Penn State had a top-10 defense in 2024 under first-year defensive coordinator Tom Allen. Yet, when the news broke that the former Indiana head coach is expected to leave for the same job title at Clemson on Monday, Nittany Lion’s fans weren’t exactly outraged.
Tom Allen going to Clemson is a downgrade for him. Doesn’t make sense as a career move, and it must mean Franklin wasn’t trying to keep him around
— Connor Griffin (@RealCGriff) January 13, 2025
While I’m mad that we have to find a new coordinator AGAIN, this defense had NFL talent everywhere and somehow regressed this year
Allen’s unit was one of the best in the country but was lit up in the secondary on the big stage in the Big Ten Championship Game against Oregon and the Orange Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal against Notre Dame. Nickel cornerback was a massive issue for Allen’s group after Kevin Winston Jr.’s early season injury moved Jaylen Reed out of the nickel and back to deep safety. Both the Ducks and Irish exposed that weakness early and often in high-scoring Penn State losses.
Oregon wide receiver Tez Johnson, who primarily works out of the slot for offensive coordinator Will Stein, went for 181 yards and a touchdown on 11 catches with a conference title on the line. Then, in the Orange Bowl, slot receiver Jaden Greathouse had a career day, catching seven passes for 105 yards and a touchdown. Even before the news of Allen’s expected departure, slot cornerback Cam Miller, who gave up a game-tying touchdown to Greathouse, entered the transfer portal.
For as good as Penn State’s defense was for most of the season under Allen, many Penn State fans think that head coach James Franklin isn’t fighting too hard to keep him around.
Personal opinion if Tom Allen leaves for the same role at Clemson. I assume James Franklin didn’t fight too hard to keep him…
— The Basic Blues Podcast (@BasicBluesPod) January 13, 2025
Don't get it twisted, Tom Allen was a good DC for Penn State. Top 10 defense nationally.
— Dylan Dawson (@PSU_Dylan) January 13, 2025
But this feels like a situation where there wasn't a ton of pushback from PSU when Clemson came swooping in with a bag.
PSU will be fine with their next DC. Great defensive culture here.
PSU has a good enough defensive culture that I’m not super moved by Tom Allen’s departure. Franklin will figure it out. Onward.
— Mark (@TheYinzerLion) January 13, 2025
It’s hard not to see the logic. This is a lateral move for Allen, who flamed out as a head coach at Indiana. Clemson has deep pockets and before their former defensive coordinator Brent Venables left to take the head job at Oklahoma, they made him the highest-paid coordinator in college football, so there’s a chance that Dabo Swinney’s program is offering a number that Penn State simply can’t match. However, it’d be a surprise if Allen became anywhere close to the highest-paid coordinator.
Tom Allen deserves credit where credit is due, but I will die on the hill that this defense was going to be great regardless of who coached them.
— Cory Lestochi (@Cory_Lestochi) January 13, 2025
Always a risk having to bring in a new coordinator, but there is upside that the next DC could be better.
With Abdul Carter leading a loaded, and extremely veteran, defensive line, there were plenty of defensive coordinators that would have produced a top-10 defense in Happy Valley. Now, if Allen does in fact take the Clemson job, the next one, whoever it is, will have to do without Carter.