Tom Allen talks facing Penn State a year after leaving the Lions: 'There are a lot of great people there'

Penn State will see a familiar face on the opposing sideline on Dec. 27 when it takes on Clemson in the Pinstripe Bowl. Tigers defensive coordinator Tom Allen, who held that role during the 2024 season in State College, is back to working on the field after previously calling plays from the coaches’ box as he did with the Lions. His current team, like his former team, expected to be somewhere else during the postseason. But, since these are the circumstances both sides are now dealing with, the 55-year-old is looking forward to taking advantage of the opportunity to see some familiar faces.

“I would say the first thought [when the matchup was announced] was just looking forward to seeing players and the coaches and staff members that will be there,” Allen said Wednesday. “Built some good relationships. I think that just sticks out the most, a lot of great people there.”

Allen will be facing a far different Penn State team from the one he left. His replacement in State College, Jim Knowles, is already at Tennessee, which means Allen’s former colleague, Anthony Poindexter, will be matching wits with Clemson offensive coordinator Garrett Riley. James Franklin is no longer the head coach, of course. And, a player whom Allen saw a lot of during practices last year, redshirt freshman quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer, will start his seventh game in place of the injured Drew Allar.

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“Obviously, you know, hard for Drew,” Allen said. “You know how hard he worked and everything he did to get ready for this season. And then, you know, Ethan Grunkemeyer’s a guy that I recruited when I was at Indiana, and then he goes to Penn State, our scout team quarterback every single day a year ago, so we got a chance to go against him every day and see him. I think he’s really good player. He’s obviously young, but he’s grown. You see that growth throughout the games this season. I think he’s very, very talented player, and has a very live arm and does a great job, pretty through his progressions, and getting the ball where he needs to get it.”

Allen will not have to deal with Penn State running back Nick Singleton. He is already out for the game. It’s unclear if classmate Kaytron Allen will suit up. He, like some of the other Lions starters for offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki’s attack outside of receiver Trebor Pena, who confirmed his plan to play on Wednesday, has not yet made their postseason plans known.

Regardless, Allen was complimentary of the talent Penn State has, opt-outs or not. And, he has great respect for interim head coach Terry Smith, with whom he shared a meeting room while planning for a College Football Playoff matchup at this time a year ago.

See the latest Nittany Lions personnel tracker from BWI here

“[Smith] played at Penn State,” Allen said. “Loves Penn State. And it’s not a surprise to me that he’s been able to do a great job. He’s been there for 12 years and is going into a new phase with the new coaching staff. So, just have seen growth in their offense and run the ball extremely well. Big, physical lineman that I know well, and the running backs, and they’re deep at tight end, and they brought in three new receivers, and so just a group that’s obviously had its challenges early, and as we have as well, and they fought through those.

“I have a lot of respect for their ability to stay the course and fight through that and finish strong, just like we’re trying to do.”