Report: USC's Peter Sirmon named Mississippi State DC

Mississippi State has named USC linebackers coach Peter Sirmon the program's new defensive coordinator, according to Lindsey Thiry of the Los Angeles Times.

The Bulldogs lost defensive coordinator Manny Diaz to Mark Richt's staff at Miami last week, and have apparently reached to the Pac-12 to replace him.

Sirmon is no stranger to the SEC, having served at Tennessee as a graduate assistant in 2010 before being promoted to linebackers coach for the 2011 season.

The 38-year-old faces a steep challenge with the Bulldogs' defense, inheriting a group that finished 10th in the 14-team SEC.