STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — This week, Jim Knowles stood on the entrance of the assembly room and informed Penn State’s gamers that is the place he needs to be.
In a brief video clip posted to X, the Nittany Lions’ new defensive coordinator spoke about being a Philadelphia man who grew up with an affinity for this program.
The Penn State roots run deep.#WeAre x @CoachJimKnowles pic.twitter.com/3vgLYwRlmJ
— Penn State Soccer (@PennStateFball) January 28, 2025
“I couldn’t get there as a participant, however by numerous work, numerous time, numerous actually good gamers, that allowed me to achieve that time in my profession the place I might actually choose wherever I wished to be,” Knowles mentioned. “Rising up as a child, Penn State was every little thing.”
There’s no denying how vital this rent is for James Franklin. Penn State is an early winner of the faculty soccer offseason. After retaining a number of key gamers like Dani Dennis-Sutton, Drew Allar, Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen, the flexibility to pluck Knowles from Ohio State makes this probably the most important rent of Franklin’s tenure. Penn State has lastly discovered a approach to open the purse strings and land a blow in opposition to the Buckeyes. This fall, we’ll see if on-field success follows.
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Listed here are 4 ideas on the Knowles hiring:
1. Penn State pushed all chips towards the middle
When Knowles was first linked to Penn State, a element I heard roughly every week in the past, I used to be skeptical. Why would he make a lateral transfer when Ohio State, coming off a nationwide championship, will seemingly reload prefer it all the time does? Is it the lure of returning to Pennsylvania — Penn State is three-plus hours from his native Philadelphia — or was this transfer in regards to the hefty three-year contract and full management of working this protection? We’ll hear from Knowles when he’s launched, however the truth Penn State was in a position to put a contract collectively price a mean of $3.1 million per yr speaks to how keen this regime was to exit and get a prime candidate. Knowles’ previous wage, $2.2 million, was third highest within the nation. His Penn State compensation will make him the highest-paid coordinator within the nation. I, like many others, was stunned Penn State was in a position to do it.
Penn State is preventing for small margins at this level. It has already proven it is likely one of the finest groups within the nation, however to make the leap from finest 4 to nationwide title contender is about slim margins. Penn State led each Notre Dame and Ohio State by 10 factors final season. The Nittany Lions have been shut. They seemingly nonetheless would have had an excellent protection subsequent yr whether or not it was below Tom Allen, Anthony Poindexter, D’Anton Lynn or another person. Now, with Knowles, the expectation is to make this the very best protection within the nation.
Penn State already confirmed this offseason that it’s all in on retaining expertise and it’s additionally keen to pay prime greenback for a coordinator, which hasn’t all the time been the case. That is the elevated dedication stage Franklin hinted at a number of years in the past and one Penn State has achieved below Pat Kraft and this new Penn State administration.
This will’t be a one-off. Penn State has to keep up this dedication stage for years to come back. Spending doesn’t assure success, however Penn State has extra key items than most forward of subsequent season.
2. There’s no place coach title connected to Knowles’ job
Very similar to offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki who was employed final offseason, Knowles is listed solely as a coordinator. With Kotelnicki, this enables him to bounce round with varied place teams whereas not being tasked with teaching one among them. Anticipate Knowles to do the identical.
Another person will coach Penn State’s linebackers and in all probability, it’s Dan Connor, who has been instrumental throughout his time as an analyst. Final yr, it was Connor, the previous Penn State nice, who was on the headset with center linebacker Kobe King giving him pre-snap suggestions and reminders whereas Allen was within the sales space. We’ll see if Knowles is on the sideline or within the sales space subsequent yr and whether or not it’ll be him or Connor on the headset with whoever wears the in-game know-how (King is off to the NFL).
The power to coordinate the protection — and presumably do it with full management — seemingly was a key think about Knowles’ determination. Don’t neglect, there are recruiting ramifications to this rent too. Knowles was a linebacker at Philadelphia’s St. Joe’s Prep. The powerhouse program has been tough for Penn State to realize significant inroads with throughout Franklin’s tenure. Knowles provides the employees pretty much as good of an opportunity as ever to win future recruiting battles.
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3. Kotelnicki, Allar and the offense have a lot to realize too
As I scrolled by my digicam roll this week I used to be reminded of a scene from two years in the past in Columbus. Then-Penn State offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich watched Allar and his quarterbacks heat up when Knowles came to visit to hug him. The 2 coordinators who each had their careers formed by Oklahoma State and Ohio State talked for a couple of minutes.
Oh simply cleansing out the digicam roll pic.twitter.com/c32ZXHyz2h
— Audrey Snyder (@audsnyder4) January 26, 2025
By the top of the afternoon, Knowles, then in his second season at Ohio State, dismantled Yurcich’s offense. Allar was in tears looking for phrases to summarize how this offense was stifled by Knowles’ protection. Penn State scored simply 12 factors and had 240 yards of complete offense. The offense was 1-of-16 on third-down conversions.
Penn State’s offense, whether or not below Yurcich or this yr below Kotelnicki, has struggled mightily in opposition to Knowles’ defenses. In equity, many groups wrestle in opposition to the Buckeyes’ superior expertise and a scheme that maximizes it. Nonetheless, Ohio State’s protection has magnified Penn State’s flaws on offense. Final season in opposition to Ohio State, Penn State’s protection accounted for 7 factors whereas the PSU offense had simply 6. Penn State posted 270 yards and was 3-of-11 on third downs. The offense was stuffed on the aim line in a sequence that outlined the common season.
I point out the current historical past as a result of there’s no higher trainer for Kotelnicki and Allar than the brand new rent within the Lasch Soccer Constructing. Penn State may need the very best coordinator pairing within the nation. There’s a lot for them to be taught from one another and doubtlessly just one season to do it as Kotelnicki already garnered head coach curiosity this season and could possibly be one of many marquee candidates subsequent cycle if this season goes as Penn State plans.
4. How do Ohio State and Notre Dame recuperate?
Who Ryan Day and Marcus Freeman rent — and each had been excited about retaining or hiring Knowles — will assist form the outlook for subsequent season. Penn State performs Ohio State on Nov. 1 in Columbus in what shall be one of the crucial vital video games of the yr. The reception Knowles receives from the followers on the place he simply helped win a nationwide title shall be fascinating. Penn State’s protection might have the higher hand in that sport and whether or not Knowles is on the sideline or within the sales space might make the imagery a little bit extra attention-grabbing and doubtlessly the postgame scene a little bit extra icy between Knowles and Ohio State no matter who wins.
(Photograph: Adam Cairns / Columbus Dispatch / USA In the present day through Imagn Photographs)
