Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1537537
5 8 A U G U S T 2 0 2 5 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M / / / / / / / 2 0 2 5 F O O T B A L L P R E V I E W / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / J im Knowles had witnessed firsthand the changes in college football. How could he not? Over the course of a decorated 37-year coaching career — one that included major accomplishments at Duke, Oklahoma State and Ohio State — he repeatedly proved his defensive acu- men, producing the same winning results wherever he went. Amid a high-stakes pursuit by some of the nation's top programs this off- season, Knowles had key conditions for success at the top of his mind. Na t i o n a l c h a m p i o n s h i p - ca l i b e r players were a must. The infrastruc- ture of the program had to be built out — a robust army of manpower working toward a common goal. Departments dedicated to player ac- quisition, whether in the high school ranks or the transfer portal, would be essential. So too was the NIL funding necessary to retain and develop those players. Penn State had it all. "Am I going somewhere that, yes, has the players? And is it set up to com- pete in an ever-changing world? I don't think there are many teams that are at this level with all the various professionals and the jobs that they do that allow me to just coach defense," Knowles said. "Penn State is one of them." With the opportunity to work along- side head coach James Franklin, Knowles could be confident in that knowledge. An experience nearly a decade earlier en- sured as much. Joining David Cutcliffe and the rest of A Philadelphia native, Knowles has returned to his home state after helping Ohio State lead the nation in scoring defense (12.9 points per game) and total defense (254.6 yards per game) during the 2024 season. PHOTO BY MARK SELDERS/PENN STATE ATHLETICS CHALLENGE CHALLENGE ACCEPTED ACCEPTED Jim Knowles sees an opportunity to take Penn State to the next level NATE BAUER | N AT E . B AU E R @ O N 3 .C O M