Jim Knowles: A Great Ohio State DC and 2024 National Champion

Jim Knowles a great defensive coordinator (DC) at Ohio State, and a 2024 national champion, is moving laterally to take the same position at Penn State. He will move from Columbus, Ohio to Happy Valley, Pennsylvania in a puzzling move. Penn State is not a step up. One cannot step up from a College Football National Championship, except by going to the NFL, and Knowles has a girlfriend in Oklahoma. After crafting the top-ranked scoring defense in college football in the nation and winning a national title, Knowles is entitled to do what he wants. What do you think Jim Knowles is thinking with his lateral move?

Jim Knowles’ Coaching Career

Jim Knowles was born in 1965 and is a 1987 graduate of Cornell University, where he played defensive end. Knowles got his coaching career started there. He coached the defensive line in 1988. He then was the running backs coach at Cornell until 1994 and coached the linebackers there until 1996. Jim Knowles then moved to Western Michigan where he was the defensive line coach until 2000 and the defensive coordinator until 2002.

Jim Knowles coached the linebackers and was the running coordinator at Ole Miss in 2003. He then moved back to Cornell, where he was the head coach until 2009. Then he moved to Duke where he was the defensive coordinator and coached the safeties and inside linebackers until 2009. Knowles moved to Oklahoma State, where he was the defensive coordinator until 2021, and then Knowles moved to Ohio State where he was until yesterday’s lateral move to Penn State.

The 2024 Ohio State Defense

In 2024, Ohio State’s defense gave up the fewest yards and points in the nation. Ohio State was also the best passing defense in the nation and was ranked third against the run. The loaded defense, led by Knowles, was vital to Ohio State’s 2024 national championship. The defense is primed to have another big season in 2025 without Jim Knowles. He accomplished all he could at Ohio State, so it was time for Jim Knowles to move on. He may have seen potential in the Penn State defense.

What Does Penn State Have For Knowles?

It will be interesting to see if Knowles can craft a top-ranked defense at Penn State like he did at Ohio State. One thing is for certain, with “Big Game James“ as the head football coach of the Nitty Lions, Penn State will be challenged to win important games. In this section, we will look at each major position group of the Penn State defense which has some holes to fill but has many skilled players.

Defensive Line

Starters Dani Dennis-Sutton, Zane Durant, Kaleb Artis, Smith Vilbert, and Reserves Enai White, Zuriah Fisher, Owen Wafle, Alonzo Ford Jr., Mason Robinson, Jaylen Harvey, Max Granville, Ty Blanding, Xavier Gilliam, Joseph Mupoyi, Sam Siafa, Liam Andrews. De’Andre Cook, Mylachi Williams, Bobby Mears, Jordan Mayer, Aidan Probst, Chaz Coleman, Yvan Kemajou, Cortez Harris, and Randy Adirika provide a deep well of talent, yet there are big questions here as Abdul Carter, Dvon J-Thomas, and Coziah Izzard will enter the NFL Draft, leaving major positions to be filled.

Linebackers

Starters Tony Rojas, Keon Wylie, Dom DeLuca, and Reserves Anthony Speca, Ta’Mere Robinson, Kari Jackson, Dakaari Nelson, Beckham Dee, Winston Yates, Jackson Pryst, and Ben Chizmar. Alex Tatsch, Cam Smith, LaVar Arrington II (the name looks familiar), and Dayshaun Burnett provide a deep linebacking corps and with two of the starters returning for the 2025 season this may be the most experienced group for Knowles. Kobe King did declare for the draft, leaving big shoes to fill at middle linebacker.

Secondary

Starters A.J. Harris, Zakee Wheatley, Dejuan Lane, Elliot Washington II and Reserves Zion Tracy, King Mack, Vaboue Toure, Audavion Collins, Lamont Payne Jr., Kolin Dinkins, Jon Mitchell, Antoine Belgrave-Shorter, and Kenny Woseley Jr. Karson Kiesewetter, Jashaun Green, Tyler Armstead, Daryus Dixson, Jahmir Joseph, Xxavier Thomas, Braz Thomas, and Joshua Johnson. With two starters returning this group is pretty experienced, though KJ Winston, Jaylen Reed, and Jalen Kimber will all head to the NFL draft, and Cam Miller has transferred to Rutgers. Tyrece Mills is still in the transfer portal.

Conclusion

Jim Knowles is entitled to move on after accomplishing everything a coach could accomplish at Ohio State. Nevertheless, he should have moved up, like to the National Football League. It will be interesting to see who Ohio State gets to fill his shoes.