Penn State Nittany Lions had everything in their grasp in the 2024 season until it wasn’t. They lost just two games against OSU and Oregon in their regular season and made it to the playoffs. They then defeated SMU and Boise State and reached the semifinal against Notre Dame. The orange ball saw one of the classics being unfolded as the Nittany Lions hoped to lift the natty trophy. But Marcus Freeman came haunting and knocked them out in a thriller that ended 27-24. The Penn State nation didn’t quite recover from the loss, and Marcus Freeman was still lurking in the shadows to give them another blow.

This time, Marcus Freeman came not for the points but for the personnel. This was a move that no one could have expected, and yet Freeman has pulled it off. Yes, folks, it’s the hiring of the Nittany Lions assistant coach and running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider. The same man who is the architect behind the top running back room in the country at Penn State. The same man who their supporters are not able to see depart.

And they are right in every aspect. They don’t make recruiters and coaches like Seider anymore. He is the true OG in that sense. But he wasn’t even the first choice for Freeman in his recruitment. As per The Athletic, Freeman was initially looking for the services of Michigan RB coach Tony Alford. That was because of his connection in coaching the Irish back in 2009 till 2013. So, it made sense to do just that. But he hired Seider instead. But why?

Well, for starters, he is the coach who was the man behind the phenomenal recruitment class of RBs at Penn State. That included players like Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen. Both players were in the form of their lives as they both recorded 1,000+ yards in rushing in the 2024 season. His recruitment exploits in recruiting Miles Seider and Journey Brown are a testament to his coaching and game prowess. So, with this resume, anyone would have been tempted to sign him. But it just happened to be Marcus Freeman. However, it seems the Penn State Nation is calling it a betrayal and failure on James Franklin’s part.

Penn State Nation’s reaction to Seider’s  departure

Penn State had recently hired the top defensive coordinator, Jim Knowles, after a long poaching war. He became the highest-paid DC in college football after joining from Ohio State. Naturally, no one expected Penn State to land Jim Knowles, considering OSU had just won the national championship. A user commented on Reddit with similar notes, “We got Jim Knowles’d“. And, of course, he’s right because this time, Penn State has been handed a taste of its own medicine. When one of their own valuable coaches has been poached by another team.

Another user commented. “Freeman was plotting this move since Franklin opened his mouth at the Orange Bowl press conference.” For context, James Franklin made a joke about Marcus Freeman’s hairline in the press conference. “I mean, look at the hairline on this guy. I’m envious of his hairline in a lot of ways”. The joke, although was not intentional, didn’t sit right with the Irish supporters after the game.

Another user remarked. “Franklin and Freeman about to kick off on a 90’s era East-West Coast rap feud.” Well, if not a rap feud, the poaching war, it seems, will continue in college football. Franklin and Freeman both have become the center of attention for just that. “He was our Florida recruiting guy. Idk who we get to replace that region,” another user said. He was talking about the top prospects that Seider had recruited from the Florida region. He also started in the coaching field at a high school in Florida and also played for Florida A&M as QB. So, what’s next?

Well, Penn State is looking quite ready for the 2025 season. It also has top prospects like Drew Allar and Dannis Sutton. And, with Jim Knowles at the helm, they can definitely make their defense more formidable. Their only problem would be to look for an RB coach with the same caliber as Seider. That may be easier said than done.