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Tom Allen officially leaves Penn State for Clemson; how much are the Tigers paying him?

Greg Pickelby:Greg Pickelabout 14 hours

GregPickel

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Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Allen. (Credit: Sean Fitz | Blue White Illustrated)

Penn State is officially losing defensive coordinator Tom Allen to Clemson. The Tigers announced that they are hiring him on Tuesday. It officially ends his one-year stint in State College. His son, Nittany Lions analyst Thomas Allen, will leave and join his father at the ACC school, as well. Analysts Jeffrey McInerney and Zach Terrill are both also not returning to Penn State. They came to town with Allen. It’s in clear if they will now follow him to the ACC school, as well.

According to Jon Blau of The Post and Courier, The Tigers are giving Allen a three-year deal worth $6 million. It starts at $1.9 million for the 2025 season and goes up from there.

“I’m thankful for the opportunity that Coach Swinney has given me to lead the defense. I have admired him from afar for years and look forward to working for him and with his defensive staff,” Allen said in a released statement. “I remain incredibly grateful for the opportunity James Franklin gave me to be part of Penn State football, a championship-caliber program in every respect that will continue to compete at the highest level.

“My family is very important to me and this move provides us the unique opportunity of living close to our daughters. Our children have made countless sacrifices throughout the years in the coaching profession and this move brings us together.”

Penn State head coach James Franklin is now seeking his fourth defensive coordinator in five years. Allen followed Manny Diaz, who left for Duke two seasons after he replaced Brent Pry, who left to be the head coach at Virginia Tech. Penn State finished seventh in total defense, eighth in scoring defense, fifth in sacks, and 10th in turnovers gained during Allen’s lone season in blue and white.

More: Penn State defensive coordinator hot board: Top candidates to fill vacancy

The Lions are now in offseason mode

The Penn State offseason obviously started much sooner than the Lions hoped it would. The 2024 season officially ended on Jan. 9 when Notre Dame took out head coach James Franklin’s team 27-24 in the Orange Bowl. It marks the longest season the program has ever played, both from a date and a number of games played perspective.

“When you’re talking about a 16-week season now that we have in college football, there’s opportunities to bounce back from setbacks,” Franklin said in Miami. “Kept getting better as the season went on, got better, especially the second half of the season. Some big wins, some adversity that we were able to overcome, and the guys just kept battling.

“I could not be prouder of the young men in that locker room and the staff and how they represented Penn State and the Big Ten all season long. They deserve a ton of credit. Obviously we would have loved an opportunity to get a win tonight and then be able to watch the game tomorrow night and figure out who our next opponent was going to be. But again, very, very proud of our guys.”

Penn State is basically at a wash from a numbers perspective as it relates to the number of additions versus defections. It knew before the season ended that safety KJ Winston Jr., who missed most of the season due to injury, would be entering the 2025 NFL Draft. Then, one day after the slate of games ended, junior defensive end Abdul Carter joined him in declaring for the draft. The transfer portal window for undergraduate Penn State players is open through Tuesday. Additionally, underclassmen who wish to declare for the NFL Draft must do so by Jan. 15.

On the positive news front, Penn State knows that quarterback Drew Allar, running backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen, defensive tackle Zane Durant, center Nick Dawkins, and defensive ends Dani Dennis-Sutton and Smith Vilbert are all returning in 2025 along with safety Zakee Wheatley. All were eligible to go to the Draft, of course. But, each elected not to.

Cornerback Cam Miller intends to enter the portal. Receivers Mehki Flowers, Omari Evans, and Tyler Johnson already have. And, safety Tyrece Mills is no longer with the program. He will enter the NCAA transfer portal, too.

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