Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Allen has agreed to take the identical place at Clemson, in response to 247Sports’/CBS Sports activities’ Matt Zenitz. Allen, who simply completed his first season as Penn State’s defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, guided the Nittany Lions to a top-10 defensive end in 2024.
Penn State ranked seventh nationally in whole protection (294.7 yards per recreation) and eighth nationally in scoring protection (16.5 factors per recreation). The Nittany Lions additionally completed ninth within the FBS whereas permitting simply 101.8 yards dashing per recreation.
Penn State leaned closely on its protection throughout its run to the School Soccer Playoff semifinal spherical. PSU allowed a complete of 24 factors in its first two video games in opposition to SMU and Boise State, respectively. Boise State operating again and Heisman Trophy finalist Ashton Jeanty rushed for a season-low 104 yards on 30 carries and posted simply his second recreation all season and not using a dashing landing in opposition to the Nittany Lions.
The Nittany Lions additionally logged eight interceptions throughout their run by the playoff. Penn State allowed its opponent to attain above 20 factors simply 3 times in 12 common season video games.
Below Allen’s tutelage, Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter earned Huge Ten Defensive Participant of the Yr and unanimous All-American honors whereas posting 12 sacks and 24 tackles for loss — each of which led the Huge Ten — and 65 whole quarterback pressures. Carter is extensively considered a top-five prospect within the 2025 NFL Draft.
Previous to becoming a member of Penn State’s employees, Allen served as the top coach at Indiana from 2017-23. He posted a 33-49 document with two successful seasons and an 0-3 exhibiting in bowl video games. The Hoosiers did end an abbreviated 2020 season ranked top-15 in each the AP and Coaches polls.
Allen was additionally the defensive coordinator at South Florida (2015) and Indiana (2016) previous to his promotion with the Hoosiers.
Allen marks a landmark rent for Clemson coach Dabo Swinney, who made the choice to maneuver on from former defensive coordinator Wes Goodwin earlier in January. Allen is the primary defensive coordinator to be introduced in from outdoors this system since 2012, when Swinney added Oklahoma’s Brent Venables to his employees. Swinney does have a fame for making massive swings when he does go outdoors this system — two years in the past, he employed Garrett Riley off TCU’s CFP runner-up employees — and runs a program that insiders say is a coveted place to work due to Swinney’s fame for his hands-off strategy and prioritization of labor/life stability and employees loyalty.
