Knowles Expected to be DC

[dduncan4163]

With CJH offense, you have to figure any game where our defense holds the opponent to 28points or less should be a win IMO. I believe Beyonce's uncle can do that consistently with our talent. We signed 15 players on defense this cycle and have a lot of young players already on roster...youngest roster in the SEC.

Knowles should be able to build a stout defense here in a couple years. Hope we steal a couple Safety and DTackle players from Pedo St. also if they have any we want. GREAT HIRE. GO VOLS

I'm hoping we snatch up some of those Penn State players too. They had a bad year but there's plenty up talent in that cupboard.

 

[allstar34]

What ChatGPT thinks

What Jim Knowles offers — and why many think he’s “next-level”​

• Knowles has a long, successful pedigree. Over ~17 years as a defensive coordinator, plus prior head-coaching experience, he's run DC jobs at multiple Power-5 programs. Penn State - Official Athletics Website+1
• His most recent stretch (at Ohio State Buckeyes, 2022–2024) produced elite defenses: in 2024, Ohio State ranked #1 in the country in total defense, scoring defense, yards per play allowed, red-zone touchdown prevention, and several other major metrics. Penn State - Official Athletics Website+2College Sports Network+2
• Knowles’s defenses are historically among the most efficient nationwide in terms of “stop rate” — i.e. the percentage of opponent drives ending in punts, turnovers, or 4-th-down stops. Penn State - Official Athletics Website+1
• He has turned around struggling defenses quickly: when he arrived at OSU, his first year saw a big jump (total defense from outside top 50 to top 15, pass defense up ~70 spots, etc.). Ohio State+2Buckeye Huddle+2
• Knowles is versatile: historically, his units have been good against both the run and pass, and effective in various fronts — useful in a conference like the SEC, where offenses vary widely. Penn State - Official Athletics Website+2College Sports Network+2

Bottom line on Knowles: He’s used to elite-level expectations and structures. When he has the right players and time to install his system, his defenses become top-tier nationally — balanced, efficient, hard to exploit.

 

[kamoshika]

A few insightful/interesting pieces on Knowles...

June 6, 2023: Jim Knowles is a different coach than the one that walked into the Woody Hayes Athletic Center over a year ago. In fact, Ohio State’s defensive coordinator is different than the coach of last season.

When Knowles arrived in Columbus, Ohio, he came with an impressive track record. He’d had success at Duke, a school not known for football. He’d turned Oklahoma State’s defense into one of the best in the country despite playing in a conference that’s all about offense. He brought all of that to the Buckeyes. He tried to make work what he’d done at prior stops and, for much of the season, he was successful as the Scarlet and Gray defense was more competent than the unit of the two years prior.

But when it came to the biggest games, Ohio State was not as successful...What Knowles didn’t consider when coaching the Scarlet and Gray defense was that maybe what he had to do to be successful with the Blue Devils or the Cowboys wasn’t necessary at Ohio State.
A changed Jim Knowles is adapting his philosophy to better fit what's available at Ohio State

Feb 3, 2025: Jim Knowles' defense is not static and is certainly malleable to suggestions, but even a veteran coach has a breaking point with directives.

The coordinator reached his limit after three years at Ohio State, where he successfully revamped and revitalized a struggling unit into a championship caliber group in short order -- but not without interference and pressures from head coach Ryan Day, who inserted himself in defensive meetings more often this season and asked for changes to be made midway through the season, sources told CBS Sports. Last week, their short marriage ended with Knowles bolting for rival Penn State. A bigger payday and more autonomy to run his scheme awaits him in State College...
Why Jim Knowles walked: Philosophical clash at Ohio State leads to fresh start, historic payday at Penn State

Aug 3, 2025: Penn State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles is deliberate not only with how he runs his defense but also in how he answers questions. He’s soft-spoken and relaxed, often taking a moment to form an answer before speaking. But when asked how long it might take to fully implement his defensive scheme, Knowles answered almost immediately. “The rest of my life,” he said with a chuckle.

“I mean, there’s always more to do,” Penn State’s first-year coordinator said Saturday at the Nittany Lions' football media day. “It’s never a finished process, and how quickly we can move forward with it this year depends on how quickly the players keep learning. Right now, it’s at a really rapid pace. [We’ll] just keep pushing forward as long as they’re handling everything.”

Knowles’ scheme is known as one of the more complex in college football. He runs a 4-2-5, similar to the system former defensive coordinator Tom Allen ran at Penn State in 2024. The former Ohio State coordinator has used that familiarity to his advantage, spending time implementing concepts with which the players were familiar.
Penn State's Jim Knowles Is Racing, With Quiet Purpose, to Install His Defense

Sep 24, 2025: “He thinks outside of the box,” said Clayton Carlin, a defensive staff member at Louisiana who’s worked under Knowles and grew up with him in Philadelphia. In fact, the two were high school teammates — Carlin a running back and Knowles a linebacker. They butted heads, quite literally.

To this day, they remain close friends. “That’s one of his many talents as a coach: He adapts his style to his players,” Carlin says. “He’s not one of those guys, ‘This is what we’re running and that’s it!’ The way he teaches in the classroom, he’s very creative and receptive to how kids learn these days. The days of standing up there lecturing for 30 minutes is over. He does things differently.”

Timers, buzzers, points, bells, powerpoint slides — Knowles’ meetings are a bucket of fun.
Penn State stunned college football world by poaching Jim Knowles from Ohio State. With Oregon looming, it's time to find out if it'll pay off

Oct 15, 2025: Knowles arrived fresh off a national championship run with Ohio State and brought a résumé that included a Broyles Award–level season at Oklahoma State in 2021. Franklin touted it as a philosophical “blending” — Knowles’ complex, cerebral system meeting the aggression that had long defined Penn State’s defense.

That blend has instead become a watered-down mess.
How Jim Knowles Broke the Heart of the Penn State Defense

 

[allstar34]

I'm hoping we snatch up some of those Penn State players too. They had a bad year but there's plenty up talent in that cupboard.

They recruited decently with the circumstances. Class average was 4 stars.

 

[marcusluvsvols]

have you confirmed muschamp is seeking a DC position?

Muschamp isnt even the DC now at UGA. Theres not 1 but 2 guys in front of him calling the shots. Hes a "defensive analyst" like the half dozen guys we have on each side of the ball here...that werent allowed on the practice field until the last couple years. We have some of the most batsheit crazy fans on Earth. Lmao...

We are hiring THE most sought after D Coordinator in the nation and we have people on here crying about the meme factory that is Will Muschamp. Cant make this crap up....only on VN.

 

[GordonC]

One concern i've heard is that his defense is complicated and requires a learning curve. Some concerns about how well the players can perform in 1 year.

Maybe the thought is a "push" for next year and set up 27-30 for a run with Faze as QB?

I mean all defenses require a learning curve wen yore guys don't wrap up and tackle

 

[McDad]

Is it too early to go ahead and start calling him the “Silver Fox”?

a little too "homoerotic daddy fetish" in my opinion. But we can let it slide on this day of jubilation.

 

[FranklinVFL]

Quick scanning Knowles vs Banks, both run a 4-2-5 with Knowles using lots more variation but both DCs were similar in wanting to be aggressive with pressure.

It seems Knowles is more creative, read: complex, with his use of his edges than Banks. Knowles needs his guys to be bright and adapt to different assignments well.

Open to correction but I like what I see, especially that there's some similarities between Banks and Knowles at the core we can build on rather than nuke the whole thing.

maybe having a similar defense will shorten the learning curve....

 

[LakeMaryFLVol]

So Pete Thamel is MIT Beaver…

I never would have guessed.

Soon

 

[jasonvol18]

I'm just going to put everyone who is complaining about this hire on ignore. This is ridiculous, even for volnation.

Agreed! Some of these miserable asshats are gonna bitch and whine regardless. It's sad.

 

[McDad]

Have you ever seen Lou Holtz throw a touchdown pass?

 

[VolsFan-TX]

Have you ever seen Lou Holtz throw a touchdown pass?

No, but that would be fun to watch

 

[McDad]

I mean all defenses require a learning curve wen yore guys don't wrap up and tackle

Are you claiming our men don't wrap up?

 

[jasonvol18]

Enjoy popcorn Sutton. Maybe we will have a top 75 defense next year

I thought BOT was the most miserable soul on here, you're right there with him. Atleast give him a funny name, that's not even funny or creative. This is a helluva hire.

 

[BigOrangeCrush32]

The breakdown of Knowles/his defenses is it always takes a year for it to get properly implemented. Apparently a very complicated/hard to learn scheme, but once learned, is really good.

Which makes one question why we'd go with him considering this fan base couldn't handle a single down year from Banks, but whatever I guess.

Like the hire, but it will likely require patience before elite results are seen.

You mean 4 down years from Banks and one single, somewhat, good year.

 

[2EastTnVols]

I like this hire. But are we aware that there are football programs other than Penn State

 

[ALLVOL 4LIFE]

View attachment 797416

Love Airplane!

 

[BleedingOrangeInChatt]

Butch F’d that up by having Shoop’s staff put in place without Shoop’s input….really stupid and doomed from the beginning.

True but that always wasnt the only thing he screwed up.

 

[VolFanNC09]

Well, if he is the guy then at least we get him early enough to be able to provide input on the portal needs we have some elite talent and some gaps.

 

[NighthawkVol]

Now the question is, who will be kept on the defensive staff and who will be replaced? And by whom?

Guarantee we didn't land Knowles without giving him authority to hire his own defensive assistants.

 

[ALLVOL 4LIFE]

Is this Beyoncé’s dad?

 

[McDad]

Now the question is, who will be kept on the defensive staff and who will be replaced? And by whom?

Guarantee we didn't land Knowles without giving him authority to hire his own defensive assistants.

For me, that question is now much less important.

I think we have a guy who can be trusted with decisions about his staff, recruits, etc.

 

[JohnnyJava]

I just made a post about this, before I saw yours.

Thanks.

Hopefully, it can't get much worse? We were 14th in the SEC in total defense and scoring defense.

 

[ochocinco]

Surprisingly and ecstatic. Incredible hire.

 

[adam.vol]

Best hire since Monte Kiffin.