An ESPN analyst recently weighed in on the type of impact Tom Allen could have for Clemson as its new defensive coordinator.
“It’ll be a huge impact for Clemson,” said ESPN’s Sam Acho, the former University of Texas and NFL linebacker.
Acho brought up Clemson’s defensive struggles during the 2024 season, particularly down the stretch when the Tigers allowed 288 rushing yards vs. The Citadel and 267 rushing yards in the regular season finale vs. South Carolina, before yielding a season-high 292 rushing yards in the College Football Playoff first-round loss to Texas.
“I got a chance to call Clemson’s last regular season game, Clemson vs. South Carolina,” Acho said. “And even calling that game, they got beat because of their defense. They weren’t able to tackle. Even studying that game, they were giving up big runs vs. teams like The Citadel.”
Allen, whose hire was officially announced on Jan. 14, joins Clemson with more than three decades of coaching experience, including seven seasons (2017-23) as Indiana’s head coach. His head coaching tenure with the Hoosiers included the 2020 campaign for which he earned AFCA National Coach of the Year as well as Big Ten Hayes-Schembechler Coach of the Year honors.
Most recently, Allen served as the defensive coordinator/linebackers coach at Penn State in 2024, when the Nittany Lions finished seventh in the nation in total defense (294.8 yards per game) and eighth in the nation in scoring defense (16.5 points per game). Allen’s unit also finished second nationally in tackles for loss (119) and fifth in sacks (44).
Allen is now tasked with improving a Clemson defense that, in 2024 under former defensive coordinator Wes Goodwin, ranked tied for 49th in the FBS in points per game allowed (23.4), tied for 53rd in passing yards per game (213.5), tied for 64th in yards per play (5.6) and 85th in rushing yards per game (160.6).
“Offensively, Clemson is trending upward. But defensively, they had a big-time struggle over the last, really, year and you could argue several years,” Acho said. “Clemson is a team historically that was known for their defense and their offensive weapons. The defense has, for lack of better terms, disintegrated.
“Now, Tom Allen will bring a huge surge into that defense. He was great when he was coaching at Indiana. He was also great this last year at Penn State, giving them one of the top defenses.”
Acho added that Allen, 54, will have no shortage of talent to work with as he takes over at the helm of the Tiger defense.
“There’s so much talent at Clemson,” Acho said. “Guys like (rising sophomore linebacker) Sammy Brown, a five-star recruit, and (rising junior cornerback) Avieon Terrell… now all of a sudden they get their coordinator.”