Penn State Football Faces a Defensive Reboot in 2024

The Nittany Lions fielded a championship defense in 2023. Significant change is coming in 2024.

After two successful years as Penn State's defensive coordinator, Manny Diaz is the head coach at Duke. Six starters from the 2023 Penn State defense have entered the 2024 NFL Draft. Three of Penn State’s six noteworthy transfer portal additions are play defense. And both starting defensive tackles will use extra years of eligibility in 2024.

This offseason has been headline-rich for the Nittany Lions defense in a short time. And new coordinator Tom Allen faces a challenge to reprise one of the nation’s best units in 2023. Let’s dive into the biggest questions facing the Lions defense ahead of spring ball.

RELATED: Penn State's offense confronts a series of offseason challenges

How will Tom Allen be different from Manny Diaz?

Diaz’s front seven hummed in 2023. Penn State led the country in  sacks (49) and tackles for loss (111) and helped allow the fewest rushing yards per game (75.54). Having long been respected for his creative and aggressive blitz packages, Diaz implemented tons of unique looks that helped those numbers — like the third-down “Prowler” package that had two different iterations over the past two years.

It didn’t hurt that Diaz had players like Ji’Ayir Brown, Adisa Isaac and Chop Robinson to build those schemes around. Isaac and Robinson combined for 11.5 sacks and 23.5 tackles for loss in 2023, even after Robinson missed two-plus games. Allen's defense, especially off those edges, will look quite different.

Further, it has been seven seasons since Allen last served as a defensive coordinator, though James Franklin insisted that isn't a concern. Plenty of questions surround Allen's defense, but one stands out: Can Allen generate the edge success that Diaz did?

Dani Dennis-Sutton is a pretty safe bet to produce in 2024 after 3.5 sacks and 6 tackles for loss in 2023 as a semi-starter at defensive end. The room is far less proven beyond him, though. Penn State needs younger players like Jameial Lyons and veterans like Amin Vanover to step up. Smith Vilbert's return from an injury for a sixth season adds promise to the pass rush as well.

Are A.J. Harris and Jalen Kimber plug-and-play talents?

Penn State will change substantially at cornerback in 2024, which the Peach Bowl underscored. Penn State's top three corners (Kalen King, Johnny Dixon and Daequan Hardy) are off to the NFL, with Hardy's position perhaps being the most intriguing to watch. But Allen also needs bona fide starters on the outside to play the heavy man-to-man style Franklin has employed for years.

Cam Miller has measurables and experience heading into his third year, while freshmen Zion Tracy and Elliot Washington II have the measurables but lack the necessary experience after burning their redshirts in 2023. The group certainly could take a major step forward, but there’s obvious growth needed from pieces already on the roster.

Therefore, Franklin turned to the transfer portal, bringing in former 5-star prospect A.J. Harris from Georgia and redshirt senior Jalen Kimber, who spent time at Florida and Georgia. Harris is still young but has elite potential, while Kimber has significant SEC experience. The key to Penn State’s 2024 secondary will hinge on whether they can come close to replicating what King and Dixon were in 2023.

What happens at linebacker?

Stalwart linebacker Curtis Jacobs is headed to the NFL after a really nice career in Happy Valley, leaving a gap on the field and in a leadership position. Jacobs has been among Penn State’s leading tacklers for years, was extremely athletic and could tackle in the open field as well as anyone. Two players seem primed to step into Jacobs’ role: Tony Rojas and Keon Wylie.

Rojas burned his redshirt mostly playing special teams, though he had a nose for the football when seeing action late in blowouts. The freshman finished with 22 tackles (3.5 for loss), one interception and one forced fumble in limited action. Rojas has a chance to be a major factor on the 2024 defense.

Wylie often has been overshadowed by the excellence of fellow outside linebacker Abdul Carter. After playing in all 13 games this year, Wylie started to see the field more often in blitz-heavy packages, ending with three sacks and five tackles for loss. But if Wylie emerges, Allen might consider playing Carter off the edge more often next season. 

What happens at nickel corner?

Before Hardy broke out with two punt-return touchdowns in one game, his value on Penn State’s defense often was overlooked. He played primarily as the nickel cornerback with some snaps outside. Hardy finished his career with five interceptions, one interception returned for a touchdown and 25 passes break-ups.

Assuming Allen and Franklin decide to employ five defensive backs often again, Penn State needs to fill Hardy’s role. Perhaps Washington, who was part of a running competition (literally) with Hardy last season as the fastest player on the roster, could step in. This remains one of the more subtly important spots on Penn State's defense.

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Max Ralph is a Penn State senior studying Broadcast Journalism with minors in sports studies and Japanese. He previously covered Penn State football for two years with The Daily Collegian and has reported with the Associated Press and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Follow him on Twitter (X) @maxralph_ and Instagram @mralph_59.

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