Penn State wide receivers coach Josh Gattis reportedly leaving for Alabama

James Franklin lost an assistant coach to Nick Saban.

Penn State wide receivers coach Josh Gattis is leaving Happy Valley and joining Alabama’s staff, per multiple reports. Football Scoop had the news first.

Gattis will serve as the Crimson Tide’s co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach. Mike Locksley — who coached with Franklin at Maryland in the early 2000s — was promoted from Alabama’s wide receivers coach to offensive coordinator on Thursday.

Gattis, who worked with Franklin all four years at Penn State and at Vanderbilt before that, established himself as a premier molder of talent and top-notch recruiter.

The Wake Forest graduate mentored SEC record-holder Jordan Matthews and former Nittany Lions star Chris Godwin. Both have succeeded in the NFL. The assistant also helped mold DaeSean Hamilton into Penn State’s all-time leading receiver.

Gattis is ranked No. 14 nationally among recruiters, per 247 Sports. In the 2018 class alone, he locked down commitments from five-star pass-catcher Justin Shorter and four-star talents Daniel George and Jahan Dotson.

Gattis is the third assistant to leave Penn State since the end of the regular season. Joe Moorhead took the head coaching job at Mississippi State, and former running backs coach Charles Huff followed him to Starkville.

The Nittany Lions will enter the 2018 season with nearly an entirely new offensive staff. Ricky Rahne was promoted to offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, David Corley was announced as Huff’s replacement, Tyler Bowen was added as tight ends coach and now Gattis must be replaced. Matt Limegrover remains the offensive line coach.

This story was originally published January 19, 2018 at 11:32 AM with the headline "Penn State wide receivers coach Josh Gattis reportedly leaving for Alabama."