Football Penn State set to hire Ohio State DC Jim Knowles as Defensive Coordinator

[dailybuck777]

How do you rate ND's DBs? Who were the great, hell just good, WRs they played this year. Let me know. Here are the teams they played

TA&M
N ILL
Purdue
Miami (the Ohio one)
Louisville
Stanford
GA Tech
navy
FSU
VA
Army
USC
Indiana
GA (without their QB)
PSU

Hell, USC played their second-team QB and had 360 yards passing.

And back to age, why did tOSU recruit Howard and not play a younger player? Indiana this year, Washington last year, Oregon last year AND this year, ND this year....the trend is to let smaller schools develop QBs then get them in the portal for their Senior years. To give you names: Penix, Nix, Howard, Leonard, Gabriel.... how in the world can you say that age doesn't make a difference? The majority of the final 8 teams this year and four last year and transfer QB's older than age 22.

Posting from my cell phone so it is hard to copy. However, this link says that Notre Dame was number one in pass efficiency and Texas was number two. Also, Texas had the Thorpe award winner. https://www.si.com/college-football...op-pass-defense-against-ohio-state-air-attack

I don't understand you being so hung up on will Howard's age. The question is who performed the best during 2024 notwithstanding their age. Of course, Howard being older had an advantage which supports my argument that he was the better player in 2024.

 

[ryoder1]

No, if you watched the game you wouldn't say that. Howard played with tremendous consistency and poise. Allar so far hasn't played with that much consistency against good defenses. Not happy about this but Howard has probably played himself into a 1st round pick. Allar at this point would be a project, someone for the practice squad trying to improve his footwork, speed up his decisionmaking and throw the ball more consistently. I like Allar, he's tough, he gives full effort, and he will improve incrementally. But people need to be realistic about what he can and can't do. He's not a freshman any more and what he can't do now he probably won't be able to do this fall.

Yeah this he is only 20 is bs. He has been a full time starter for 2 years at a major college program and in major college program for 3 years. I am hopeful his decision making and footwork improves but time will tell.

 

[RickinDayton]

Yep...but it was one game. I thought tOSU could have score 50 if they didn't try to just run the ball. The ND corners had no chance of covering the WRs. Looked to me like ND tried to take away both PSU and tOSU's run game and putting their corners one-on-one with the WRs. Lots of man-to-man coverage. tOSU was able to exploit that strategy with wide-open receivers who were running great routes. PSU's WRs, not so much. And yes, Allar had a bad game but again, he's only 20 and didn't have a single WR that would play significant time if they were on tOSU's roster.

When I look at Rourke, I see a QB who didn't lead his team to a single challenging victory (UM was probably their best). Gabriel is probably the best of the lot. But he is actually 24 years old. However, at his size, the NFL will be a challenge for him.

Well Kyler Murray (also short) is still in the NFL so I think Gabriel will make someone's roster.
Perhaps if he is given a year to sit and watch he will become a starter.

 

[WaffleShopper]

Here is what is telling. No one thought Allar was coming back at the beginning of the season. Yet here we are because he is not close to NFL ready and has totally underperformed in big games.

I agree, but I think if he did go into the draft he would get picked pretty high just on talent alone. I'm guessing most NFL teams don't want to be drafting project QBs but you can't teach 6'-5" with a cannon arm. Hackenberg wasn't ready and he went in the 2nd round and I think Allar is better. I actually think Drew is close but something just needs to click upstairs.

 

[Obliviax]

Well Kyler Murray (also short) is still in the NFL so I think Gabriel will make someone's roster.
Perhaps if he is given a year to sit and watch he will become a starter.

Meh. He’s not as good as Baker mayfield

 

[bdroc]

You think Allen was a good recruiter?

No

 

[Delcolion915]

A trained monkey could have won ten games with those receivers. Let's enjoy Will Howard in the NFL while he sits on the bench with a clipboard for 5 years in between pre season stints of being check down charlie

 

[RickinDayton]

Meh. He’s not as good as Baker mayfield

Agree and Baker is also short. I liked Gabriel's escapabolity, ability to go through progressions, and has good enough arm strength.

 

[knickslions]

Yeah this he is only 20 is bs. He has been a full time starter for 2 years at a major college program and in major college program for 3 years. I am hopeful his decision making and footwork improves but time will tell.

It’s huge difference only being 20 playing qb. It takes time and maturity.

 

[fastlax16]

Howard was the most valuable player of the championship game and even before his great playoff run he was third string quarterback in the Big ten and Drew Allar was not even in the top three in the Big ten All conference selections. His pro potential ceiling, and I emphasize ceiling, is not as high as Allar's, but his actual play in 2024 and the playoffs was substantially better than that of Allar.

If you inserted Will Howard into our 2024 offense, you think he replicates or exceeds Drew's numbers? He was a good fit with your personnel, not sure what he does if you swap Smith, Egbuka and Tate for Wallace, Evans and Liam Clifford.

 

[dailybuck777]

If you inserted Will Howard into our 2024 offense, you think he replicates or exceeds Drew's numbers? He was a good fit with your personnel, not sure what he does if you swap Smith, Egbuka and Tate for Wallace, Evans and Liam Clifford.

With Penn State qb coaching no. If Drew Allar was coached by Ryan Day, he would be much better. The fact that Joe Burrow was chucking the ball to Jamar Chase and Justin Jefferson and had the best offensive line in college football and a first round running back, Edwards-Helaire, didn't mean that Joe Burrow wasn't a very good qb. Same with all of the great receivers CJ Stroud was chucking the ball to.

 

[fastlax16]

With Penn State qb coaching no. If Drew Allar was coached by Ryan Day, he would be much better. The fact that Joe Burrow was chucking the ball to Jamar Chase and Justin Jefferson and had the best offensive line in college football and a first round running back, Edwards-Helaire, didn't mean that Joe Burrow wasn't a very good qb. Same with all of the great receivers CJ Stroud was chucking the ball to.

How did Burrow or CJ Stroud look when they started for 2 seasons at K-State with Phillip Brooks and Malik Knowles as their number ones? There are data points on what Will Howard does without a half dozen 5 star WRs at his disposal.

That said, check back in when Will Howard becomes Joe Burrow.

 

[dailybuck777]

How did Burrow or CJ Stroud look when they started for 2 seasons at K-State with Phillip Brooks and Malik Knowles as their number ones?

The question is how did they look when going against equal competition in the NFL and they looked great notwithstanding that both had superior offenses to work with in college. If you want to get deeper into the weeds, you can ask how Joe Burrow looked at Ohio State in the spring games when he wasn't always throwing to the first string receivers and he looked great. If fact a former PSU linebacker was commenting on one game (I don't remember name) and he stated that J T Barrett should be somewhat worried about his status as a starter.

 

[fastlax16]

The question is how did they look when going against equal competition in the NFL and they looked great notwithstanding that both had superior offenses to work with in college.

No the question was how would Will Howard do with Penn State's weapons, and believe it or not we actually have data points on what he's done with mid-level (at best) wide receivers.

Instead you chose to compare him to Joe Burrow and CJ Stroud.

I"m going to say Will Howard's performance at K-State is more relevant to answering that question than Joe Burrow's at LSU. You can say the massive jump between his 4th and 5th seasons had nothing to do with who he was throwing the ball to though.

Allar's significantly ahead of where Howard was at the same age.

CMP	ATT	CMP%	YDS	AVG	TD	INT	LNG	SACK	RTG
90	168	53.6	1,178	7.0	8	10	70	7	116.3
30	55	54.5	332	6.0	1	1	68	2	107.6
119	199	59.8	1,633	8.2	15	4	80	8	149.6
219	357	61.3	2,643	7.4	24	10	61	16	140.1
309	423	73.1	4,010	9.5	35	10	75	14	175.3

 

[dailybuck777]

No the question was how would Will Howard do with Penn State's weapons, and believe it or not we actually have data points on what he's done with mid-level (at best) wide receivers.

Instead you chose to compare him to Joe Burrow and CJ Stroud.

I"m going to say Will Howard's performance at K-State is more relevant to answering that question than Joe Burrow's at LSU. You can say the massive jump between his 4th and 5th seasons had nothing to do with who he was throwing the ball to though.

Allar's significantly ahead of where Howard was at the same age.

CMP	ATT	CMP%	YDS	AVG	TD	INT	LNG	SACK	RTG
90	168	53.6	1,178	7.0	8	10	70	7	116.3
30	55	54.5	332	6.0	1	1	68	2	107.6
119	199	59.8	1,633	8.2	15	4	80	8	149.6
219	357	61.3	2,643	7.4	24	10	61	16	140.1
309	423	73.1	4,010	9.5	35	10	75	14	175.3

You ignore the coaching input. I can't remember one qb who really thrived under James Franklin. One pretty good qb who Franklin was unable to utilize was Will Levis. Ryan Day took Howard over McCord and turned Howard into a very good qb.

 

[mcpat]

Anyone not impressed with what the program has done this offseason is simply a hater.

They signed the top DC in college football away from the national champions and the team we can’t ever seem to beat.

In the NIL era, they somehow convinced almost every impactful player with eligibility to return, even most of those that would have been drafted after the 1st round.

They picked up two of the top portal WRs.

Rumors are that alumni donations are through the roof.

And oh yeah - those stadium upgrades.

If you’re not happy with the state of things, coming off a national semifinal finish, you’re not a PSU football fan PERIOD.

 

[mcpat]

You ignore the coaching input. I can't remember one qb who really thrived under James Franklin. One pretty good qb who Franklin was unable to utilize was Will Levis. Ryan Day took Howard over McCord and turned Howard into a very good qb.

McSorley didn’t thrive? When did you start following PSU? Only one coach was recruiting him to be a QB and he turned him into an NFL QB.

And Clifford was a fine QB too. Fact is there hasn’t been a single starting QB under Franklin that hasn’t made an NFL roster. And a backup did too!

 

[PSU4U]

All of this bullshit narrative on why Knowles left is fine and dandy, but guess what?

None of it explains why he turned down Oklahoma and Notre Dame, for what would have been MORE money at OU as head coach, or equivalent money at ND.

Keep splainin buckeyes... 😂

Autonomy of his defense the reason he left OSU and that asshole LJ SR.

 

[PSU4U]

You are probably right though O assume Pointdexter probably got a nice raise as well...no way from a n organizational standpoint..Franklin came in and said "ok we just need this much money for JK"...Kraft , Director of Football Operations one would think went down the list ( like any organization does) and started identifying the risks and who was need to keep around and thus give more money too...once Knowles was brought in or even offered..

Well, I could be wrong there Poindexter just signed a new 3 year contract.

 

[baircub1!]

I'm not saying Knowles is leaving but where does everyone think Knowles is magically going to go after 1 or 2 years? Could he leave? Sure but I don't sense right now any desire from him to be a head coach (he's most definitely had opportunities) and while I'm sure there's part of him that wants to coach at the NFL level, he would have to take a pay cut to do so. Could another college offer him more money? Sure but right now there's only one school paying a coordinator over $3 million and it's Penn State. With the commitment that the university is now showing, they're going to be competitive in retaining him as well. Plus, there are very few programs that can offer him what Penn State is right now from beyond a money aspect.

Love this..especially as we dive deeper into the recruiting Hot Bed he is connected to...

 

[tboyer]

With Penn State qb coaching no. If Drew Allar was coached by Ryan Day, he would be much better.

Yes but it wouldn't have happened. Remember Allar wasn't recruited by Ohio State (at least not until very late in the process) for a reason -- his relative lack of quickness. He's not their type of QB.

 

[rmem]

Wow! How angry to you get when you are forced to watch commercials during a game? Why don't you give it a rest?

What? Commercials in a freaking forum for something that has little value ARE quite annoying. No one is signing up for a subscription because someone claims they 'Were all over it' for once. On a DC hire. Jeez, just wait 2 days and get the same info. If you have other reasons to get a subscription fine, but this in no way is a reason to do that.

It seems you have some other beef.

 

[dailybuck777]

Yes but it wouldn't have happened. Remember Allar wasn't recruited by Ohio State (at least not until very late in the process) for a reason -- his relative lack of quickness. He's not their type of QB.

He probably wasn't recruited early because of the other five stars that had committed. Kyle McCord what's recruited even though he was not mobile.

 

[PSUWrestlingFanSince2011]

AK flirted with WVU IIRC. My understanding is that they wouldn't let him coach PSU through the playoffs and that ended his candidacy. I would expect AK to be gone after this coming season.

Probably safe to say

 

[fastlax16]

You ignore the coaching input. I can't remember one qb who really thrived under James Franklin. One pretty good qb who Franklin was unable to utilize was Will Levis. Ryan Day took Howard over McCord and turned Howard into a very good qb.

And you're ignoring the dramatic increase in WR talent he was throwing to.

 

[PSUWrestlingFanSince2011]

 

[PurposePitch]

View embedded media

But Wide Receivers! Linebackers!

Our resident Darryl Downers will not be swayed.

 

[Wallace Breen]

Anyone not impressed with what the program has done this offseason is simply a hater.

They signed the top DC in college football away from the national champions and the team we can’t ever seem to beat.

In the NIL era, they somehow convinced almost every impactful player with eligibility to return, even most of those that would have been drafted after the 1st round.

They picked up two of the top portal WRs.

Rumors are that alumni donations are through the roof.

And oh yeah - those stadium upgrades.

If you’re not happy with the state of things, coming off a national semifinal finish, you’re not a PSU football fan PERIOD.

One can easily argue that it is you that is not a Penn State football fan. Portal mercenaries. 3 plus million for a coordinator. Wasting hundreds of millions on renovations that are not needed. That is not Penn State football, but what do you care, you are not a Penn State football fan. PERIOD.

 

[PSUWrestlingFanSince2011]

One can easily argue that it is you that is not a Penn State football fan. Portal mercenaries. 3 plus million for a coordinator. Wasting hundreds of millions on renovations that are not needed. That is not Penn State football, but what do you care, you are not a Penn State football fan. PERIOD.

Renovations that are not needed? You’re saying he’s not a PSU Football fan and you clearly haven't been to Beaver Stadium in decades if ever if you think renovations aren’t needed.

 

[Wallace Breen]

If you inserted Will Howard into our 2024 offense, you think he replicates or exceeds Drew's numbers? He was a good fit with your personnel, not sure what he does if you swap Smith, Egbuka and Tate for Wallace, Evans and Liam Clifford.

Probably the same exact record overall. We beat the 11 scrubs on the regular season schedule, beat the two highly ranked team that clearly weren't top 25 teams and lose to the three teams that matter. Same as 2023, 2022, 2021, 2019, 2018, 2017. We have a Franklin problem.

 

[Marylovesthelions]

A very good watch

 

[mcpat]

One can easily argue that it is you that is not a Penn State football fan. Portal mercenaries. 3 plus million for a coordinator. Wasting hundreds of millions on renovations that are not needed. That is not Penn State football, but what do you care, you are not a Penn State football fan. PERIOD.

Yes. Between you and me, most would say I’m the one that isn’t a PSU fan.

 

[mcpat]

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And no Lando. Worth the $$$ alone

 

[GSPMax]

And no Lando. Worth the $$$ alone

Good marketing strategy.

 

[PSUSignore]

Probably the same exact record overall. We beat the 11 scrubs on the regular season schedule, beat the two highly ranked team that clearly weren't top 25 teams and lose to the three teams that matter. Same as 2023, 2022, 2021, 2019, 2018, 2017. We have a Franklin problem.

You have a Franklin problem. Most of the rest of us are just fine, thank you very much.

 

[wilbury]

reports are that the contract is a three year deal fo $9.3m. But Knowles had two years left on his $2.2/year tOSU contract. There will end up being a $1.5m buyout so the contract ends up being a $2.6m/year contract to Knowles if there wasn't a buyout.

the reports were that Knowles was at the end of his contract, so no buyout if what's reported was correct.

 

[wilbury]

You ignore the coaching input. I can't remember one qb who really thrived under James Franklin. One pretty good qb who Franklin was unable to utilize was Will Levis. Ryan Day took Howard over McCord and turned Howard into a very good qb.

I'd say it's Fran Brown that's the great QB coach. He turned McCord into a superstar when all Day could get out of him was a mid tier Big Ten passer.

 

[wilbury]

One can easily argue that it is you that is not a Penn State football fan. Portal mercenaries. 3 plus million for a coordinator. Wasting hundreds of millions on renovations that are not needed. That is not Penn State football, but what do you care, you are not a Penn State football fan. PERIOD.

Wow, are you misguided.

 

[Obliviax]

the reports were that Knowles was at the end of his contract, so no buyout if what's reported was correct.

you make a good point but I've also read that there was some kind of buyout. Perhaps there was an option stipulated in the original contract.