The Penn State Nittany Lions will return a plethora of their stars in 2025. Drew Allar, Kaytron Allen, and Nicholas Singleton are all set to continue with the Penn State program next year. Coupled with new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, the Nittany Lions embody a “run it back” mentality reminiscent of Michigan and Ohio State in 2023 and 2024.
For Knowles, who previously coached Ohio State’s 2024 title-winning defense, there’s only one objective in mind. The Nittany Lions’ new defensive coordinator laid out his expectations clearly for the upcoming college football season: “I have one aspiration,” Knowles stated via On3. “I’m at a point in my career where I focus solely on the job at hand. My aspiration is to help Penn State win the national championship and be the No. 1 defense in the country,” he proclaimed, emphasizing, “And that’s really all I’m focused on. That’s not just talk; that’s the truth. I don’t have any aspirations beyond that.”
While Penn State will lose Abdul Carter to the NFL, there is still a wealth of talent on the defense. Under Knowles’ guidance, it’s likely the Nittany Lions will remain a formidable opponent next season. The anticipation for the 2025 college football season is already building, especially for Penn State.
