According to several sources, Penn State is nearing an agreement to hire Jim Knowles, the defensive coordinator at Ohio State. However, what will Knowles inherit in Happy Valley after succeeding Tom Allen as Clemson’s new defensive coordinator?
Here is a detailed analysis of Penn State’s 2025 defense and what Knowles will have to fight with as James Franklin and his team attempt to contend for a national championship once more.
Preseason All-American likelihood:Dani The former five-star defensive end was positioned to be among the top players in college football as a senior thanks to Dennis-Sutton’s outstanding CFP. Six of Dennis-Sutton’s 13 tackles for loss in 2024 occurred in three CFP games. Dennis-Sutton’s dominance is a huge asset for Knowles to build upon.
Last season, one of the nation’s most underappreciated athletes, Zane Durant, was not given enough credit, but he shouldn’t have been. After Carter and Dennis-Sutton, the dynamic defensive lineman finished third on the team with 11 TFLs. On the inside, he is a weapon.
Question marks at the beginning:The current situations of defensive lineman Alonzo Ford and defensive end Amin Vanover are unknown. Vanover, who performed well as a senior in his fifth year, may request for an NCAA waiver to extend his eligibility or join the NFL. Ford hasn’t disclosed his plans either. In addition to Carter, Penn State lost Coziah Izzard and Dvon J-Thomas to eligibility. If they returned, Vanover and Ford would be important pieces of the puzzle.
Tony Rojas and Dom DeLuca are back in the linebacker room without their mentor. However, the defense’s starting middle linebacker, Kobe King, entered the NFL draft. Last season, King (97 tackles) was among the nation’s top run-stopping linebackers.
New-look secondary: Cam Miller left through the transfer portal, safety Kevin Winston Jr. and cornerback Jalen Kimber declared for the draft, and Jaylen Reed is no longer eligible. However, one of the 2024 season’s top portal signings, cornerback A.J. Harris, is making a comeback. So is safety Zakee Wheatley, who recorded 16 tackles in the CFP playoff matchup against Notre Dame. Around them, safety Dejuan Lane, corners Elliot Washington II, and Zion Tracy are ready for more significant roles.
Transfer portal additions: During the winter portal session, Penn State added three defensive players: Alabama safety King Mack, Michigan defensive tackle Owen Wafle, and Texas A&M edge rusher Enai White. You shouldn’t think of any of them as instant stars. However, they are all gifted and have the potential to become important players in 2025.
Stories by
Johnny McGonigal