Respect but not a lot of communication between Day, Knowles

Respect but not a lot of communication between Day, Knowles By Jim Naveau jnaveau@limanews.com COLUMBUS – Defensive coordinator Jim Knowles was absent from Ohio State's celebration of its national championship in Ohio Stadium in January and soon after that he was no longer on the Buckeyes' coaching staff after accepting an offer to fill that same role at Penn State. Ohio State reportedly was ready to make Knowles the highest paid defensive coordinator in college football but Penn State exceeded that offer with a deal that included a base salary of $3.1 million a year and the possibility of another $1.1 million in bonuses. Saturday, Knowles will be back at Ohio Stadium when No. 1 Ohio State plays Penn State. "It was abrupt but we certainly respect the work he did when he was here," Day said about Knowles' departure on Tuesday at his weekly press conference. "Like any relationship, when it breaks off sometimes it's good, sometimes it's bad. There really hasn't been much communication. He did a great job when he was here, helped us win a national championship and kind of left it at that." Asked if Knowles signing with a Big Ten rival made the impact of his decision feel even bigger, Day said, "I think it goes back to how college football has changed. You try not to take those things personal but we are human." Ohio State led major college football in scoring defense last year and is No.1 nationally this year in points allowed per game at 5.9 and yards given up at 216.9 in Matt Patricia's first season as defensive coordinator. Day said OSU was "in a tough spot" when it began its search to replace Knowles because it was late in the football hiring cycle for the 2025 season. "But the fact Matt was available, it ended up being a home run," he said. Looking ahead to what kind of defensive game plan Knowles might create for Saturday's game, Day said, "He will definitely have some curve balls, he always does. So we have to identify what those are early on and go from there." NOTES THORPE SEMIFINALIST: Safety Caleb Downs is one of 15 semifinalists for the Thorpe Award which honors the player chosen as the best defensive back in college football. Downs was one of three finalists for this award last season when it was won by Texas cornerback Jahdae Barron. NO OFFER: Penn State quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer was a 4-star recruit in the 2024 recruiting class who set career records for passing yards and touchdown passes at Olentangy High School in southern Delaware County. He made several visits to Ohio State and talked with OSU coaches but did not receive an offer from the Buckeyes. OSU signed quarterbacks Julian Sayin and Air Noland in 2024. Grunkemeyer's offers included Penn State, Indiana, Northwestern, Minnesota, Boston College, Clemson and others. RUN GAME GOOD, NOT GREAT: Ohio State has rushed for fewer than 100 yards in two games and for fewer than 150 yards in two other games. Day said, "Our execution level has to increase across the board. I think it has been good. Has it been great? No. It has room to get get better. That's everybody who is involved, including the quarterbacks, the running backs, the receivers and, obviously, the offensive line." PADILLA TOP SIX: There has been speculation Josh Padilla might take over as the starting right guard, a position Tegra Tshabola has held the first seven games of the season, but Day would go only as far as saying Padilla is one of OSU's top six offensive linemen. "Josh Padilla has continued to practice well. When he has gotten into games he has played well. He has played his way into one of our top six players (on the offensive line)," he said.