This offseason, the Clemson Tigers made the move to hire former Indiana head coach and Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Allen to be their new defensive coordinator. This move has brought new life to the Tigers’ defense already.
What Tom Allen Has Already Changed About Clemson’s Defense, According to Dabo Swinney
At the ACC Spring Meetings last week, Swinney chatted about Allen’s impact as the new defensive coordinator, saying:
“Tom, if you know him, you know he’s a high-energy guy…He’s a great leader of people…Tom has come in and really gelled it together from a staff standpoint.”
Swinney also mentioned how Allen has impacted recruiting, as he has attracted some very talented players.
A year after winning the ACC and making the College Football Playoff, the Tigers appear to have gotten better. If Tom Allen can continue to push his defense this summer, fans might be looking at one of the best defenses in the country.
Tom Allen is Looking to Replicate His Penn State Experience
At Penn State last season, Allen was able to lead the Nittany Lions to an outstanding season on defense.
In 2024, the Nittany Lions finished seventh in total defense (294.8 yards allowed per game), eighth in scoring defense (16.50 points allowed per game), ninth in run defense (101.9 rushing yards allowed per game), and tied-for-10th in turnovers forced (26).
Clemson finished last season ranked 69th in the FBS in total defense, so Allen’s addition has a chance to greatly help out the team.
Not only does his defensive acumen speak for itself, but as Swinney mentioned, his ability to lead is key. The 55-year-old has coached both high school and college football for close to 35 years now.
He is an embattled, former head coach who helped bring the Indiana Hoosiers back to relevancy in some ways. The former Big Ten Coach of the Year has been able to motivate and inspire players to give it their all everywhere that he has coached.
KEEP READING: 2025 Way-Too-Early College Football Top 25 Power Rankings
Now in Clemson, he will look to prepare his defense for a big season that has the chance to end with the team holding up some hardware.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
