Latest news with #defensiveCoordinator
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Penn State DC Jim Knowles says he'd have stayed at Ohio State if he was offered a contract earlier
Knowles is the highest-paid assistant in the country after leaving the Buckeyes following their national title Former Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles said he'd still be with the Buckeyes if the school offered him a contract extension earlier. Knowles became the highest-paid defensive coordinator in college football after the 2024 season when he moved to Penn State. The Pennsylvania native told ESPN that he 'would not have explored or considered other options' if a contract extension happened before the national title game. However, as Knowles didn't have an extension following the Buckeyes' title game win over Notre Dame, he reached out to Penn State just days after the victory. From ESPN: "I did not want to put anyone, including myself, in a position to have to deal with it immediately following the national championship game," he said. "And that's the way it happened." It created a situation, he said, that eventually turned "awkward." "Season's over, everything coming to a head again quickly," Knowles said. "Ohio State hasn't come forward with a deal, and it's like, 'OK, if I'm going to act on this or at least explore it, I have got to make the call.'" Penn State had a vacancy at defensive coordinator following the departure of Tom Allen to Clemson. Allen, the former Indiana head coach, took the same position with the Tigers so he and his wife could live closer to their two daughters. That allowed Knowles, a Pennsylvania native, to have the chance to come back to his home state. He's set to make more than $3 million in 2025 as Penn State looks to topple the Buckeyes for the first time since 2016. That's the only victory the Nittany Lions have over Ohio State in James Franklin's tenure. Penn State won the Big Ten title in 2024, but lost 20-13 to Ohio State in November as the Buckeyes won their eighth straight game over the Nittany Lions. With Knowles in State College, Ohio State will attempt to defend its national title with two new coordinators. Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly also left in the offseason to become the Las Vegas Raiders' offensive coordinator. Assistant Brian Hartline was promoted to replace Kelly while the Buckeyes hired former New England Patriots assistant and Detroit Lions head coach Matt Patricia to run the defense.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Penn State DC Jim Knowles says he'd have stayed at Ohio State if he was offered a contract earlier
Former Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles said he'd still be with the Buckeyes if the school offered him a contract extension earlier. Knowles became the highest-paid defensive coordinator in college football after the 2024 season when he moved to Penn State. The Pennsylvania native told ESPN that he 'would not have explored or considered other options' if a contract extension happened before the national title game. However, as Knowles didn't have an extension following the Buckeyes' title game win over Notre Dame, he reached out to Penn State just days after the victory. Advertisement From ESPN: "I did not want to put anyone, including myself, in a position to have to deal with it immediately following the national championship game," he said. "And that's the way it happened." It created a situation, he said, that eventually turned "awkward." "Season's over, everything coming to a head again quickly," Knowles said. "Ohio State hasn't come forward with a deal, and it's like, 'OK, if I'm going to act on this or at least explore it, I have got to make the call.'" Penn State had a vacancy at defensive coordinator following the departure of Tom Allen to Clemson. Allen, the former Indiana head coach, took the same position with the Tigers so he and his wife could live closer to their two daughters. That allowed Knowles, a Pennsylvania native, to have the chance to come back to his home state. He's set to make more than $3 million in 2025 as Penn State looks to topple the Buckeyes for the first time since 2016. That's the only victory the Nittany Lions have over Ohio State in James Franklin's tenure. Penn State won the Big Ten title in 2024, but lost 20-13 to Ohio State in November as the Buckeyes won their eighth straight game over the Nittany Lions. With Knowles in State College, Ohio State will attempt to defend its national title with two new coordinators. Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly also left in the offseason to become the Las Vegas Raiders' offensive coordinator. Assistant Brian Hartline was promoted to replace Kelly while the Buckeyes hired former New England Patriots assistant and Detroit Lions head coach Matt Patricia to run the defense.
USA Today
05-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Rams hiring Drew Wilkins as new defensive pass rush coordinator
When the Los Angeles Rams promoted Chris Shula to defensive coordinator in 2024, it left them without a position on the staff that he previously held: pass rush coordinator. They added that position back to Sean McVay and Shula's group by bringing in their first new hire of 2025. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Rams are hiring Drew Wilkins as their defensive pass rush coordinator. Wilkins was the Patriots' outside linebackers coach under Jerod Mayo last season after previously coaching the Giants' outside linebackers for two years prior to that. He also spent 12 years with the Ravens, most recently as their outside linebackers coach from 2018-2021. Source: The #Rams are hiring Drew Wilkins as their new defensive pass rush coordinator. Originally from the #Ravens coaching tree and most recently with the #Patriots, Wilkins has had a key role in blitz packages and pressures. — Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 5, 2025 The Rams' pass rush was one of the best in the NFL last season, particularly toward the end of the year. In the playoffs, they sacked Sam Darnold nine times and Jalen Hurts seven times, ratcheting up the pressure and wreaking havoc in the backfield. Wilkins will have the benefit of working with a young group led by Jared Verse, Kobie Turner, Braden Fiske and Byron Young this season.
