STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — In the days after the Orange Bowl, Penn State’s players gathered on campus for a team meeting. At that point in January, they found out defensive coordinator Tom Allen was leaving for Clemson and that James Franklin would do his part to hire the best candidate he could. The team’s season had just ended three days prior.

Franklin and Knowles previously had discussed a job at Penn State. An early morning call two days after Ohio State's national championship began the process.

Former Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles said he was grateful for his three years at OSU, but the pull of his home state lured him away.

Ohio State football has found its new defensive coordinator to replace Jim Knowles after his departure to Penn State.