While football Saturdays remain vacant, a couple of ancillary offshoots help fill the air. The drama in this sport just never ceases. The coaching carousel is perpetually rotating and picks up speed this time of year. James Franklin and Penn State have enjoyed riding on this carousel more than most this offseason. Now, the nature of sports fandom is such that it works in subjective hypotheticals more than objective reality. But what if the reality is so unfathomable it feels like a pipedream? Walk yourself through this somehow true scenario you’d have never believed a month or so ago.
You’re one of the top 3 highest-paid defensive coordinators in the sport. You’re with a perennial contender, a program synonymous with success. In your mid-50s as well, so comfort, job security, and continuity ideally take precedence over change and uncertainty. Oh, and you’ve just won the National Championship. Do you leave? Turns out you do if you’re Jim Knowles. But why? The primary reason for Knowles’ exit is speculated as friction with Ohio State D-line coach Larry Johnson. Alas, Ryan Day’s loss is his B1G contemporary James Franklin’s gain. He won’t care how and why, just that he has an elite coordinator calling his defense. But from Knowles’ perspective, going to Penn State is a strictly horizontal move at best. Some may even rationally suggest it’s a step-down. Despite this, the pressure to deliver this upcoming year is higher in State College than it would’ve been in Columbus.
Heart goes out to James Franklin. It really does. The loss in the Orange Bowl certainly shouldn’t all be attributed to him. His fingerprints, though, were yet again at the site of a proverbial crime scene involving Penn State and a fellow top school. The now-infamous statline of his shortcomings in the biggest moments got worse. Franklin is now 3-20 vs. top 10 opponents. 1-15 against the Top 5, including 12 losses on the bounce. He’s been in Happy Valley for over a decade now. After a Big 10 championship relatively early, it’s been a sub-par tenure. This tendency to fall short on the most important downs and drives cannot be a mirage anymore. It’s very real. So real, that Jim Knowles is now expected to be their messiah. One CFB analyst voiced whether that’s a fair expectation.
It sure seems like PSU is adamant about getting this monkey off their back and has gone all-in this upcoming year. A lot of key players are returning, including their 3-headed monster in the backfield with the QB and both star RBs. That costs money. They’ve spent big bucks on luring Knowles, too. The chips are on the table, and Coach Franklin needs to break this glass ceiling. So could Knowles push them over? Speaking over “The Ruffino and Joe Show,” namesake host Blake Ruffino gave his 2 cents. While he acknowledges St1x C1ty’s Abdul Carter will be a miss, he implied Jim Knowles has enough pieces to work with that he doesn’t warrant an adaptation period in Year 1.
“If I’m just being honest, defensively, I love the safety play that [Jim Knowles is] getting back. A lot of the guys that we saw in the playoff he’ll have back. He’ll have a lot of experience that he can work with. So, it’s a lot to build on.” said Ruffino. Having just featured Caleb Downs in the Buckeyes’ defense last season, good safety play is requisite in the Knowles’ system. Ruffino proceeded to elaborate on how James Franklin has no excuses given the coordinator duo at his disposal. “There’s not a better coordinator duo, in my opinion, in the country, than Jim Knowles and Andy Kotelnicki. It’s easily the best,” he said.
With all this baked in, can the Nittany Lions indeed get past their demons? Blake Ruffino, too, asked, “The big thing for Penn State is, can they get over the hump? That is the ultimate question for them. Not just James Franklin, for them as a collective unit.” The signs point to them, in theory at least, doing so.
Jim Knowles’ acquisition only one facet of Penn State being touted as a legitimate contender
Most programs across the CFB sphere are microwaving their way to success. The advent of the transfer portal helps facilitate instantaneous success. Coach Prime in Colorado is the epitome of this. Within the midst of this modernization of the sport, Penn State is embracing tradition. James Franklin isn’t seeking to procure talent. He’s seeking to develop it. Franklin is, very conspicuously, building his core roster through high school recruitment. He’s preaching continuity. The fact he’s managed to keep together tailbacks Kaytron Allen, Nick Singleton, and QB1 Drew Allar for another season is a proponent of this continuity.
All 3 of their most important offensive players post-Tyler Warren were recruited from high school. They’ve spent years in this system and have an experienced edge. Something that is a precious commodity in a sport where players are 3-4-year rentals. Owing to their returning players and staff makeup, Penn State is being touted as favorites for the championship. National analyst Joel Klatt concurs with this, too. Adding a winner in Jim Knowles is definitely a factor.
This stands to be the most stacked team James Franklin has coached at Penn State. Even after losing Abdul Carter, who’s gaining traction as the no.1 overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. So far, under Franklin, Penn State has been bridesmaids in the B1G and in the grand scheme of things. Never quite the bride. He has the tools to take that next step now. It’ll be a litmus test of whether he’s a coach who can get you over the finish line. A massive season beckons for the Nittany Lions. They got further than they ever had last year. Remains to be seen if they can strike while the iron is hot. PSU will hope they aren’t merely holding the moniker of spring champions. As for Jim Knowles, he’s going from one frying pan to another.
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