James Franklin, who had been in hot pursuit of a big-name defensive coordinator to replace Tom Allen, plucked Jim Knowles from national champion Ohio State. If Knowles isn’t the top DC in the nation, he is on the short list.

Knowles would join James Franklin's Penn State staff after three seasons at Ohio State, where he won a national championship.

Fresh off a national championship run with Ohio State, Buckeyes defensive coordinator Jim Knowles has accepted the same position at Big Ten rival Penn State, Matt Zentiz confirms. Though the exact numbers of the deal aren't public yet,