CLEMSON — A new thing is going down in Tigertown.

After recently letting go of defensive coordinator Wes Goodwin, the Clemson Tigers have signed former Penn State coach Tom Allen as their new coordinator on defense.

A monumental change, as the Tigers fell from having a top-ranked defense in 2023 to a below average unit in 2024 that struggled to stop the run.

Enter Allen, who led the Nittany Lions defense to the nation’s seventh-best unit this past season, while helping them to a school record 13 wins and a semifinal run in the College Football Playoff.

“It’s a great fit because of the similar mindset of how we want to use those guys,” Allen said Wednesday during his introductory press conference. “Obviously, a long history here of having great defensive linemen.”

Penn State is certainly no stranger to a strong defense, specifically at the defensive line. Producing talented players and run-stoppers like Micah Parsons, Chop Robinson, and the more recent Abdul Carter.

Clemson is known for the same thing, as no one has produced more NFL defensive line talent in the last 14 years than the Tigers, producing All-Pro and Pro Bowl talent such as Dexter Lawrence, Grady Jarrett and Christian Wilkins.

“To me, that’s the key, you have to stop the run,” Allen said. “You’ve got to have great defensive linemen, great linebacker play. Tremendously disciplined run fits, which we take a lot of pride in, and we’ll continue to do that here.”

Allen showed how well he can do that, stopping the run, against SMU in the opening round of the playoffs this year. In the quarterfinals, Ashton Jeanty, the nation’s leading rusher at Boise State, was held to a season-low of 3.47 yards a carry and without a touchdown.

This past season, Allen’s Nittany Lions defense finished ninth in rushing defense (101.8 ypg allowed) and seventh in yards per carry allowed (3.05).

This demonstrates Allen’s capabilities and how he can help lead a defense at Clemson.

“It’s really about going out and recruiting guys that have those physical qualities you’re looking for and then developing them,” Allen said. “Also, having a system that allows those skills to be magnified.”

Transitioning into a system under a new coach can be taxing, but Allen is ready to be all-in. His objective is to help his new players develop and succeed. Not only that, but his emphasis on recruiting the best of the best will help the Tiger defense jump up to another level.

“Everybody’s system has different ways of utilizing those kinds of guys,” he said, “so when you have a four-down structure, it allows that to be magnified. You do a lot of things with those individuals, and, based on their skill set, we’re going to be able to take advantage of that.”

Allen is going to be looking to take advantage of the talent, passion, and strength of the Clemson defense and use it to potentially earn another chance at a national championship. But for now, the team looks to the next day, a chance to learn and grow into a player and person who is at their fullest potential.