Detroit Lions Hire John Scott Jr. to Replace Todd Wash

The Detroit Lions have hired John Scott Jr. to lead their defensive line development. According to the Centre Daily Times, Scott is leaving his post as the defensive line coach at Penn State to join the Lions’ coaching staff. The exact role of Scott on the Lions’ coaching staff has not been explicitly reported. However, it is expected that he will replace Todd Wash, who took the defensive line coach job with the Carolina Panthers earlier this month.

From Penn State to the NFL

Since 2001, John Scott Jr. has been coaching football, starting as a high school defensive line coach. He then progressed up the coaching ladder. He had stints at various colleges and universities including Louisiana-Lafayette, Norfolk State, Georgia Southern, Arkansas, and South Carolina. In the NFL, he spent two seasons with the New York Jets. He began as a defensive quality control coach then assistant defensive line coach under Todd Bowles from 2015-2016. Scott has spent the past three years as the defensive line coach at Penn State. This past season, he earned the running game coordinator title.

Penn State head coach James Franklin confirmed Scott’s departure and expressed his gratitude for Scott’s contribution to the program, saying, “John is a great coach and also a great man. I am grateful for his friendship and the impact he has had on our student-athletes. This was a great opportunity for him in the NFL and I wish him and his family nothing but the best.”

Defensive Line Development

Scott is known for developing NFL defensive line prospects. During his time at South Carolina in 2019 and Penn State, he helped develop Javon Kinlaw and Odafe Oweh into first-round picks (in 2020 and 2021 respectively). Overall, Scott has sent ten defensive linemen to the NFL during his coaching career, including former Lion Kerry Hyder.

Scottie Montgomery, who was hired as the Lions’ running backs coach to replace Duce Staley, was quick to join the coaching staff. Now, the Lions seem to have found their replacement for Wash in John Scott Jr.

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