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Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Cincinnati defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman is expected to interview for the defensive coordinator position on LSU's staff, according to Cincinnati sports reporter Brandon Saho.


The 34-year old Huber Heights, Ohio native played linebacker at Ohio State from 2004-2008 and returned to Columbus to begin his coaching career as a graduate assistant in 2010.

He was hired to be the linebacker coach at Kent State from 2011-2012 and moved on to take the same position at Purdue from 2013-2015. He was promoted as co-defensive coordinator with the Boilermakers for the 2016 season.

Freeman took the defensive coordinator position on Luke Fickell's staff at Cincinnati in 2017. Per Wikipedia:
quote:

On December 13, 2016, Freeman joined the Cincinnati Bearcats football staff.[5] After being one of the first hires by Luke Fickell, Freeman transformed the Bearcats into one of the best defenses of the American Athletic Conference. In 2018 Freeman's defense led the American in rushing defense, scoring defense and total defense and ranked among the Top-15 in the NCAA FBS in all three categories. The next season, the Bearcats finished atop the 2019 AAC ranks in scoring defense for the second-straight season and ranked among the league's top three in rushing and total defense.[6]

Like his head coach, Freeman has declined a handful of positions to remain at Cincinnati including offers of returning to Ohio State as linebackers coach,[7] linebackers coach for the Tennessee Titans,[8] and defensive coordinator at Michigan State[9] among other offers. Freeman has been considered by a number of national outlets as one of the rising stars of the college coaching ranks.[10]

Freeman was a finalist for the Broyles Award and named the 247Sports Defensive Coordinator of the Year during the 2020 season.[11][12]
Filed Under: LSU Football
60 Comments
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Yes .I hope he looks at this as a stepping stone . If he does move on to a HC job after a short stint here , that means he did a great job .
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MaGoo52 months
Much better demeanor guy than Pelini. Does not scream and grimace and frown the whole game like Pelini. Guy looks like a great recruiter, great DC coach and young and upcoming. Stay away from dinosaurs that O seems to pull in that are not needed today for these young kids.
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CanebreakCajun52 months
If the D is good does it matter if every othert word a f that?
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conman52 months
Love to have the guy here at LSU. He is on his new contract tour. Gonna make a lot more money wherever he ends up.
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LSU61552 months
I think he's trying to leverage more money out of Cincinnati. I'd love to have him, but I think he'll stay put and then take a head-coaching job in a few years.
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bluebuck152 months
Can he get 2 and 3 stars to play their hearts out and compete with 4 and 5 stars? He did against Georgia. Check. Can he related to and get the most out of this generation of players? Check. Has he been a part of a blue blood, winning football program? National Championship Program Ohio State, as a player. Check. Does he coach hard, from start to finish? Check. Is he passionate about his job and have a swagger about it? Check. Does he get bigger as the moment gets bigger, on the football field? Check. Vet the man and think about giving him a shot. They manhandled Georgia for 4 quarters, last week.
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Fox McCloud52 months
So he would stay for a year and then leave for head coach position.
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New blood, new ideas. Better than hiring a guy with terrestrial ideas.
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CnAzInCA52 months
Next season, the Tigers’ defense could theoretically start Derek Stingley, Eli Ricks, Maason Smith, and Sage Ryan: all five-star recruits. That has to get a defensive coordinators attention.
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CDawson52 months
His defense had a great year against the junior college schedule. Hope those numbers can translate to big boy football.
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SneakyWaff1es52 months
He did a really good job changing what they did against Georgia. The front 7 played a very different game than they had all year.
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TigerDean52 months
YMCA , not sure if I understand your logic you do know Bo P has been fired so Whoever we hire it will be the third defensive coordinator for some of these players. The schemes were using on defense this last year didn’t work so something had to give .. I’m all In for Coach Marcus Freeman.
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YMCA52 months
TigerDean, I’m beginning to wonder if you and Cajunguy just read the part in my post that said I wasn’t sure about the hire and then replied. I said that 2 of the 3 coordinators left for HC gigs and only one was fired. Regardless of how they left, it would still be a 3rd coordinators def in 3 years and they struggled learning a new one this year. They say he’s good about catering his def to the players so it may not matter.
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YMCA52 months
My point was that he’s wanting a HC job and he’s hot right now. If he has another good season, which is a good thing, then LSU is looking for a 4th coordinator in 4 years. I’d almost rather have someone that would be here at least through a recruiting- draft/graduation. Like I said, Bama makes it work so hopefully LSU can as well bc he’s an awesome coach.
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Yes!!!
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LordSaintly52 months
Would be a solid hire.
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brewdrees52 months
I'm torn because I want a DC that's here for at least 3 years. That one and done cool if you win it all but if not, it's bad!!
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Shalimar Sid52 months
Would be a great hire.
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TeTiger52 months
Best possible option. Get him!
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Goose52 months
Good luck pulling him out of the Ohio / Indiana area... doesn't seem keen to move.
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Powerman52 months
Not everyone thinks small like you. This would be a big upgrade. Stop having opinions.
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SaintLSU52 months
Please let this happen. Go get em O
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reauxl tigers52 months
Indeed
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BigTimer2352 months
Big if true
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CanebreakCajun52 months
No one and done please.
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FowlGuy52 months
I bet it’s stressful being Saban
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rob6252 months
I was thinking that Corey Raymond would get the DC job but Marcus Freeman or Derek Mason would be good. we need to get the DC and OC both in place soon.
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Nix to Twillie52 months
Raymond would be an emotional hire, and those rarely work out. Plus it's been widely speculated that he likes where he is.
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Stexas52 months
He’s playing the game. Interview for a bigger paycheck even though he has no intention of leaving.
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LSUGrrrl52 months
Based on what?
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Tigers4Lyfe52 months
Ed called him. He didn't call Ed.
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