Report: D'Anton Lynn to be named USC defensive coordinator
The pick is in as D’Anton Lynn will take over as the next defensive coordinator for the USC Trojans, according to a report from ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
USC didn’t have to go far to find Lynn as he spent this past year as the defensive coordinator at UCLA. And USC got a good look as the Bruins’ defense allowed just three rushing yards in the dominant win over the Trojans to end the regular season.
But Lynn did far more than that this year in orchestrating a masterful one-year turnaround for that UCLA defense. The numbers might not tell the whole story as UCLA didn’t have to play Oregon or Washington in Pac-12 play, didn’t play a difficult non-conference schedule and gave up 33 points to Cal to end the regular season. But the Bruins’ defensive performance throughout 2023 was far more impressive than expected.
After finishing the 2022 season No. 90 in scoring defense, No. 87 in total defense, No. 36 in rushing defense and No. 118 in passing defense, the Bruins improved dramatically in all four categories. UCLA ended the 2023 regular season with the No. 16 scoring defense, No. 11 total defense, No. 2 rushing defense and No. 71 passing defense. UCLA also finished No. 4 in the nation in both sacks and tackles for loss.
This was Lynn’s first season coaching at the college level, but there is clearly an ability to connect with the players and quickly get them to play his system at a high level. Lynn previously coached safeties with the Baltimore Ravens. Before that, he was the secondary coach with the Houston Texans and a defensive assistant with the Los Angeles Chargers. His father, Anthony Lynn, was the Chargers’ head coach from 2017-2020. He’s now the assistant head coach with the San Francisco 49ers.
D’Anton Lynn was also an extremely talented player. He was a four-star recruit in the 2008 class before earning a starting cornerback job as a freshman and eventually being named an All-Big Ten selection three times.
He’ll be charged with turning around a USC defense that has been one of the worst in the nation under head coach Lincoln Riley and previous defensive coordinator Alex Grinch.
The Trojans finished No. 123 in scoring defense, No. 123 in total defense, No. 117 in rushing defense and No. 118 in passing defense in the 2023 regular season. That represented a fairly sizable step back from a 2022 season in which USC’s defensive struggles cost the Trojans a College Football Playoff berth. Last year, USC finished No. 93 in scoring defense, No. 106 in total defense, No. 80 in rushing defense and No. 112 in passing defense.
This past season, USC showed signs of improvement early, allowing 14 points and 10 points to Nevada and Stanford in the second and third games of the season. And then the wheels fell off. Arizona scored 28 points following USC’s early-season bye week and that was the last time USC held any opponent to fewer than 34 points. The Trojans allowed 42.4 points per game over their final eight contests. The 339 total points allowed in those eight games were more than 90 teams allowed all season.
The defensive turnaround must happen quickly and it must be drastic. He will need to instill confidence and cohesion in a group that seemed to play without much of either in 2023. Riley has not had a consistent defense opposite what has been a high-scoring offense in his two seasons with the Trojans. If USC is going to make an impact in its first year in the Big Ten in 2024, that has to happen.
The Trojans should get back a few key pieces on defense, starting up front with defensive tackle Bear Alexander. Veteran rush end Jamil Muhammad has also announced he’ll return to USC for the 2024 season.
USC will be tested early and often next year. The Trojans open the season with a neutral-site game against LSU in Las Vegas. USC’s Big Ten schedule features games at Michigan, Minnesota, Maryland, Washington and UCLA. The Trojans will also take on Wisconsin, Penn State, Rutgers, Nebraska and Notre Dame in the Coliseum.
