Potential LSU DC Targets

Jim Leonhard

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Over his first four seasons, the Badgers ranked third in scoring defense (17.2 points per game), fourth in total yards allowed (297.9 yards per game), fifth in rushing defense (112.3 ypg) and fifth in pass efficiency defense (109.0). Wisconsin forced the second-most turnovers of any FBS team during that span, with 104, and the Badgers’ 68 interceptions also ranked No. 2 nationally.

In 2019, Leonhard’s unit posted four shutouts — the first Big Ten team to do so since 1962 — and set a school record by allowing opponents to convert just 27.2% of their third-down attempts. Led by 12.5 from consensus All-America outside linebacker Zack Baun and 11.5 from All-Big Ten inside linebacker Chris Orr, the Badgers smashed the school record with 51 sacks on the season.

In its first year under Leonhard’s direction in 2017, the Badgers’ defense ranked second nationally in total yards allowed (262.1 ypg), third in scoring defense (13.9 ppg), third in rushing defense (98.4 ypg) and No. 1 in pass efficiency defense (96.4).

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Morgan Scalley

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In his 13th year overall as a Utah assistant coach, Morgan Scalley is in his fifth season as the defensive coordinator in 2020. He also continues to coach the safeties, as he has his entire time on the staff, and also served as Utah’s recruiting coordinator from 2009-15 and special teams’ coordinator in 2015.

The former Ute All-America safety began his coaching career as an administrative assistant with the Utes in 2006, moving into a graduate assistant role in 2007.

Scalley, who owns a reputation as one of the brightest defensive minds in the business, was a finalist for the Broyles Award in 2019 when the Utes ranked 2nd in the FBS in total defense. Utah has led the Pac-12 three times in his first four seasons as defensive coordinator in rushing defense (2016, '18 and '19)—ranking third in the nation in 2019 after ranking fifth in in 2018. The 2016 Utes led the conference in sacks (43) and tackles for loss (101) and ranked in the top 12 nationally in both. Over the past two seasons, Scalley's defense has held opponents to 10 points or fewer 12 times, second-most in all of FBS.

The 2019 Utah defense was one for the ages, leading the Pac-12 in total defense, passing defense, rushing defense, scoring defense, red zone defense, first downs allowed and third-down defense. Utah recorded the best statistical season by a conference team in the Pac-12 era in three categories: total yards (269.2), rushing yards (81.8) and points allowed (15.0). Scalley's unit recorded two shutouts, most by a Utah team since 2003, and held six opponents to seven points or fewer, most in a season by the Utes since 1969 (also 6). Utah held 10 of 14 opponents under 70 rushing yards, the most by an FBS team since 2006.

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David Reeves

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David Reeves enters his fourth season as defensive coordinator and his fifth season overall at UAB.

A two-time Broyles Award nominee, Reeves’ unit has been one of the most disruptive defenses in the country over the past two years. In 2018, the Blazers finished ninth nationally in total defense and in 2019 moved up one spot to finish eighth.

Over the past two seasons, UAB has been among the nation’s best in getting to the quarterback, compiling 92 total sacks and 217 tackles for loss. Additionally, UAB has been able to get off the field when it counted the most, finished No. 2 nationally in third down defense in 2018 and No. 3 in 2019.

Reeves’ extraordinary efforts resulted in him being named a semifinalist for the 2018 Broyles Award and a nominee in 2019. The Broyles Award is annually given to the nation’s top assistant coach.

Under his guidance, the Blazers have shattered the record book. Along with finishing ninth in total defense (299.2) in 2018, UAB ranked top 10 nationally in five other statistical categories: second in third down defense (.260), fifth in fourth down defense (.318), fifth in sacks per game (3.43), seventh in scoring defense (17.0) and seventh in tackles for loss per game (7.9).

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If Ed is still the coach and actually fires Pelini, he's going to hire another old bum, because that's what he does.

They're all too young for O.

I'm sure there's a 65+ year old guy out there who would come take one last big day.

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Morgan Scalley (Utah)

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Gonna be tough to pull that Mormon out of Utah.

Sorry I wasn't picking Leonhard I was trying to save my spot to put up the information for everyone to see the listed choices.

My pick personal is Reeves. I don't think you're getting Leonhard to leave his alma mater.

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Scalley also got in trouble for dropping the N word

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Yeah that's gonna go over great for O.

Baker has the feel to him



Blake Baker

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Baker went to Arkansas State after spending 2010 through 2012 as a defensive graduate assistant coach at Texas. He worked closely with both the Longhorns’ linebackers and defensive backs, two position groups that included eight All-Big 12 selections over the last two years. He also helped coach All-America linebacker and Lott Trophy finalist Emmanuel Acho and cornerback Quandre Diggs, the 2011 Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year.

He was a part of the Texas coaching staff in 2011 that led the Longhorns to a No. 11 national ranking in total defense, yielding just 306.8 yards per game. The 2011 Longhorns’ defense also ranked among the top 20 teams in the nation in rush defense (96.2 yards per game), pass efficiency defense (111.0) and tackles for loss (7.4 per game).

Texas won 17 games in Baker’s two years on the coaching staff, including a 21-10 victory over California in the 2011 Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl and a 31-27 win against Oregon State in the 2012 Valero Alamo Bowl.

Prior to joining the Texas staff, Baker spent the 2009 season as a wide receivers coach at Clear Springs High School in Houston, Texas, before taking over duties as linebackers coach the following spring.

The Houston native was a four-year letterman and three-year starter at Tulane from 2000-04, helping lead the Green Wave to a win in the 2002 Hawaii Bowl. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Tulane in 2008.

Baker is married to the former Roslyn Jones of Mandeville, La., and the couple has a daughter, Anderson, and a son, Byron

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Marcus Freeman

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Marcus Freeman was named to the University of Cincinnati football staff in January 2017. He is the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.

Freeman has been part of a UC staff which coached the Bearcats to back-to-back 11-win seasons in 2018 and 2019, the 2019 American Athletic Conference East Division Championship and consecutive bowl-game wins in the 2018 Military Bowl and 2019 TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl.

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.

The 2018 Black Cats 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.

He joined the Bearcats staff after a four-year stint at Purdue. He coached linebackers all four seasons and served as the Boilermakers co-defensive coordinator in 2015.

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Reeves or Womack are my top 2 choices.

Jim Leonhard is not leaving Wisconsin for another DC job. Lets be realistic here

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They're all too young for O.

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Won't be O hiring them. Might not even be O supervising them.