Georgia Bulldogs Defensive Coordinator Dan Lanning Targeted for Interview with Kansas
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ATHENS - Georgia defensive coordinator Dan Lanning continues to be a hot commodity in the coaching world.
Kirby Smart’s defensive coordinator is a target for the Kansas Jayhawk’s open head coaching spot, which is set to be filled “within the next 10 days” according to a report from Football Scoop.
Lanning turned down Steve Sarkisian’s overture to leave UGA and head to Austin for the rebuild of the Texas Longhorns, but he continues to draw head coaching interest according to the report. Still, Lanning is one a slew of names mentioned by the outlet.
Army’s Jeff Monken, Buffalo’s Lance Leipold, Tulane’s Willie Fritz, Eastern Michigan’s Chris Creighton and Emmett Jones, who is the interim coach at Kansas, are all “among those invited to interview” for the job left vacant after Les Miles’ departure earlier this year.
Lanning has made a name for himself at UGA since taking over for Mel Tucker after he took over the Michigan State job following the 2018 season. The Bulldogs only allowed 12.6 points per game in Lanning’s first full season on the job.
The Bulldogs have ranked No. 3 and No. 12 is scoring defense nationally with Lanning in charge of that side of the ball.
Lanning has been an excellent recruiter for the Bulldogs since his arrival, helping to land top four-star target Quay Walker on Signing Day a month after he was hired. Lanning recruited extremely well in the 2019 class as well, signing the nation’s top overall prospect, outside linebacker Nolan Smith. Lanning also signed four-star outside linebacker Rian Davis in the 2019 class.
In 2020, Lanning helped the Bulldogs sign four-star linebacker Mekhail Sherman, the No.33 overall prospect.In this recent 2021 class, Lanning was able to help the Bulldogs sign five-star Xavian Sorey, five-star Smael Mondon, and four-star Chaz Chambliss.
Lanning put together his “wolf pack” group of outside linebackers and they’ve been hunting quarterbacks and creativ havoc for the last three years. Junior Azeez Ojulari has turned from a four-star edge defender into an elite pass rusher under Dan Lanning the last three years. The former Marietta Blue Devil lead the team in sacks the last two years with 5.5 sacks in 2019 and 8.5 sacks in 2020.
Ojulari declared for the 2021 NFL Draft and more Lanning pupils could be high draft picks in the 2022 NFL Draft as well with Adam Anderson and Nolan Smith being eligible.
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