Ohio State coach makes bold statement about narrative involving Penn State DC Jim Knowles leaving Columbus
Ohio State’s National Championship win came at a cost after the season. The Buckeyes coaching staff was raided and they had multiple departures to deal with. The Buckeyes watched both coordinators Chip Kelly and Jim Knowles head elsewhere, as well as offensive line coach Justin Frye. There was no more surprising departure than Knowles taking […]
Ohio State’s National Championship win came at a cost after the season. The Buckeyes coaching staff was raided and they had multiple departures to deal with.
The Buckeyes watched both coordinators Chip Kelly and Jim Knowles head elsewhere, as well as offensive line coach Justin Frye.
There was no more surprising departure than Knowles taking a lateral job at Penn State. Ohio State hired veteran NFL coach Matt Patricia to replace Knowles. When Knowles left, there were rumors out there that there was a butting of heads internally with defensive line coach Larry Johnson. Johnson shut down that narrative recently.
“There was no conflict,” Johnson said in a recent interview. “Jim [Knowles] and I had a great relationship. I didn’t have an ultimatum (to use a four-man front). It was never that. But the story got created, which is unfair, by someone on a podcast. I guess, trying to get clicks or something.”
Rumors were out there that Johnson and Knowles didn’t agree on the usage of the defensive line. Knowles was in year No. 3 with the Buckeyes in 2024, while Johnson has been with the program since 2014 when he joined Urban Meyer’s staff. During the season, Knowles said he was comfortable with the approach of Johnson.
"I'm comfortable with whatever Coach (Larry) Johnson deems appropriate," Knowles said when asked about the defensive line rotating. "He's around those guys all the time. He manages those guys and he knows what he's doing."
Ohio State’s defensive line has long been stout under Johnson and there was no reason to change what he was doing. Jack Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau excelled big time down the stretch run of the season for the Buckeyes in the College Football Playoff.
The Buckeyes have to replace both Sawyer and Tuimoloau in 2025. Ohio State is going to rely on guys like Caden Curry, Kenyatta Jackson, Logan George, and C.J. Hicks off the EDGE.
Once and for all, Johnson puts to bed the idea that internal issues were going on between him and Knowles. The former Ohio State defensive coordinator had his eyes on returning home to Pennsylvania with the Nittany Lions.
