In a significant shake-up for college football, Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Allen is set to join the Clemson Tigers in the same role, reported by 247Sports’ Matt Zenitz. This strategic move by Clemson signals an ambitious phase for the Tigers under head coach Dabo Swinney.
Allen leaves behind a remarkable stint at Penn State, where his defense was a force to be reckoned with in the 2024 season. The Nittany Lions ranked an impressive seventh nationally in total defense, allowing just 294.7 yards per game, and held the eighth spot in scoring defense at 16.5 points per game. Penn State’s rush defense was particularly stingy, conceding a mere 101.8 yards per game, placing them ninth in the FBS category.
The Nittany Lions’ charge to the College Football Playoff semifinal was largely propelled by this defensive prowess. They gave up just 24 points in their initial playoff matchups against SMU and Boise State. Particularly notable was their ability to contain Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty, a Heisman Trophy finalist, to a season-low 104 yards on 30 carries, marking one of his rare touchdown-less games.
During their postseason run, the Nittany Lions defense shone with eight interceptions, proving to be a formidable barrier for any opposing offense. In fact, only thrice in 12 regular-season games did Penn State allow more than 20 points, highlighting Allen’s impact.
Allen’s guidance was pivotal for Penn State’s standout edge rusher, Abdul Carter, who earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and unanimous All-American honors. Carter led the Big Ten with an impressive 12 sacks and 24 tackles for loss, alongside 65 total quarterback pressures, cementing his status as a top-five contender for the 2025 NFL Draft.
Allen previously served as head coach at Indiana from 2017 to 2023, where his tenure was marked by two winning seasons and a challenging 33-49 record. However, his leadership during an unusual 2020 season saw the Hoosiers claim a top-15 rank in both the AP and Coaches polls. Before Penn State, Allen also honed his defensive acumen at South Florida and Indiana, serving as defensive coordinator in 2015 and 2016 respectively.
Allen’s recruitment is a landmark decision for Clemson’s Dabo Swinney, who recently decided to part ways with former defensive coordinator Wes Goodwin. Allen steps in as the first external defensive coordinator for the Tigers since Brent Venables was hired from Oklahoma in 2012. Swinney’s approach, known for bold moves with outside hires, has been successful in the past, as evidenced by the acquisition of Garrett Riley from TCU two years prior. Insiders highlight Clemson as an appealing destination for top-tier coaching talent, largely due to Swinney’s leadership style, which emphasizes work-life balance and staff loyalty. This addition of Allen is poised to bring a new dynamic to Clemson’s defensive strategies, potentially catapulting the Tigers to new defensive heights.
