In this ever-changing college football dynamics, the grind never stops. While fans kick back and watch the action, coaches play 4D chess on a board that flips mid-match. That’s exactly what’s happening with James Franklin and Marcus Freeman, who are locked in a recruiting dogfight where every move feels like a game-winner until the other side counters. Now, with both sides amassing resources, revamping their teams, and employing every strategy to create a dominant force before the 2025 clash intensifies.

It’s evident that Penn State refuses to let history repeat itself after that Orange Bowl heartbreak. They took a 24-27 gut punch from Notre Dame, no chance they’re taking another. But Freeman? He’s not done yet. Now he’s coming for Penn State’s biggest coaching weapon, Ja’Juan Seider. And James Franklin? Even he’s not just holding back from throwing punches right back at Freeman with his next move.

Well, it’s pretty much evident that Marcus Freeman and Notre Dame’s poaching antics show no sign of pulling the brakes. As they lurk away, James Franklin’s beloved RB coach, Ja’Juan Seider. But let’s just sleep on that because Coach Franklin is no less of a recruiting mastermind. His latest action? Trying to get Oklahoma’s RB coach DeMarco Murray into the team. Now that’s what we call pulling a perfect comeback.

Now if you don’t know about the kind of talent DeMarco Murray has, you are missing out on a lot, as his story is a blueprint of excellence. During his time at OU from 2007 to 2010, Murray amassed impressive stats, ranking seventh in program history for rushing yards with 3,685 and second all-time with 50 touchdowns. He went on to have a successful NFL career, earning three Pro Bowl selections and playing for teams like Dallas, Philly, and Tennessee.

Well, transitioning into coaching in 2019 with Arizona before returning to OU, Murray has continued to excel. Under his guidance, players like Kennedy Brooks and Eric Gray surpassed the 1,000-yard rushing mark, while others such as Rhamondre Stevenson and Gray secured NFL contracts.

Moreover, James Franklin is not the first one calling dibs for Murray. Last season Ohio State was rooting high for him. But despite interest from Ohio State in hiring Murray as their running backs coach, Oklahoma secured him with a lucrative deal through 2027. They slapped a three-year deal on the table, tacked on a $225K raise in March, and locked him in through 2027 at $800K a year.

As James Franklin prepares to make significant moves, including potentially recruiting Murray, the focus remains on building a strong team. And it looks like Franklin is pulling big NIL strings for Murray just like he did for Jim Knowles. But amid all the recruiting chaos swirling around Penn State and Notre Dame, there’s no way it’s going to affect James Bond with Seider.

James Franklin clears his stance on Ja’Juan Seider’s departure

If you watched Penn State in action last season, you’re familiar with the impact Ja’Juan Seider had. He orchestrated a powerful backfield, with Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen, both surpassing 1,000 rushing yards. Seider’s recruiting skills are top-notch, evident in bringing talents like Miles Sanders and Journey Brown to Penn State’s RB lineup consistently. His departure certainly hits hard, but Seider already focuses on his next endeavor.

And even James Franklin is not holding any bad blood against him as he says, “Ja’Juan Seider, after being with us for seven years, did a great job for us. I am very appreciative of Ja’Juan and his family. His son played for us and was part of our program for a long time. He has moved on, and we wish him nothing but the best. He gave our program and our community seven years and did a really good job for us.” On the other hand, for Marcus Freeman, this move is a significant power play. As initially they were eyeing Michigan’s RB coach Tony Alford, Notre Dame switched gears and secured an even bigger name in Freeman.

The coaching carousel is more than just staff changes; it’s a competitive race. Who is assembling the strongest team? Who is strategizing for a title push? But in their case, it’s more about how their paths cross, perhaps in the playoffs, and who will ultimately emerge victorious in the end.