James Franklin Named the Most Overrated Coach According to Coaching Peers

James Franklin was named (along with Willie Taggart) the most overrated coach in college football, according to a poll of his coaching peers done by CBS’s Dennis Dodd. Here are what two of the head coaches who voted for Franklin said:

“James Franklin. His coaching peers know he is full of it.”

“When [Franklin] got the Penn State job, I thought, ‘Man, he’s a good marketer.’ He did a nice job with that. It’ll be interesting without Saquon [Barkley]. He’s underrated. He turns a lot of no[-gain] plays into 60-yard touchdowns.”

I mean, this really is good stuff. We can break this down piece by piece.

“His coaching peers know he is full of it.”
“It” being having a lot of success — coaches who have won at least 22 games, a conference title, and a New Year’s Six or College Football Playoff bowl game the last two seasons? Nick Saban, Urban Meyer, Dabo Swinney, and James Franklin.

“When [Franklin] got the Penn State job, I thought, ‘Man, he’s a good marketer.’”
From 1974 to 2008, Vanderbilt played in three bowl games total. From 2011 to 2013, Vanderbilt played in three bowl games all three seasons. Wonder who the head coach was for that?

“It’ll be interesting without Saquon.”
I mean, using a generational talent that James Franklin recruited to Penn State as a point against him is absolutely fantastic. Bravo, ding dong brains.

If someone doesn’t like Franklin, that’s fine. He can come off as arrogant at times, and if that rubs an opposing fan base or coach the wrong way, that’s fair. But if you think Franklin can’t coach or is overrated, you are an absolute idiot. This dude led Vanderbilt to unprecedented success immediately, and then took (and is taking) a middling Penn State program back to a level it hasn’t seen in at least a decade, if not longer. If all of it is “overrated” then sign the Nittany Lions up for more in the coming years.