Defensive coordinator Tom Allen leaving Penn State, according to reports

Defensive coordinator Tom Allen is leaving Penn State after one season to take the same job at Clemson, according to several reports Monday.

Allen spent the previous seven seasons at Indiana as the Hoosiers head coach before he was fired after the 2023 season. Nittany Lions coach James Franklin quickly hired him.

In Allen’s only season, Penn State ranked seventh in total defense (294.8 yards per game), eighth in scoring defense (16.5), ninth in rushing (101.9), 26th in pass defense efficiency, 31st in passing yards allowed (192.9) and 53rd down in third-down defense.

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney fired defensive coordinator Wes Goodwin shortly after the season after the Tigers had dropped to 42nd in scoring defense (23.0), 69th in total defense (374.1) and 85th in rushing defense (160.6).

The 54-year-old Allen has an extensive background as a defensive coach and often drew praise from Franklin when he was at Indiana and this season.

Allen moved from the field to the press box on game day after the Lions’ 34-27 win over Bowling Green the second week of the season.

Former Penn State All-American Dan Connor, who was a defensive analyst, was moved to linebackers coach so that Allen could oversee the entire defense like Andy Kotelnicki with the Penn State offense.

In the postseason, the Lions allowed Oregon to gain 466 total yards in a 45-37 victory in the Big Ten title game. They gave up 24 second-half points to Notre Dame in the 27-24 loss in the Orange Bowl, a College Football Playoff semifinal.


Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/defensive-coordinator-tom-allen-leaving-044600814.html

Author : Reading Eagle, Pa.

Publish date : 2025-01-14 04:46:00

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