Alright, let’s set the scene real quick. You’re up late, heart pounding, watching Penn State go toe-to-toe with Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl. The clock’s bleeding out, game’s on the line, and boom — just when it looks like Drew Allar might pull off some Happy Valley heroism, he throws a pick that had every Nittany Lion fan out there screaming at their TV like it owed them money. That was the moment — the heartbreak, the rage, the ‘what if’ that echoed through all of Pennsylvania. But here’s the kicker: instead of ducking and dodging, James Franklin just hopped on the mic and stood ten toes down behind his QB as he spills the tea about $9 million off-season gamble.
On April 8, the Penn State head coach pulled up to On3’s J.D. PicKell segment and didn’t flinch when the convo swerved into Allar territory. PicKell tossed a softball, talking about the new WR weapon Kyron Hudson, and asked what got him hyped about Allar heading into 2025. James Franklin? Oh, he let it rip. “Yeah, you know, he’s just—he’s improved every single year,” Franklin said. “You know, his high school recruiting process was kind of amazing… by the time it’s all done, have him ranked as the number one quarterback in the country. He’s done the same thing since he’s been on campus.”
James Franklin kept it realer than real — breaking down how Allar wasn’t some hand-fed golden boy. Drew Allar came in as a three-star and worked his way up like an old-school grinder. That kind of journey? Yeah, it hits different. And Franklin’s belief in him didn’t sound like any coach-speak fluff. “He’s gotten better every single year in terms of touchdown-to-interception ratio, yards, explosive plays, completion percentage — obviously playing really well in big games.”
Now, let’s not get it twisted — the Orange Bowl was a disaster-class moment. That late-game pick? Nasty. But one mess-up doesn’t erase a 13-win season, a College Football Playoff run, and 3,300+ yards with 24 TDs. And Franklin ain’t about to let that narrative stick. He even doubled down: “He’s totally committed to being the best player he possibly can be. And he’s a great human being.” Translation? Drew Allar is still that guy, and Franklin ain’t switching up. And here’s where it gets spicy. Franklin’s not just betting on Allar’s talent — he’s betting $9 MILLION on building a defense that lets his guy cook without playing superhero every week. Enter Jim Knowles.
James Franklin talks about $9 million gamble: Jim Knowles
Now, if you thought James Franklin just planned to run it back with vibes and prayer — after the 2024 season, Penn State pulled out the checkbook like a Vegas high-roller. Penn State went out and poached THE top defensive coordinator in the country — Jim Knowles, fresh off a natty with Ohio State — and dropping crazy $3.3 million per year to make it official, that makes him the highest-paid assistant coach in college football.
So how’d it happen? PicKell hit him with it straight: “Coach, how did Jim Knowles end up at Penn State?” Franklin spilled, “We were actually going through the process… had talked to some NFL guys, had talked to some college guys, trying to find the right fit.” He admitted Knowles wasn’t even on the radar at first — but after the natty, things shifted. “Got a call and heard that he would be interested in having a conversation. Had a conversation, and then it went pretty fast.”
It wasn’t all roses, though. Franklin knew it’d be a dogfight. “Ohio State’s trying to retain him, Penn State needs a defensive coordinator, Notre Dame needs a defensive coordinator, and Oklahoma needs a defensive coordinator all at the same time — oh, and Clemson.” That’s like trying to win an auction with half the Top 10 breathing down your neck. Knowles is Philly-born and already had ties to State College, so when the stars lined up — Franklin pounced. That move? It’s bigger than it looks. Penn State’s defense was already nasty. Now with Knowles in the building? They’re going full villain mode.
Jim Knowles inherits a top-10 defense and is expected to turn it into a cold-blooded, game-stealing machine. With big shoes to fill after Manny Diaz and Tom Allen, Knowles has to patch up spots across the board — but if he clicks with this roster, man, it’s lights out for the rest of the Big Ten. And the beauty of it? Allar won’t need to carry everything. With a top-shelf DC handling the defense and a stacked RB room + new weapons at WR, Penn State just might be cooking up their most complete squad yet. Franklin’s got his QB. He’s got his defensive warlord. The gamble’s in play — and if it hits, we’re talking about a natty contender that’s about to break the Big Ten matrix.
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