D’Anton Lynn’s time with the Baltimore Ravens is an NFL selling point with USC recruits
D’Anton Lynn brings a lot of different qualities to the table as USC’s new defensive coordinator. One strong selling point which is likely to impress potential USC recruits is that Lynn — the son of longtime NFL coach Anthony Lynn — worked with the Baltimore Ravens before his one season at UCLA.
The Baltimore Ravens have had one of the better defenses in the NFL for a majority of head coach John Harbaugh’s tenure with the franchise. The Ravens’ identity is built on tough, physical defense.
D’Anton Lynn coached the safeties with the Ravens. Previously he was the secondary coach for the Houston Texans. Though only 34 years old, he has spent time with multiple NFL teams as an assistant coach. He has been an assistant coach for nearly a whole decade, a surprising fact for someone this young. In many ways, Lynn is a defensive version of Lincoln Riley: a guy who didn’t have a long playing career but immediately caught on to coaching.
Let’s dive into his connection with the Ravens, which could be a huge selling point on the recruiting trail at USC:
HOT NAME
USC is hiring UCLA DC D’Anton Lynn who last year coached under Ravens DC Mike Macdonald… the hottest defensive name on the NFL market.
Macdonald spent a year as Michigan’s DC & the Wolverines replaced him with Jesse Minter who also coached for the Ravens during the same period. https://t.co/wASQDJr6q4
— USC Analytics (@USCanalytics) December 2, 2023
COACHING TREE
initial thoughts on Lynn hire:
– Ravens defensive coach tree, which is same tree as recent Michigan DCs
– this means a defensive scheme and philosophy that has been successful in the Big Ten
– young, hard nosed coach that's already known in LA prep circles#FightOn ✌🏻 pic.twitter.com/YswIrSWeYz— Arrogant Nation✌🏻 (@FightOnRusty) December 2, 2023
ADJUSTED STATS
Things I really like about D'Anton Lynn
+ Opponent-adjusted numbers at UCLA rock
+ Made life very hard for #USC's offense
+ Comes from the Ravens tree/NFL experience
+ Turned around a bad defense quickly
+ Stealing UCLA's DC (only thing they liked this year) is objectively funny— Alicia de Artola Castillo (@PenguinOfTroy) December 2, 2023
CHANCES FOR GROWTH
This is a great hire for USC. Lynn took a leap faith and left the Ravens to become UCLA’s D-coordinator. This move puts him in prime position to continue to ascend and eventually become a head coach. https://t.co/ErYqrNUZna
— Justin Walters (@JustinWaltersTV) December 2, 2023
NFL BLOODLINES
Man in the white hat is UCLA’s new defensive coordinator — D’Anton Lynn, former Baltimore Ravens safeties coach and son of former Chargers coach Anthony Lynn. Tasked with helming a Bruins defense that sputtered at times last season. pic.twitter.com/IhEd96r2Dx
— Luca Evans (@bylucaevans) April 4, 2023
SHRINE BOWL EXPERIENCE
The @NFL announced the coaches for the 2022 East-West @ShrineBowl, the nation's oldest collegiate all-star football game.@Ravens DB coach D'Anton Lynn and @Colts OC Marcus Brady will serve as head coaches. Meet the full roster of coaches: https://t.co/Sv4ppEtdX5 pic.twitter.com/4TMJiPDOVK
— NFL Football Operations (@NFLFootballOps) January 21, 2022
RISING STAR
Incredibly excited about #Ravens’ D’Anton Lynn as our East Team head coach!
Lynn is a rising star in the coaching industry, has NFL coaching bloodlines and a name known by many executives around the NFL. https://t.co/J3cLjRyhgk
— Eric Galko (@EricGalko) January 20, 2022
DETAIL-ORIENTED
John Harbaugh on new Ravens DB coach D’Anton Lynn: “D’Anton is a smart and detail-oriented coach who is passionate about helping players succeed. Coaching is in his blood, and I believe he’ll be a strong addition to our defensive staff.”
— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) January 25, 2021
ADDING ENERGY
#UCLA seems to be making a pretty interesting DC hire w/ Ravens safety coach D’Anton Lynn:
– gotta love how young he is- should add some energy to recruiting defensive players
– NFL experience is a +, but experience in one of the most defense minded NFL orgs is really a +++
— Bruin Source (@BruinSource) February 23, 2023
GETTING TALKED ABOUT
Sleeper DC with great experience and NFL pedigree is D'Anton Lynn current DC at UCLA former defensive assistant with the Ravens.
— ⚡️Dawud ⚡️ (@thatque) November 26, 2023
IN THE DISCUSSION
When Jesse Minter eventually take a bigger job (HC, NFL DC, etc.), Michigan should look at this UCLA DC D’Anton Lynn. Young, from the Ravens tree, and I’ve never seen a UCLA defense play elite.
He’s doing a remarkable job.
— Sam Dodge (@SamDodgeMLive) October 15, 2023
