LSU to Interview Marcus Freeman for DC Position

The LSU Tigers will apparently soon be interviewing a staff member from an American Athletic Conference school for its vacant defensive coordinator position.

LSU is set to interview Cincinnati defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman as it looks for someone new to fill the position.

Last month, LSU parted ways with defensive coordinator Bo Pelini after one season with the program.

A former head coach at Nebraska and Youngstown St., Pelini was brought in to coach LSU's defense last January but ultimately failed to live up to expectations, as the Tigers ranked next-to-last in the SEC in yards allowed per game.

The 34-year old Freeman helped Cincinnati to a 9-1 record in 2020 and was a finalist for the 2020 Frank Broyles Award.

A native of Huber Heights, Ohio, Freeman began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Ohio in 2010, before serving as linebackers coach at Kent St. (2011-2012) and Purdue (2013-2015).

In 2016, Freeman was elevated to co-defensive coordinator at Purdue, before moving to Cincinnati in 2017.

A former college football player at Ohio St., Freeman finished his career 19th on the school’s all-time tackle list with 268 stops, including 140 solo tackles, while also being credited with 21.5 tackles for loss and 6.0 sacks.

In 2008 with the Buckeyes, Freeman was named a second-team All-Big Ten selection, after finishing with 84 tackles, including 39 solo stops, to go along with 3.5 sacks.

A 5th-round selection of the Chicago Bears in the 2009 NFL Draft, Freeman's professional playing career ended because of a medical condition.

Freeman earned a master's degree in sports management from Ohio St. in 2017.