Live updates: Penn State DC Tom Allen Fiesta Bowl
Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Allen is meeting with reporters on Friday afternoon. A game week update as the Nittany Lions prep to take on Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl, Allen is taking questions via zoom.
Follow along with his press conference as we provide paraphrased updates:
Live updates: Penn State DC Tom Allen Fiesta Bowl
Press conference updates will appear in reverse chronological order. Page does not automatically refresh.
Early enrollees practicing
12/27/2024 11:30:47 AMInvaluable to havie them participating. Any time you have a chance to participate in this stuff is valuable. Practice time, seeing how they operate as a program, being away from home. Getting a chance to do it with these guys.
LaVar Arrington, Braswell Thomas, and Dixson are the three. They haven’t been cleared yet but will be.
Jaylen Reed
12/27/2024 11:28:01 AMOnce KJ went down, sat with him and told him he needed to take it to another level and bring teammates like Wheatley with him. Especially true in practice because KJ was so special with his practice habits. Just feels like that leadership is where he had to really grow because of that situation and it’s been great to see him do that, making key interceptions and tackles. Reed always texting him to count on him and have his back and get the job done. As they’ve moved into the playoffs, and even the disappointing performance against Oregon, he took that personally.
Coziah Izzard
12/27/2024 11:25:35 AMHis emergence even more valuable and critical to success with Ford and Beamon not available. Strength staff always talked about him from a raw size, strength, speed standpoint. Had some injuries and couldn’t consistently climb as a player. So great to see him playing his best football when they need him to be doing that. Need his best game again Tuesday night against Boise State. Just about consistency in practice. Great attitude. Fun to be around. He just works. Having him in the rotation, making plays, and need him to keep growing and developing to do what they want.
Dom DeLuca
12/27/2024 11:23:21 AMYou can’t help but love Dom. You sit down with him, had dinner with him a couple of times, have him in the office just talking. Loved to hear his story. His high school days, playing QB with a torn ACL and winning a state championship. Love the guy whose dream it was to come here. Came as a kid to watch these games and now is making those plays in the same stadium. Tom Allen living the dream as well. A walk-on in the coaching profession. Working way up through. DeLuca had to earn it as well. So for Dom to make those plays in front of that crowd and the nation last week was just awesome. Just a great player, great to coach.
“Looking forward to having another year with him.”
Thrilled that he’s one of their leaders.
Using Oregon film as a like opponent
12/27/2024 11:20:02 AMNo question. The familiarity they have got Penn State’s attention right out of the gates. They played well at Oregon. Trying to figure out what they might do to hurt you. Everyone you talked to is to paint a picture of what they might do to you and the Oregon game is a big part of that.
Underrated aspect of Boise offense
12/27/2024 11:18:57 AMThe quarterback. He doesn’t get a lot of press, but he’s a tough, gritty kid that is accurate and effective. Testament to the scheme they’ve put together. Can’t just gang up to stop the run game. He can throw on the move and he’s good at it. Can run the ball with some big, tough runs. Just makes them go. Always look for that when watching an offense. Can he make something out of nothing? Extend plays? Make key first downs? Make the right throws? And they also have weapons at receiver and tight end. But to pick one guy that might be valuable and isn’t talked about enough, it’d be quarterback.
Deion Barnes
12/27/2024 11:17:09 AMHe’s a young coach. Does a tremendous job with his players. How do you relate to them and capture them? Because he played here and at a high level, able to get their attention. Can teach technique relentlessly and get them to play really hard, which he cares about. Shows how much you care about your teammates, family, and coaches. Deion can relate to them because he’s walked a mile in their shoes. Grades them tough. Holds them accountable. Treats them the same with expectations for practice and how they’ll perform. And they respond to him, which is the key. Really talented group and Deion is one of those. Bright future continuing to develop and really respect the job he’s done.
Comparison to Ashton Jeanty
12/27/2024 11:15:06 AMPlayed against Derrick Henry at Ole Miss. Taller but similar in terms of hard to get on the ground. Can stiff arm you and play with you. Like he’s up here and everyone else is trying to jump on him. But hard to say anyone like him. Have played good backs in the Big Ten. But Henry the one that comes to mind from the size piece. The thing that sticks out is how to get him to the ground the way he’s built and so low to the ground. Does so well with his balance and bouncing off tackles. Amazing how many good players have a good angle on him and have no success getting him to the ground because he has such powerful legs. His strike zone is so compressed because of how he’s built. Have to gang tackle him. Going to go down as one of the greatest they’ve ever played against.
Prep against SMU and tempo
12/27/2024 11:12:39 AMAnytime you go against elite teams that put you in conflict, it helps you. There is no magic call, but it won’t work if you’re not set and your eyes aren’t in position. Being ready for the unexpected. Extremely talented offense. Coordinator with great success his whole career. Have to be ready because it’s going to be a 60 minute battle.
Similarities to Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen
12/27/2024 11:10:35 AMHas the burst of Singleton and the power of Allen. But he’s different. Any time you have a chance to go against other elite guys it helps you. But he can do things most people can’t. Take a lot of pride in being great tacklers at Penn State, which they’ll need to be to get him down.
Ashton Jeanty
12/27/2024 11:09:11 AMHe’s special. “I don’t know if I’ve enjoyed it, but it’s been impressive watching his film… he just doesn’t go down.”
Ability to break tackles is phenomenal. Mind blowing how effective he’s been after people hit him. Just doesn’t happen in today’s game anymore. A lot of respect for what he’s accomplished and he’s a great player. Finding a way to do the thing most people can’t do, which is getting him on the ground.
