Most of the defensive coordinators throughout the James Franklin era at Penn State have called plays from field level on game day. Bob Shoop was one exception. And then, Tom Allen became the second last season a couple of games into the 2024 season.

Loved Penn State football, never made it to Penn State. Knowles did play football at St. Joseph’s Prep, and now he’s the Lions’ DC. “State College could have been California, when you lived in Philly,” Knowles cracked at one point during his 30-minute introductory press conference Tuesday afternoon inside Pegula Ice Arena.

Knowles won a national title as Ohio State's defensive coordinator last month. He is happy to relocate to a program he followed as a child.