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STATE COLLEGE – Jim Knowles carried a pen and paper as he surveyed the field inside Holuba Hall.
Unlike his two immediate predecessors as Penn State defensive coordinator, Knowles quietly went about his business as he checked the linebackers, the secondary and then the line.
“I do a lot of observing the players, particularly in my first spring here,” he said after practice earlier this week. “I try to stand in the back and see how they operate. … I’m really just trying to pick up on their strengths and weaknesses and what they grasp.
“I try to stay out of the picture a lot in practice because I’ve scripted it all. I’ve set it all up, so I like to watch how it comes together.”
Nittany Lions coach James Franklin hopes it’s a championship story. He hired the 60-year-old Knowles, a Philadelphia native and a St. Joseph’s Prep graduate, to improve Penn State’s chances of winning a national title.
Knowles might turn out to be the best offseason staff hiring in college football. Penn State made him the highest-paid defensive coordinator in the country at $3.1 million annually.
He has an impressive resume, including playing a large role in Ohio State winning the 2024-25 national championship. The Buckeyes finished first in the nation in total and scoring defense under Knowles’ leadership.
He seemed comfortable through two-thirds of his first spring practice at Penn State.
“I’d say we’ve gotten off to a good start, (installing) over 50% or 60% (of the defense),” Knowles said. “I think we’ve made a lot of progress in a short time, blending new concepts with some of the old concepts that they did.
“Obviously they were very, very good here on defense. We’re using what we can to try and keep things in similar terms for the players. Yeah, I’m happy with the progress.”
He also sounded content working with offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, whose diverse formations have tested Knowles and Penn State’s defense this spring. He said the two of them “talk a lot, probably more than anywhere I’ve been.”
“It’s more than I’ve ever gone against in the spring, to be quite honest with you,” Knowles said. “I try to tell the defensive guys that this helps us because our offense is so multiple and creative. The formations and the different things that they do are really challenging.
“When you put in a basic call, it has to be able to adjust against everything when you’re going against Andy and our offense. It gives us a lot.”
The Lions return six starters on defense: end Dani Dennis-Sutton, tackle Zane Durant, linebackers Dom DeLuca and Tony Rojas, cornerback A.J. Harris and safety Zakee Wheatley.
Several players have stood out to Knowles during spring practice so far. He said he admires how the cornerbacks cover receivers and likes the depth on the defensive line. He specifically mentioned DeLuca, Keon Wylie and Anthony Speca as standouts at linebacker and Kolin Dinkns and Kenny Woseley Jr. at the nickel position.
They finished in the top 10 in the nation last year in total, scoring and rushing defense under Tom Allen, who left after one season at Penn State to take the same job at Clemson. Manny Diaz also enjoyed success in his two years (2022-23) with the Lions before he left to become head coach at Duke.
“I have a ton of confidence (in the defensive assistant coaches),” Knowles said. “Just working with these guys for the first time, (they’re) really good people and really good coaches. A lot of Penn State grads and guys that are really investing in the program.
“They’ve been great to me in terms of learning what I do and how I operate. They’ve been very receptive to new concepts and things.”
Knowles was asked about linebackers coach Dan Connor, who starred at Strath Haven and Penn State before playing several seasons in the NFL.
“Dan is awesome,” Knowles said. “He’s detailed. He’s a reserved guy, but he has tremendous respect from the players because of his success here and his commitment to Penn State.
“I feel like he gives them a lot of inside tips that most of us couldn’t because he played the position and did it at a high level in the NFL. I think he’s young enough to relate to the players. He’s extremely smart.”
When he was asked if Penn State has the “it” factor to win a championship, Knowles smiled.
“Yes,” he said softly. “Next question.”
