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UCLA defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn talks with linebacker Choe Bryant-Strother during the Bruins’ win over USC at the Coliseum on Nov. 18. (Ashley Landis / Associated Press)
Lincoln Riley got a firsthand look at what D’Anton Lynn could do when UCLA, under its first-year defensive coordinator, held USC to three rushing yards in the Trojans’ 38-20 loss to the Bruins on Nov. 18. It proved to be an informal job interview.
After Lynn engineered a resurgent UCLA defense that gave up the fewest yards in the Pac-12 and the second-fewest points, USC is finalizing a deal to hire the 34-year-old assistant, two people not authorized to speak publicly about the move told The Times. Lynn will be tasked with reviving the struggling unit that has been the thorn in Riley’s side since he took over as coach at USC.
The Trojans (7-5, 5-4 Pac-12) are coming off one of their worst defensive years in school history. The 438.8 yards and 34.9 points USC gave up per game were the most for the program since at least 1955, when records are first available. The rushing defense was the worst in the Pac-12, giving up 183.7 yards per game while trying to rebuild with quick-fix transfers up front.
Riley fired former defensive coordinator Alex Grinch in November, one day after the Trojans gave up 52 points and 316 rushing yards in a loss to Washington.
Read more: Forged in football alongside his father, D’Anton Lynn aims to revive UCLA’s defense
Two weeks later, Lynn arrived at the Coliseum. Led by star defensive lineman Laiatu Latu, the Bruins forced three turnovers, kept the Trojans to their worst rushing performance since 2018 and held USC to its lowest-scoring game of the season in a rivalry win that likely saved UCLA head coach Chip Kelly’s job.
Kelly plucked Lynn, the former Baltimore Ravens safeties coach, from the NFL ranks with a…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/usc-finalizing-deal-hire-uclas-030616973.html
Author : LA Times
Publish date : 2023-12-02 03:06:16
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