If you were to explain this revelation out of a blueblood program to a non-CFB fan, they’ll probably think you’re joking. Let alone a program that’s just traversed the summit of the sport. Walk yourself through this pretty unfathomable but somehow true scenario. You’re one of the top 3 highest-paid defensive coordinators in the sport. You’re with a perennial contender, a program synonymous with success. In your mid-50s as well, so comfort, job security and continuity ideally take precedence over change and uncertainty. Oh, and you’ve just won the National Championship. Do you leave? Not for the NFL, mind you. But for another school. Turns out you do if you’re Jim Knowles.

Some puzzling news reverberated out of Columbus as defensive coordinator Jim Knowles bid adieu quite abruptly. The adrenaline rush from the Natty hadn’t even settled down yet, and Knowles dropped this bombshell. As if this wasn’t enough of a blow to the Buckeyes, he’s only gone and joined conference rivals Penn State. Naturally, the Nittany Lions are delighted to have a coach of this ilk walk through State College. Someone who’s a Philly native as well. Losing Tom Allen could’ve been a backwards step, but James Franklin has actually taken it and turned it into a positive one. Or has he? There’s cause for concern about how, if at all, Jim Knowles will adapt to his new habitat.

Knowles’ exit from Ohio State came with no conspicuous reasoning why. Going to Penn State is a strictly horizontal move at best, and some may even rationally discern it’s a step-down. But since it has transpired, there have been murmurs of unrest and friction within the camp. Yes, they won the Natty, but Jim Knowles was allegedly at odds with associate HC and D-line coach Larry Johnson throughout. Without delving into the intricacies, the issues between the two essentially stemmed from wanting different strategies and schemes for the defense. Well, if Knowles didn’t like compromises within his scheming and play-calling, then he may have even bigger issues now. A former Nittany Lions player has raised concern.

Over the “Behind The Wall with Landon Tengwall” YouTube channel, its namesake discussed Jim Knowles’ move to PSU. Amidst general positivity, he pointed to a wrinkle in how James Franklin works with new members of staff. “I will tell you, as a former player that was in this program, when coordinators come in…Franklin has asked them to switch their lingo around. Meaning that the idea is to let one person assimilate to new things and have to learn new things. Instead of, like, 65 to 70 people having to learn all this new lingo that this coach wants to bring in,” said Landon Tengwall. Now, this caveat doesn’t have enough legs to cause any sort of friction. It’s rather common as well. However, Tengwall said something a little more worrisome.

“Number 1 thing that I’m most kind of curious to see is how much free rein Knowles is going to get implementing this defense,” said Tengwall. “Is this going to be more of a Tom Allen thing? Where it felt like it wasn’t his defense?” Tengwall suggested that while Allen ran the plays, he didn’t quite have his own vision on defense. Unlike a different coordinator, “When Manny Diaz was here, it was Manny Diaz’s defense. There was no question about that,” he said. This is definitely something to look forward to. Jim Knowles, being the vet that he is, will not want interference with a process he perfected last season. Speaking of which, there is a roster and personnel issue that could hinder this process.

Gap in James Franklin’s existing roster could render Jim Knowles handicapped

Since the moment the move went down, both fan bases have been locking horns. There’s been partisan name-calling and social media-era trolling in both directions. But one talking point has interested Landon Tengwall and/or insider Thomas Frank Carr. A consensus notion from the scarlet red faction is that Knowles’ new defense doesn’t have the requisite quality of personnel. Which they’ll need to run the schemes he ran with them on his way to a National Championship. 

The Nickel Safety position is a particular area of concern. Ohio State’s nation-best defense was built around a solid secondary. Now, not every team has Caleb Downs raising the tide around them, do they? “Ohio State also took corners and moved them to that slot safety, that nickel safety position. I think Penn State, long term, needs to get bigger there,” said Thomas Frank Carr. He suggested that Zion Tracy could be a short-term fix that Jim Knowles could deploy in the position. 

Safe to say, a lot of uncertainty surrounds this hire of Jim Knowles. Penn State will seek to iron out all these potential issues before they embark on another season. One that could be make or break for James Franklin.