Ohio State head coach Ryan Day wasted no time trying to address the leaks that have seemingly sprung out of the OSU defense over the last couple of seasons. With as explosive as an offense as what the Buckeyes have, just having a consistent, decent defense would be enough to continue to have Ohio State playing for pretty special things. Heck, it would probably be in the College Football Playoff right now.
To plug and mud those leaks, Day has turned to former Oklahoma State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, hiring him to the same post in Columbus. All Knowles did was come in and make the Cowboys’ defense improve each of his three years in Stillwater, to the point where it was one of the best in the country last season. Oklahoma State led the nation in sacks (54) and tackles for loss (113), was No. 3 overall in yards surrendered per game (278.4), and eighth in scoring defense (16.8) in 2021.
And all of that … in a conference that has a lot of explosive offenses and looks at defense as an optional part of American football in some cases. But who is Knowles? Not the stats and bios you’ve seen. Who is he really, as a person?
Some statistics for Oklahoma State's defense this year:
– 1st in sacks (54)
– 1st in tackles for loss (113)
– 2nd in opposing 3rd down percentage (25.8%)
– 3rd in yards allowed per game (278.4)
– 4th in yards allowed per play (4.41)
– 8th in points allowed per game (16.8)— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) December 7, 2021
Good thing for you, Oklahoma State has a video on its YouTube Channel that answers that very question pretty well. And … since we’re now interested in the man charged with resurrecting OSU’s defense to a silver bullet level, we thought you might be interested as well.
Watch the below and find out what his players thought of Knowles, what kind of things he likes, and even some quirks that he has as a part of his personality.
I have to admit. I knew very little of Knowles other than what you see from the sideline and how his defense carried itself at Oklahoma State, but he seems like a genuine, yet focused and aggressive players’ coach that’s going to fit in very well on the banks of the Olentangy.
[listicle id=69292]
Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion.