Penn State’s football program continues reshaping its coaching staff following its College Football Playoff semifinal loss to Notre Dame.
Defensive coordinator Tom Allen left for Clemson, prompting head coach James Franklin to hire Jim Knowles from Ohio State to lead the defense.
Running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider departed for Notre Dame, creating another key vacancy. Franklin targeted Oklahoma assistant DeMarco Murray, but ultimately hired former Temple head coach Stan Drayton when Murray decided to remain with the Sooners.
Money aside, because I think Penn State probably would have paid him well in general… But when you talk about DeMarco Murray staying at Oklahoma and the idea now that he’s going to be with a coordinator like Ben Arbuckle…
On3’s J.D. PicKell says Murray’s choice reflects confidence in Oklahoma’s trajectory rather than doubts about Penn State’s championship potential in 2025.
I think Penn State, given all that they’ve done this offseason, it’s not a question of how good they’re going to be in 2025. I fully expect Penn State to be in the College Football Playoff. I fully expect them to be in the Big Ten title conversation. You don’t have to squint to see what Penn State does in 2025. They’re going to be good. So, if DeMarco Murray didn’t believe in Oklahoma and passed up on Penn State, what does that tell you about the belief in where he thinks Oklahoma is heading in 2025?
Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables enters his fourth season with a 22-17 record. The Sooners finished 10-3 in 2023, their first winning season under his leadership.
As Oklahoma prepares for its second SEC season in 2025, Venables hired offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle from Washington State. The move helped secure transfer portal quarterback John Mateer to replace Jackson Arnold.
“If he thought Oklahoma was a sinking ship, I don’t think he would have stuck around,” PicKell said. “This tells me a lot about the direction he believes Oklahoma is heading. It tells me a lot about his belief in Ben Arbuckle. It tells me a lot about his belief in John Mateer.”
Murray previously declined Ohio State’s running backs coach position last year. He’s now turned down two Big Ten opportunities in consecutive offseasons.
