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USC Defensive Coordinator D’Anton Lynn Nominated for Broyles Award
November 27, 2024 | Football
LOS ANGELES – USC Defensive Coordinator D'Anton Lynn was nominated for the Broyles Award, announced the Frank & Barbara Broyles Foundation. The Broyles Award is an annual award given to honor the best assistant coach in college football.
The 65 nominees in this year's class were selected from approximately 1,500 assistant coaches representing 131 FBS programs across the country. The Broyles Award selection process includes the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), broadcasters, a college football hall-of-fame selection committee, and current college head coaches.
The USC defense has made a significant improvement in just one season under Lynn.
Under Lynn, the 2024 USC team currently ranks No. 18 in the nation and No. 2 in the Big Ten Conference in third-down conversation percentage defense (0.322), compared to ranking No. 106 in the nation in third-down conversion percentage defense (0.436) in 2023. At the end of the 2023 season, USC ranked 116 in total defense (432.8). USC has made a massive jump and now ranks No. 65 in total defense (365.7).
The USC defense is holding opponents to an average of just 21.2 points per game. In 2023, the USC defense allowed an average of 34.4 points per game.
USC's defense ranked No. 83 in turnovers gained in 2023 (16), and USC now ranks No. 76 in the same category (14). In 2023, USC was No. 116 in the nation in red zone defense (0.909), and under Lynn, USC is currently ranked No. 73 (0.838). In 2023, USC was No. 107 in fourth-down conversion percentage defense (0.607), and in 2024, USC is No. 62 (0.516).
USC ranked No. 124 in first downs defense in 2023 (295), and under Lynn, USC is ranked No. 60 (215). In 2023, USC was No. 116 in rushing defense (186.5), compared to ranking No. 43 (130.1) in 2024. The Trojans were No. 118 in scoring defense in 2023 (34.4), and now are No. 32 (21.2). USC was No. 116 in team passing efficiency defense in 2023 (149.72), and now, USC is No. 65 (130.38). Finally, USC ranked No. 109 in passes intercepted in 2023 (7), and USC is No. 60 in the same category in 2024 (9).
The platforms of Lynn's defense are shocking effort, obnoxious communication and attack. The USC football players have fully embraced not only his system, but who Lynn is as a man and a coach.
"He's obviously one of the smartest in the game," defensive tackle Nate Clifton said. "He's very confident in his ability and also the defense's ability to execute. So whenever he instills that confidence in us, it's not hard to go out there and do what he tells us to do."
"He's very calm, and he never yells," said safety Akili Arnold. "He calls you out if you make a mistake, but he never does it in a way to embarrass you. He teaches you how to do it right and makes sure we are all on the same page. I think his demeanor keeps our defense calm."
In 2023, Lynn served as the defensive coordinator at UCLA where he completely transformed the Bruin defense. He elevated UCLA's defense from ranking No. 87 in 2022 to finishing the 2023 regular season ranked No. 10 in the nation.
Lynn's defense finished the regular season ranked first in the nation in rushing defense (69.6 yards per game), second in the nation in yards per rush allowed (2.33) and third in the nation in sacks per game (3.42). Opponents averaged just 299.0 yards per game, which was the lowest by a Bruin team since 1992 (297.8). Additionally, UCLA's 41 sacks in the regular season ranked fourth nationally and were the most by a Bruin defense since 2012. To finish the regular season, UCLA also ranked fourth in the nation in tackles for loss with 99. In the regular season, the Bruin defense allowed multiple touchdowns in just 5 games in 2023. In the regular season, UCLA held 9 of its opponents to 20 points or less and only allowed 3 rushing touchdowns.
Lynn also tutored Bruin star DE Laiatu Latu, who led the nation in tackles for loss per game (1.8) and was fourth nationally in sacks per game (1.08). Latu won the Lombardi Award and was a finalist for Bednarik Award and the Lott IMPACT Trophy.
On Dec. 1, 2023, Lynn was hired as the defensive coordinator at USC. He made an immediate impact installing his new defense and securing some of the nation's top defensive recruits.
Lynn spent 9 seasons in the NFL to begin his coaching career. He was the safeties coach for the Baltimore Ravens for the 2021 and 2022 seasons. In 2022, the Ravens surrendered just 18.5 points per game, which ranked third in the NFL. Lynn guided a position group that featured Chuck Clark, who piled up a career-high 101 total tackles, and Marcus Williams, who led the defense with 4 interceptions. Lynn also developed rookie Kyle Hamilton, who collected 62 tackles. He was also chosen as East head coach for the 2022 East-West Shrine Bowl in Las Vegas.
Lynn spent 2020 as the Houston Texans secondary coach after spending 2 years as their assistant secondary coach (2018-19). Houston won back-to-back AFC South championships in 2018 and 2019. The 2018 team gave up 19.8 points per game, which tied for the league's fourth-best mark. The Texans +13 turnover differential in 2018 still holds a franchise record and was second in the league. Safety Justin Reid excelled in the defensive backfield under Lynn, tallying 249 total tackles and 5 interceptions in 41 games.
In 2017, Lynn held a defensive assistant role with the Los Angeles Chargers when his father, Anthony Lynn, was the head coach. He worked primarily with a linebacker group that contributed to the NFL's best red zone defense. The Chargers defense gave up the third-fewest points per game at 17.0 and was tied for fifth in sacks with 43. Joey Bosa (12.5, seventh) and Melvin Ingram (10.5, 15th) were each listed among the league leaders for sacks.
Lynn was an assistant with the Buffalo Bills from 2015-16. He coached a defense that finished fourth in both passing touchdowns allowed with 19 and in opponent completion percentage of 59.9% in 2016. The 2015 squad tied for the league lead with 93 passes defended and held opponents to the third-lowest completion percentage of 57.6%.
Lynn began his coaching career as a seasonal intern for the New York Jets in 2014.
A selection committee of distinguished former head coaches, broadcasters and a committee representing the FWAA will select 15 semi-finalists, five finalists from the list of nominees, and an overall winner.
The 65 nominees in this year's class were selected from approximately 1,500 assistant coaches representing 131 FBS programs across the country. The Broyles Award selection process includes the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), broadcasters, a college football hall-of-fame selection committee, and current college head coaches.
The USC defense has made a significant improvement in just one season under Lynn.
Under Lynn, the 2024 USC team currently ranks No. 18 in the nation and No. 2 in the Big Ten Conference in third-down conversation percentage defense (0.322), compared to ranking No. 106 in the nation in third-down conversion percentage defense (0.436) in 2023. At the end of the 2023 season, USC ranked 116 in total defense (432.8). USC has made a massive jump and now ranks No. 65 in total defense (365.7).
The USC defense is holding opponents to an average of just 21.2 points per game. In 2023, the USC defense allowed an average of 34.4 points per game.
USC's defense ranked No. 83 in turnovers gained in 2023 (16), and USC now ranks No. 76 in the same category (14). In 2023, USC was No. 116 in the nation in red zone defense (0.909), and under Lynn, USC is currently ranked No. 73 (0.838). In 2023, USC was No. 107 in fourth-down conversion percentage defense (0.607), and in 2024, USC is No. 62 (0.516).
USC ranked No. 124 in first downs defense in 2023 (295), and under Lynn, USC is ranked No. 60 (215). In 2023, USC was No. 116 in rushing defense (186.5), compared to ranking No. 43 (130.1) in 2024. The Trojans were No. 118 in scoring defense in 2023 (34.4), and now are No. 32 (21.2). USC was No. 116 in team passing efficiency defense in 2023 (149.72), and now, USC is No. 65 (130.38). Finally, USC ranked No. 109 in passes intercepted in 2023 (7), and USC is No. 60 in the same category in 2024 (9).
The platforms of Lynn's defense are shocking effort, obnoxious communication and attack. The USC football players have fully embraced not only his system, but who Lynn is as a man and a coach.
"He's obviously one of the smartest in the game," defensive tackle Nate Clifton said. "He's very confident in his ability and also the defense's ability to execute. So whenever he instills that confidence in us, it's not hard to go out there and do what he tells us to do."
"He's very calm, and he never yells," said safety Akili Arnold. "He calls you out if you make a mistake, but he never does it in a way to embarrass you. He teaches you how to do it right and makes sure we are all on the same page. I think his demeanor keeps our defense calm."
In 2023, Lynn served as the defensive coordinator at UCLA where he completely transformed the Bruin defense. He elevated UCLA's defense from ranking No. 87 in 2022 to finishing the 2023 regular season ranked No. 10 in the nation.
Lynn's defense finished the regular season ranked first in the nation in rushing defense (69.6 yards per game), second in the nation in yards per rush allowed (2.33) and third in the nation in sacks per game (3.42). Opponents averaged just 299.0 yards per game, which was the lowest by a Bruin team since 1992 (297.8). Additionally, UCLA's 41 sacks in the regular season ranked fourth nationally and were the most by a Bruin defense since 2012. To finish the regular season, UCLA also ranked fourth in the nation in tackles for loss with 99. In the regular season, the Bruin defense allowed multiple touchdowns in just 5 games in 2023. In the regular season, UCLA held 9 of its opponents to 20 points or less and only allowed 3 rushing touchdowns.
Lynn also tutored Bruin star DE Laiatu Latu, who led the nation in tackles for loss per game (1.8) and was fourth nationally in sacks per game (1.08). Latu won the Lombardi Award and was a finalist for Bednarik Award and the Lott IMPACT Trophy.
On Dec. 1, 2023, Lynn was hired as the defensive coordinator at USC. He made an immediate impact installing his new defense and securing some of the nation's top defensive recruits.
Lynn spent 9 seasons in the NFL to begin his coaching career. He was the safeties coach for the Baltimore Ravens for the 2021 and 2022 seasons. In 2022, the Ravens surrendered just 18.5 points per game, which ranked third in the NFL. Lynn guided a position group that featured Chuck Clark, who piled up a career-high 101 total tackles, and Marcus Williams, who led the defense with 4 interceptions. Lynn also developed rookie Kyle Hamilton, who collected 62 tackles. He was also chosen as East head coach for the 2022 East-West Shrine Bowl in Las Vegas.
Lynn spent 2020 as the Houston Texans secondary coach after spending 2 years as their assistant secondary coach (2018-19). Houston won back-to-back AFC South championships in 2018 and 2019. The 2018 team gave up 19.8 points per game, which tied for the league's fourth-best mark. The Texans +13 turnover differential in 2018 still holds a franchise record and was second in the league. Safety Justin Reid excelled in the defensive backfield under Lynn, tallying 249 total tackles and 5 interceptions in 41 games.
In 2017, Lynn held a defensive assistant role with the Los Angeles Chargers when his father, Anthony Lynn, was the head coach. He worked primarily with a linebacker group that contributed to the NFL's best red zone defense. The Chargers defense gave up the third-fewest points per game at 17.0 and was tied for fifth in sacks with 43. Joey Bosa (12.5, seventh) and Melvin Ingram (10.5, 15th) were each listed among the league leaders for sacks.
Lynn was an assistant with the Buffalo Bills from 2015-16. He coached a defense that finished fourth in both passing touchdowns allowed with 19 and in opponent completion percentage of 59.9% in 2016. The 2015 squad tied for the league lead with 93 passes defended and held opponents to the third-lowest completion percentage of 57.6%.
Lynn began his coaching career as a seasonal intern for the New York Jets in 2014.
A selection committee of distinguished former head coaches, broadcasters and a committee representing the FWAA will select 15 semi-finalists, five finalists from the list of nominees, and an overall winner.
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