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Six candidates to replace Jim Knowles as Ohio State defensive coordinator

Six candidates to replace Jim Knowles as Ohio State defensive coordinator

USA Today26-01-2025

In case you missed the news of the day, a day in which the Ohio State football team celebrated its 2024 College Football Playoff national championship, it appears as though OSU defensive coordinator, Jim Knowles is leaving the program for Penn State. It's a blow, especially when a coach of his pedigree heads to a Big Ten rival right after a day to remember what he meant to the Scarlet and Gray.
So, now, head coach Ryan Day will be tasked with finding a replacement during a time when there are a thousand other things going on, and when some candidates have already been gobbled up while the Buckeyes were finishing up a late run toward college football glory. It's anyone's guess where this thing will go, but we thought we'd throw out six names that might be on Day's wish list as he begins the search for a very, very important post on the coaching staff in Columbus.
Put an asterisk next to this thing and don't think it's a list that Day is utilizing himself, because, as we've seen, sometimes the hires come off the radar and even make a bigger splash than what we can think of. Remember, Bill O'Brien came out of nowhere, and so too did Chip Kelly when he was looking for an offensive coordinator.
Still, here are some names that make sense.

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