Just a few weeks after parting ways with Wes Goodwin, Clemson is closing in on his replacement. Pete Thamel of ESPN reported that Penn State DC Tom Allen and Clemson are working toward a deal to become the next defensive coordinator with the Tigers.
In 2024, Allen helped lead Penn State to a 13-3 record, including a Big Ten championship appearance and two wins in the College Football Playoffs. The Nittany Lions ranked seventh in the nation in yards allowed with 294.7 per game. Nearly a third of those yards were given up via the pass, but Penn State was stingy in the run game. It gave up only 101.8 yards a game under Allen's leadership.
In contrast, Clemson gave up 374.1 yards in 2024, finishing 68th, a far cry from what Tiger fans are used to. Since the 2013-14 season, Clemson has finished as a top-15 defense all but two years, and never dropped below 27th.
While he only spent a season with Penn State, Allen has a long career, including head coaching experience at the Division I level. Between 2017 and 2023, he was the head coach for Indiana, leading the Cyclones to a 33-49 record. Before that, he hopped around between Drake, Arkansas State, Ole Miss, and South Florida between 2010 and 2015.
Sources: Clemson is working toward a deal to hire Penn State DC Tom Allen as the school’s new defensive coordinator. He’s the top target and a final decision is expected in the upcoming days. pic.twitter.com/8PLnibXD2j
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 13, 2025