Greg Roman has helped the 49ers to the playoffs once again. (USATSI)
Greg Roman has helped the 49ers to the playoffs once again. (USATSI)
More Penn State: Vandy staff following Penn State commitments on Twitter?

The Penn State coaching search has taken another twist with the news the Nittany Lions could be looking to San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Greg Roman.

From CBSSports.com's Bruce Feldman:

Roman has spent three season as the 49ers' coordinator under Jim Harbaugh, under whom he worked in the same position on Harbaugh's staff at Stanford.

In the wake of Al Golden re-committing himself to Miami, most of the recent buzz surrounding the Penn State job has centered on Vanderbilt coach and Pennsylvania native James Franklin. CBSSports.com's Bruce Feldman reported Tuesday that Franklin was the "clear front-runner" for the position.

But Vanderbilt athletic director David Williams told CBSSports.com's Jeremy Fowler Tuesday that he "expect[s] James to be our football coach" going forward.

As an influential member of an offensive staff that yielded back-to-back BCS bowl appearances for the Cardinal and a Super Bowl appearance for the 49ers, Roman would qualify as one of the hottest assistant coaches in football. He is a native of Ventnor City, New Jersey -- approximately 250 miles from Happy Valley.