Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1538407
S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 5 3 5 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M A smile crept across Dani Dennis-Sutton's face when asked what it's like to play in a Jim Knowles-designed defense. The senior defensive end only experienced it visually during spring practice while he was working his way back from an injury. But with the Nittany Lions deep into preseason camp, he's now seen the defense from his customary vantage point in the middle of the action. Given a chance to try it on for size, one new wrinkle in particular has him excited ahead of the 2025 season. "I think it's super fun, super aggressive," Dennis-Sutton said. "We've got quarterback plays where our job is, clearly, just to go get the quarterback. We haven't had that since I've been here. It's the best. You don't have to think about anything. You don't think, What do I have to do on this play? Your job is literally just to beat the guy in front of you. "It sort of takes a thought away that I don't have to have," Den- nis-Sutton added. "I would go out last year and ask Coach [Tom] Allen, 'Hey, Coach, what play is this? Are you expecting a run or a pass?' Things like that. With Coach Knowles, it's just sort of imple- mented so that, 'Hey, this is a pass play, I'm calling this when it's a pass. I'm calling this when it's a run.'" Fellow defensive end Zuriah Fisher is also clearly excited about the defense that Knowles has been implementing since his arrival from Ohio State last winter. The super senior is hoping Knowles' talents as a defensive strategist will help him put together a bounce-back campaign after being forced to miss 27 games over the past three seasons — including all 16 last year — due to inju- ries. Fisher believes he's in a better position to chase his goals than at any point in his career. "The way [Knowles] has got things set up, it's easier for us to just know what the play is," he said. "It's important, because Coach Knowles has got plays for us where we're just rushing, and then in some plays, we've got to stop the run. When he thinks that it's going to be a pass play, he calls those plays, and we just know, OK, we've got to rush on that play. I like how Coach Knowles calls the play." Fisher, Dennis-Sutton and their fellow defensive ends are hardly the only Penn State players who are excited about what they've learned from Knowles so far. Everyone on that side of the ball knows the mission is to keep this defense at the top of the na- tional rankings. That's where it was last year. Penn State gave up the eighth-few- est points (16.5 per game) and seventh-fewest yards (294.8 per game) in the FBS during the 2024 season. It was another fine ef- fort by the Nittany Lions' defense, which had excelled under Brent Pry and Manny Diaz before Allen took over last year. But Ohio State fared even better under Knowles, ranking first in both scoring defense (12.9 points per game) and total defense (254.6 yards per game) during its 2024 national championship sea- son. Knowles' system also produced 3.31 sacks per game, a figure that was tied for third nationally. Based on what they've experienced so far, Penn State's players are eager to see what Knowles' system can do this fall. "I love Coach Knowles' defense," Dennis-Sutton said. "He's confi- dent, not overly rowdy. He's laid back, he's confident in what he's doing. He's confident in his players, so I enjoy it." Head coach James Franklin told BTN in early August that Knowles has continued to refine his system over the years, as well as his process for installing it. Now, Penn State is set to reap the benefits of that work. "Every time you install a defense, you get better at tweaking and how you can speed up that maturation process, and he's done a really good job," Franklin said. "Our staff, as well, on the defensive side of the ball, is embracing it. Our players, too. "Our last two defensive coordinators, we played a ton of man coverage, which was really important. But I think Jim is helping us in those one or two games a year where we've got to have more answers. This defense provides that." — Greg Pickel Players Excited By Potential Of Jim Knowles' Defense Under Knowles last season, Ohio State averaged 3.31 sacks per game, which was tied for the third-best average in the FBS. PHOTO BY STEVE MANUEL sonal and on-field things — and to be able to come out on top and still be positive, he's got some thick skin and toughness to him," Barnes said. "There are things you can rely on with him." Eager to be a piece of a Penn State de- fense that is expected to rank among the nation's best, Fisher sees this as his long- awaited opportunity. "It feels great to be in this position, be- cause I waited a long time to get here," he said. "I put the work in. I had some things happen that were out of my control. But now I'm feeling good, and I'm just ready to go." ■