Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1533674
2 8 A P R I L 2 0 2 5 P enn State has consistently fielded one of the better defenses in col- lege football ever since James Franklin arrived in 2014, a trend that encompasses four coordinators — Bob Shoop, Brent Pry, Manny Diaz and Tom Allen. Now comes a fifth coordinator — Jim Knowles. Arriving in State College after three successful seasons at Ohio State, including a 2024 campaign in which the Buckeyes claimed the College Football Playoff championship, Knowles has in- herited a unit that allowed 294.8 yards per game last season to rank seventh nationally. But while Penn State has enjoyed its share of success, a change in leadership will inevitably result in changes on the field, and Knowles' ar- rival has given rise to plenty of specu- lation about what those new wrinkles might entail. One of the biggest questions that's been swirling in recent weeks con- cerns the possible creation of a hy- brid defensive end position. Whether it's called the "Leo," the "Jack" or the "Bull," this position exists in many dif- ferent schemes across college football. Knowles had planned on using it with the Buckeyes, but it became a sticking point within the program, and he aban- doned it after his first season in 2022. At Penn State, he won't be faced with the kind of constraints that he was un- der in Columbus. Will Knowles bring back the Leo as a key part of the Nittany Lions' defense? To answer that ques- tion, let's start at the beginning. What Is The Leo? Back in early 2022, Knowles gave a presentation at a coaching clinic in which he outlined what he looks for in a Leo. "It's just a guy who makes plays, is tough and is willing to learn, a smart guy," the veteran coach explained. "We're going to move this guy around in all different places." Before anyone goes racing off to the Penn State roster to identify players who fit the position, it's important to understand why Knowles attaches so much value to those traits. One of the biggest challenges of play- ing just one defensive front is that there are fewer variables for the offense to de- cipher. For example, a four-down front has certain principles that an offensive coordinator can reasonably expect from the defense on any given play, making it easier to call the right scheme to the correct side of the formation. While the defense can use stunts, slants and blitzes to create confusion after the ball is snapped, it's also important to in- still doubt before the snap. More doubt equals more hesitation from the offen- sive line. The Leo can help a defense sow con- fusion. By moving him around the for- mation, coaches can deploy a three- down front without changing the rules for the defense, only the alignments. "If you're four-down and you want to be able to make it three-down, it's real easy to put this player … in the mid- dle," Knowles said, noting that the Leo can line up like a traditional Mike line- backer, stacked on the center. "Everybody wants to be multiple, and everybody wants to make three down out of four down. The easy way is to stick that guy in the middle. We're re- ally a 4-2-5, and this extra player, for us, happens to also be a D-lineman. Maybe he's a D-lineman who is active or not as big or has some linebacker skills. You're not having to coach this guy like a line- backer. You're able to give him simple run fits and go ahead and let him make plays." The goal is to allow a defensive line- man to play off the line of scrimmage with minimal additional coaching. "We're not looking to overtrain this guy," Knowles said. "We want to give playmakers a chance to make plays, run or pass. To do that, you can't overcom- plicate it." The rationale for simplicity is obvi- ous, but the list of "simple" respon- sibilities is lengthy. During his clinic SPLIT SPLIT DECISIONS DECISIONS Hybrid players have been an important part of Jim Knowles' success and may have key roles at Penn State this fall and beyond, T H O M A S F R A N K CA R R | T F R A N K . C A R R @ O N 3 . C O M Defensive end Zuriah Fisher missed the 2024 season with an injury but is back this year and has the skill set to fill a potential role as PSU's "Leo" defensive end. PHOTO BY FRANK HYATT W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M