Georgia defensive coordinator Dan Lanning was included among 15 semifinalists for the Frank Broyles Award, the selection committee announced Tuesday.
Lanning, 33, is in his first season leading the Bulldogs’ defense. They lead the SEC and are ranked among the top five in the nation in scoring, total defense and rushing defense.
Head coach Kirby Smart was reluctant to single out Lanning, who is one of four defensive assistants and shares some of the coordinating duties with inside linebackers coach Glenn Schumann. Lanning’s position group is outside linebackers.
“I think all of our defensive coaches do a tremendous job and he’d be the first to tell you that what he’s been able to do is, number one, due to the players, but also the defensive staff,” Smart said Tuesday. “He just has to be the leader and guy in charge of it all. He’s done a really nice job of motivating the players, he relates well to the players, the players believe in him and he’s done a tremendous job. They’ve all done a tremendous job.
“Glenn Schumann is one of our co-defensive coordinators and he’s just as much game-planning as Dan does. He deserves just as much credit as Dan gets. Dan is just the guy that calls it on game day and he’s done a good job.”
Charlton Warren coaches the secondary and Tray Scott coaches the defensive line.
Smart won the Broyles Award as the nation's top assistant coach as Alabama's defensive coordinator in 2009.
Most believe LSU passing game coordinator/quarterbacks coach Joe Brady will be tough to beat this year.
Other semifinalists include Auburn defensive coordinator Kevin Steele, Baylor defensive coordinator/safeties coach Phil Snow, Clemson co-offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach Jeff Scott, Indiana offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Kalen DeBoer, Michigan defensive coordinator Don Brown, Minnesota offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Kirk Ciarrocca, Navy defensive coordinator/safeties coach Brian Newberry, Ohio State co-defensive coordinator/secondary coach Jeff Hafley, Oklahoma defensive coordinator safeties coach Alex Grinch, Oregon defensive coordinator Andy Avalos, SMU offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Rhett Lashlee, Wisconsin defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard and Utah defensive coordinator/safeties coach Morgan Scalley.
