Do Signs Point to this internal candidate as Penn State’s next Defensive Coordinator?
Penn State Football is expected to need a new defensive coordinator for the second offseason in a row, after CBS Sports and 247Sports reported Monday that Tom Allen is expected to leave Penn State to become Clemson’s defensive coordinator.
However, after the past two defensive coordinator searches involved a wide external search, it could make a ton of sense for head coach James Franklin to promote his next defensive coordinator from within.
For the past two defensive coordinator searches, Franklin interviewed Penn State safeties coach Anthony Poindexter for the defensive coordinator job. Do signs point to Poindexter finally getting the promotion that he has sought for the past two defensive coordinator searches?
Why Anthony Poindexter is extremely qualified for the position
Anthony Poindexter already carries the co-defensive coordinator title for Penn State and has worked with both Manny Diaz and Tom Allen over the past three seasons with that tag. Poindexter has a litany of experience as a defensive coordinator or co-defensive coordinator in his career. Over his 20 season coaching career, Poindexter has carried the defensive coordinator or co-defensive coordinator tag for nine seasons.
Continuity of Defense
Another reason that Poindexter would be an ideal hire for Penn State is the continuity of defensive scheme and language for the 2025 season and beyond.
After a heartbreaking end to the 2024 season in the Orange Bowl, most of Penn State’s elite 2022 recruiting class decided to run it back for one final season in Happy Valley for 2025, to get Penn State over the hump and break into the elites after a final four appearance in the program’s first college football playoff.
Three of these playmakers, Dani Dennis-Sutton, Zane Durant, and Zakee Wheatley, all return to lead Penn State’s defense for one final season after helping the unit rank eighth in the country in 2024.
Keeping the scheme and language of the defense the same for 2025 allows these players to continue to play fast and loose in a familiar defense instead of trying to learn a new scheme in their final years on campus. These leaders are already familiar with Poindexter and have worked with him during their entire tenure on campus.
Anthony Poindexter’s elite development of players
Anthony Poindexter also has proven his ability to develop players during his tenure at Happy Valley. Under his tutelage, Penn State has sent three safeties to the NFL in the past four seasons.
Poindexter helped turn Jaquan Brisker from a JUCO prospect into a second-round pick in 2022 and Ji’Ayir Brown from a JUCO prospect to a third-round pick in 2023. In the 2025 draft, KJ Winston will also be heading to the NFL after spending three seasons under Anthony Poindexter’s leadership in Happy Valley.
Zakee Wheatley also significantly raised his NFL draft stock during Penn State’s playoff run (and all season stepping in for the injured Winston), but will return to Penn State for one more season in Happy Valley.
Signs could point to Anthony Poindexter
Its no secret that Anthony Poindexter has been a hot commodity on the coaching market outside of Happy Valley. In December 2021, Poindexter even interviewed for the head coaching position at the University of Virginia.
On Monday, Sports Illustrated’s Mike McDaniel reported that Virginia Tech had reached out to Poindexter to fill a defensive coordinator position with the Hokies. According to McDaniel, a deal between Poindexter and Virginia Tech did not come together after Penn State’s season ended after the Orange Bowl and “I think it’s safe to say we now know why.”
McDaniel further stated that he has “no idea if Poindexter is the guy or will be” but he is “ready for a play calling role in Happy Valley” and Tom Allen’s departure will “create leverage for other opportunities.”
If Poindexter passed up the same promotion at his alma mater, Virginia Tech for the chance at Penn State’s defensive coordinator position, James Franklin will need to seriously consider him for the defensive coordinator position if he wants to keep him in Happy Valley much longer.
Secondary Promotion for Dan Connor
A tangential benefit to promoting Anthony Poindexter to defensive coordinator is to open a coaching position for Dan Connor.
The Penn State legendary linebacker has been a defensive analyst and analytics coordinator for the Nittany Lions since 2022, assisting Tom Allen with relaying playcalls in 2024.
With Allen leaving the Nittany Lions for Clemson, his linebacker coach title is also an open position on the defensive staff for Penn State, which could be used to promote Dan Connor. Connor is the Penn State all-time leader in tackles and has received praise in the past from James Franklin for his bright future in coaching. Promoting both Connor and Poindexter would make sense to keep both in Happy Valley long-term.
Could it be time for James Franklin to finally promote Anthony Poindexter to defensive coordinator?
Signs are certainly lining up that way. Whether a deal comes together or James Franklin interviews external candidates first remains to be seen. There are plenty of reasons why an internal promotion for Poindexter makes sense for the Nittany Lions heading into 2025.
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- Do Signs Point to this internal candidate as Penn State’s next Defensive Coordinator? - January 14, 2025
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