STATE COLLEGE – Jim Knowles had been on James Franklin’s wish list as a potential Penn State defensive coordinator since at least 2021.
But not until after Ohio State’s win over Notre Dame in the national title game last month did Franklin think the Nittany Lions’ chances of hiring Knowles away from the Buckeyes were legitimate.
“It was a twisting, turning process,” Franklin said Tuesday in his first public comments about adding Knowles. “I think I got a call at 5:40 in the morning two days after the national championship game. That’s when I thought that it may be real, that we may have a chance.”
Less than a week later, Penn State hired the 59-year-old Knowles and signed him to a three-year contract worth more than $9 million, which made him the highest-paid assistant coach in college football.
Franklin thanked Penn State president Neeli Bendapudi and director of athletics Pat Kraft for their support in landing Knowles, who also considered leaving Ohio State for Notre Dame and Oklahoma.
“When you’re able to go out and compete with who we competed with to get arguably the best defensive coordinator in college football, I’m very, very appreciative of that,” Franklin said. “I know there’s a ton of excitement from our players. There’s a ton of excitement from the fans. There’s a ton of excitement from our alumni and lettermen.
“In terms of commitment, it’s been phenomenal. It’s been all you could ask for. In the last two years, the commitment level has met the expectations. There are very few places in the country that can actually say that.”
Knowles replaced Tom Allen, who left Penn State after one season to become defensive coordinator at Clemson and to be closer to two daughters and several grandchildren.
Shortly after Allen told Franklin he was leaving, the Lions reportedly…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/penn-state-james-franklin-describes-044900979.html
Author : Reading Eagle, Pa.
Publish date : 2025-02-12 04:49:00
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