Former Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles is reportedly headed to Penn State to serve in the same role, and Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin shared a message in response to the major news. Knowles, 59, is coming off a national championship season with the Buckeyes, who led the country in scoring defense and total defense. The unit held Notre Dame to 308 total yards and 2.0 yards per rush in the title game, helping secure a 34-23 win. Ohio State and head coach Ryan Day initially brought Knowles in from Oklahoma State in 2022. The former Cornell defensive end got his coaching start with his alma mater before stints at Western Michigan, Ole Miss and Duke. Penn State had an opening following the departure of Tom Allen, who left to take the defensive coordinator role under Dabo Swinney at Clemson. And Franklin and Co. have certainly made a hiring splash with Knowles, a Philadelphia native. Buckeyes DC Jim Knowles © Brett Davis-Imagn Images Brett Davis-Imagn Images Knowles has reportedly accepted a three-year, $3.1 million deal with the the Nittany Lions, making him the highest-paid defensive coordinator in college football. Following the news on Sunday, Franklin took to X and shared an acronym that has gained some popularity for Penn State faithful recently. “LTFI,” he wrote. The abbreviation stands for “lock the (expletive) in.” LTFI!!! #WeAre — James Franklin (@coachjfranklin) January 26, 2025 Penn State has routinely put together some of the best defenses in the sport under Allen, who helped the unit finish seventh nationally in total defense in 2024. It’s hard to imagine that momentum slowing down with a proven coach like Knowles taking the helm. The move also paints a positive outlook for the Nittany Lions in 2025 after a record-breaking season. Penn State won a program-best 13 games and secured a pair of College Football Playoff wins in its first playoff appearance in program history. Knowles will make his return to Ohio State when the Nittany Lions face the Buckeyes on the road in Week 10.