The Broyles Award, which is given annually to the best assistant coach in college football, has selected Penn State Coach as a semifinalist.
Among the 15 assistant coaches nationwide nominated for the Broyles Award is Tom Allen, the defensive coordinator for the Nittany Lions in his debut season.
Along with Oregon defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi, Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, and Indiana defensive coordinator Bryant Haines, Allen is one of four Big Ten coaches selected as a semifinalist.
Tennessee defensive coordinator Tim Banks, who was the Nittany Lions’ co-DC and safeties coach from 2016 to 20 years ago, was also selected a semifinalist. Banks was once the head coach of Penn State.
This season, the Nittany Lions have three new coordinators: offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, special teams coordinator Justin Lustig, and Allen.After Allen had been Indiana’s head coach for a long time, James Franklin hired him to take over for Manny Diaz, who had departed to coach Duke.
This season, the Nittany Lions’ defensive stats are outstanding. In terms of scoring defense (14 points per game), run defense (97 yards per game), and pass defense (169.8 yards per game), Penn State is ranked sixth out of 134 FBS teams. With 85 tackles for loss, the Nittany Lions lead the nation by 19 points.
Despite losing projected first-round safety Kevin Winston Jr. to a permanent injury in September, Allen’s defense has flourished. Abdul Carter’s move from linebacker to defensive end was similarly managed by Allen and defensive line coach Deion Barnes. Carter was selected the Big Ten’s defensive player of the year and has 19 1/2 tackles for loss, good for third place nationally.
When Penn State plays Oregon in the Big Ten championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Saturday, Allen and the team’s defense will need to be strong once more.
The game between Oregon and Penn State begins at 8 p.m. on Saturday. CBS will broadcast the game.
Stories by
Johnny McGonigal
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