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On Monday, Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Allen emerged as the favorite to become Clemson’s new defensive coordinator. By Tuesday, it was official—he was heading to Clemson. Allen had an impressive first and only season at Happy Valley. The Nittany Lions ranked 7th in the nation in points allowed per game, giving up just 15.8 on average. Additionally, Penn State's defensive line was dominant, recording 44 sacks, which placed them among the top five in the country.
Allen is set to make $1.9 million in his first season at Clemson, with his salary increasing annually. The primary reason for his move is family.
“My family is very important to me, and this move provides us with the unique opportunity to live close to our daughter,” Allen told 247Sports. “Our children have made countless sacrifices throughout the years in the coaching profession, and this move brings us together.”
After hearing this, it's hard to fault Allen for his decision.
However, Penn State linebacker Kobe King appears to be holding some sort of grudge. In his announcement entering the NFL Draft, King thanked every coach who had helped him, including his former defensive coordinator, but notably left out Allen’s name.
“The support from Coach Franklin, Coach Conner, Coach Manny, and Coach Pry—your guidance has helped me prosper over the last four years, both on and off the field,” King wrote on social media.
Manny Diaz was the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Penn State from 2022-2023 before leaving to take the head coaching job at Duke.
It’s odd that King omitted Allen’s name from his post. It’s possible the omission was a small oversight, but Allen’s departure clearly didn’t sit well with the 6-foot-1, 248-pound junior linebacker. King had a standout season, finishing with 97 tackles, which ranked second on the team. He was also named second-team All-Big Ten
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