Penn State football: Candidates to replace Manny Diaz as defensive coordinator

STATE COLLEGE, PA - NOVEMBER 18: Defensive coordinator Manny Diaz of the Penn State Nittany Lions takes the field before the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Beaver Stadium on November 18, 2023 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

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Nov 25, 2023; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Indiana Hoosiers head coach Tom Allen reacts during the second half at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-USA TODAY Sports /

Tom Allen got fired at Indiana after three straight losing seasons, and this season his defense regressed all the way to 87th in the country. After some early success in Bloomington, Allen proved to be unfit for a head coaching job in the Big Ten, but that doesn’t mean he can’t be a capable defensive coordinator.

This would be similar to what Franklin did with Manny Diaz, grabbing a respected defensive mind who needs to resurrect his career by just focusing on that side of the football. The problem is that Allen hasn’t had a defense that registered in the top 50 in total defense since 2020 and he never registered a defense inside the top 25 in the country since taking over as head coach.

He quickly rose the head coaching role at Indiana and might need more time as a DC, but this could be more of a risk than it’s worth, taking on another former head coach.

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