Defensive Coordinator | Linebacker Coach Jim Knowles

New Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles will reportedly not coach in the Fiesta Bowl for Oklahoma State. https://t.co/3TMF1NPVdO

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) December 10, 2021

 

New Ohio State defensive coordinator is set to make $1.9 million per year over three years, making him one of the highest-paid assistant coaches in the country. https://t.co/G1IcDGCAJ9

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) December 10, 2021

 

The hiring of Jim Knowles is a 180 from Ryan Day's past two hires at defensive coordinator, and Film Study shows us why: https://t.co/Tt4clgbAp0

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) December 13, 2021

 

Ryan Day on Jim Knowles' impact on recruiting and evaluating talent: "Schematically, we're looking for the same type of players." Day says the defense will still look like a 4-2-5, "like we've been working towards."

 

Jim Knowles won’t be at practices before the Rose Bowl, but Ryan Day says Knowles talked to 2022 signees and will meet with the Buckeyes to get a “lay of the land” before Jan. 2. https://t.co/IHshrRQDoT

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) December 17, 2021

 

KNOWLES ALREADY TALKING TO RECRUITS
Even though newly hired Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles won’t start in an official capacity until Jan. 2, he’s already started talking to Ohio State recruits.

Five-star linebacker signee C.J. Hicks told Eleven Warriors on Dec. 15 he’s already talked to Knowles multiple times and has been watching Oklahoma State film to get a feel for Knowles’ defensive scheme.

“They kind of run a similar defense to (my high school), so it’s not that much different, just different terminology,” Hicks said. “He’s a good coach and I like him. I enjoy him a lot.”

Fellow linebacker signee Gabe Powers also told Eleven Warriors last week that he had talked with Knowles and got a good first impression of the new defensive coordinator.

“Great guy. Just talked to him for a little bit. Love him, ready to get coached by him,” Powers said.

Three-star linebacker S’Maje Burrell, who was recently offered by OSU earlier this month, also told Eleven Warriors he has spoken with Knowles.

Ryan Day told reporters on Dec. 15 that he personally answered questions from recruits about Knowles and the incoming defensive coordinator was able to answer some questions from players directly.

“Jim spoke with a bunch of them, and any of them who had any questions, he was there for them,” Day said. “The structure of what we’re going to do isn’t going to (change much), but a lot of those guys, we encouraged them to watch the film at Oklahoma State and see how they’re doing things and ask questions. We’re going to do the best we can to keep the coaching staff that’s there now in place and the same, but we’ll have discussions now about what’s best moving forward and that’s just how we did it through the process. I think at the end of the day recruits understand they want to come to Ohio State and be part of this culture. So I think the conversations were good and the guys that spoke with Jim were very excited.”

Another incoming signee who asked Day about the Knowles hire was five-star safety/linebacker Sonny Styles. While Styles had not heard from Knowles as of Dec. 15, he did approve of the hire.

“I think he did a great job at Oklahoma State,” Styles said. “I’m looking forward to being coached by him and learning a lot from him.”

 

Ohio State football players give first impressions of newly hired defensive coordinator Jim Knowles https://t.co/88eb7Sm61Y

— BuckeyeXtra.com (@BuckeyeXtra) December 27, 2021

 

On defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, Day says he had no input on Rose Bowl preparations, and that the Buckeyes will "start fresh" on Jan. 2. Day says he's still figuring what the mix of coaches will be on defense moving forward.

 

New Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles has been named 2021 Defensive Coordinator of the Year by Football Scoop for his Oklahoma State defense. https://t.co/Iomyn5Zewk

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) January 4, 2022

 

Jim Knowles The Ohio State University Defensive Coordinator will be speaking at the OHSFCA Clinic!!!

You can Register Now and see the most up to date list of speakers at https://t.co/GQ99quY4yF pic.twitter.com/7WK63YWvis

— OHSFCA (@ohsfca) January 12, 2022

 

• On new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, Day says everyone he talked to about him during the hiring process had "phenomenal" things to say. Day says "when this thing is running well, there's a head coach of the offense, head coach of recruiting, head coach of the defense."
• Day says Knowles will try to maximize the abilities of Ohio State's players while also implementing his defensive scheme.

 

• Day on hiring Jim Knowles: "I thank Gene Smith for allowing me to go and get the best." Day says Smith "didn't ask any questions" during the process.

 

Jim Knowles acknowledged that he’ll be expected to achieve more immediate results at Ohio State than at Oklahoma State: “It's not lost on me that I don't have four years here. This program is ready to win every single game right now. And we have to get the defense to that level.”

— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) January 31, 2022

 

Ryan Day said Jim Knowles wanted Ohio State to have two secondary coaches working together so he could spend more time working with the linebackers and the defensive front.

 

Ryan Day says he will continue to run the offense. He wants Jim Knowles to be the “head coach of the defense.”

 

The urgency of Jim Knowles’ defensive turnaround at Ohio State: ‘It’s not lost on me that I don’t have four years here’

via ⁦@TheAthleticCFB⁩ https://t.co/AkBFJhLXye

— Bill Landis (@BillLandis25) February 1, 2022

 

The "mad scientist" has lots of work to do with the Buckeyes' defense. https://t.co/IFUW44dvo6

— Athlon Sports (@AthlonSports) January 31, 2022

 

New OSU defensive coordinator Jim Knowles had never met Urban Meyer until Sunday. Their conversation was brief. In fact, Knowles said it consisted of two sentences. The second one was what mattered. https://t.co/YPPQXKWEJu

— Bill Rabinowitz 🗞 (@brdispatch) February 2, 2022