Penn State’s previous defensive coordinator Tom Allen unexpectedly left for Clemson on Jan. 13. The ensuing 14-day stretch as Franklin searched for a replacement took plenty of turns, but the Nittany Lions' head man has always admired Knowles from afar and hoped to bring the Pennsylvania native back to the state.

Several sources tell FootballScoop that Penn State is working to finalize a deal with vaunted defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, the braintrust of Ohio State's national championship-winning defense. Per sources, the deal is expected to make Knowles the highest-paid defensive coordinator in all of college football.

Penn State football reportedly will make former Ohio State Buckeye Jim Knowles the highest-paid assistant coach in the nation.