Today could become D-Day for Penn State in general and James Franklin specifically.
Citing two sources close to the football program, the Scranton Times Tribune reported overnight that Franklin has been offered the job as the Nittany Lions head coach. The paper wrote that the offer came “during an hours-long meeting with the university’s search committee in Destin, Fla.”
The Tennessean is reporting that, per Vanderbilt athletic director David Williams, Franklin “is out of town with his family taking a couple of days off.” Williams confirmed to the paper that Franklin has a residence in Destin; a private plane -- with Penn State president Rodney Erickson and athletic director David Joyner as passengers -- from Destin, Fla., landed at University Park Airport in State College late Wednesday evening.
Franklin, who emerged as the “clear frontrunner” earlier this week, is expected to make a decision, one way or the other, at some point on Thursday, the Times Tribune reported.
The current Vanderbilt head coach is also being pursued by the NFL’s Washington Redskins and Cleveland Browns. ESPN‘s Adam Schefter, however, is reporting that it “sounds like” Franklin will either coach at Vanderbilt or Penn State this coming season.