, Scalley took a pay cut. He was an All-American safety at Utah and Mountain West co-defensive player of the year. He was a senior team captain holding a 3.96 GPA, graduating Magna Cum Laude.

Brad Lambert

The former head coach of Charlotte (2011-’18) arrived at Marshall in ’19 and has the Thundering Herd ranked among the top defenses in all of college football in 2020. He has the ability to get the most out of his players.Lambert was also Wake Forest’s defensive coordinator 2008-’10.

Glenn Spencer

Now at South Florida, he was the defensive coordinator at Charlotte in 2018 under Brad Lambert. His defenses always seem to rank among the top nationally. The 56-year old spent 2019 at Florida Atlantic under Lane Kiffin but took the South Florida gig where he earns $500,000. He has been successful at every stop.

A possible offensive coordinator is a current employee, Russ Callaway.

The 33-year old is currently an offensive analyst on LSU’s staff and has been Steve Ensminger’s right hand man. Callaway has a good understanding of expectations. He was Samford’s offensive coordinator where he coached quarterback Devlin Hodges who captured the Walter Payton Award, leading the FCS by producing 516 yards per game in 2018. Hodges a backup QB with the Steelers. Callaway ran the Air Raid attack at Samford.

A graduate of Valdosta State in 2010, Callaway was a QB and team captain. He also spent time on Nick Saban’s staff at Alabama as an analyst. Russ is the son of Neil Callaway, former UAB head coach and current USC offensive line coach.

Callaway has a brilliant football mind and works extremely hard. Some consider him another Joe Brady.

How about making it a family affair in Baton Rouge? Doug Nussmeier, 50, was a quarterback in the NFL for five season after he was drafted out of Idaho in the fourth round by the Saints in 1994. His son Garrett just became a quaretrback signee at LSU for the 2021 class.

The older Nussmeier has served as QB coach for the CFL (2001-2002) and in the NFL with the Rams (2006-’07). He has experience as an offensive coordinator at Fresno State, Washington, Michigan, Florida and Alabama. While with the Crimson Tide (2012-’13), Alabama won the national title in ’13; A.J. McCarron flourished under Nussmeier, setting Alabama school passing records.