Add Max Chadwick of Pro Football Focus to the list of analysts who are jumping onboard the Penn State hype train.
In the latest edition of the PFF College Football Show, Chadwick gave high praise to PSU’s two top coordinators.
“Penn State has the best coordinator pairing in the country,” Chadwick said.
Offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki and defensive coordinator Jim Knowles are two of the most respected coordinators in football.
Kotelnicki returns to Happy Valley following significant interest from West Virginia to become its head coach.
Penn State led the Big Ten in rushing yards per game (202.3) and ranked third in yards/game (430.2). Led by rising senior QB Drew Allar, Penn State averaged 33.1 points per game and scored over 30 points 10 times in 16 games.
PSU placed 17th in the country in rushing and return 1,000-yard backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen.
Losing Mackey Award-winning tight end Tyler Warren hurts, but Kotelnicki has three new wide receiver weapons in Kyron Hudson (USC), Devonte Ross (Troy), and Trevor Peña (Syracuse) to elevate the offense around Allar.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.Knowles led Ohio State to the No. 1 scoring defense (12.9) and No. 1 total defense (254.6 yards per game) in football last season. Ohio State allowed 15.1 first downs per matchup, second behind Indiana (14.8) out of 134 qualifiers. He signed a three-year deal worth $3.1 million per year to leave Ohio State, take on a new challenge, and help James Franklin get over the hump.
The Buckeyes were 3rd in rush defense (87.6) and pass defense (167) en route to winning a national championship.
Penn State slotted 9th in rushing (101.9) but 31st in pass defense (192.9) under Tom Allen, who left to become the defensive coordinator at Clemson.
The Nittany Lions lost star edge rusher Abdul Carter to the NFL Draft and starters Dvon J-Thomas, Kobe King, Jaylen Reed, and Jalen Kimber to the next level.
Zane Durant, Dani Dennis-Sutton, Dom DeLuca, Tony Rojas, A.J. Harris, and Zakee Wheatley all return to one of the best defenses in college football and expectations of a deep run in the CFP.
Penn State plays critical games against Oregon (Sept. 27), at UCLA (Oct. 4), at Iowa (Oct. 18), at Ohio State (Nov. 1), and against Indiana (Nov. 8) that will define the 2025 regular season.
Penn State opens the year at Beaver Stadium facing the Nevada Wolf Pack on Aug. 30.
