USC Football: 3 possible candidates to replace Clay Helton

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 24: Head coach Clay Helton of the USC Trojans walks his team down the tunnel at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to play against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on November 24, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /

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STATE COLLEGE, PA – SEPTEMBER 14: Head coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions looks on before the game against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Beaver Stadium on September 14, 2019 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

3. James Franklin

It was rumored last season that Franklin was planning to make the move from State College to Los Angeles. After Lynn Swann decided to retain Helton, that rumor was obviously squashed.

Coach Franklin has done the unthinkable twice. He turned the Vanderbilt Commodores into a 9-4 team and rebuilt the Nittany Lions from ground up. He’s definitely a guy that you want around your program.

There is no doubt that the Trojan’s new AD, whom ever that may be, will reach out to Franklin. He’s extremely proven and fits perfectly into the category of the type of guy that USC is in dire need of. It would be a home run hire.

With that being said, Franklin is obviously very true to Pennsylvania. He was born and raised in the state and even played college football in the area. Pulling him away from Penn State will be no easy task.

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