Penn State and James Franklin are stepping into a new era with their defensive mastermind Jim Knowles. The former Ohio State coordinator brought a new ray of hope to the already bolstered Nittany Lions defense. It’s a homecoming for Knowles, as he belonged to Philadelphia and grew up as a Penn State fan all along. More stuff is coming out about why Knowles left the Buckeyes, but a factor is also to work with James Franklin. You won’t come to a program if you dislike the head coach. Knowles won’t be the first person to have that admiration for Franklin. The head coach, in his tenure at the Lions, has focused on building a culture. “It seems like a real community of people working together,” Knowles said in awe. Coach Franklin once again stands firm on this plaudit.

As the academic year is wrapping up, Penn State finds a way to commemorate its alumni, including a group of student-athletes. Out of a strong 199 troops, 166 walked across the stage during the spring commencement. The rest of the 33 had already earned their degrees in the winter. Franklin didn’t hold back his emotion and gratitude toward all the players while taking pictures and sharing moments of the night with his real assets. Oh, he had an awe-inspiring announcement to drop as well that made the hall resonate with the loud sound of applause in moments.

“The thing that made Penn State special and always has been our people, and that includes our players,” Franklin voiced his love and care for the kids by calling them on stage. “I would like all the current players to come up here, and all the lettermen to come up here. Because there is a bunch of you guys, I want you to be recognized.” After the players flocked up, the coach exchanged hugs with a few of them, signifying a timeless air of fraternity.

“What makes Penn State special is all of you and it’s all of these young men behind me and as you guys know better than me, the sense of community that we have as a program is like nothing else, ” Franklin took a little pause and spilled, “I’m very proud of the fact that I am going to year 12 at the Penn State as the second longest-tenured head coach in the Big 10.”

No matter how much you throw dirt at him for the big match flop theory, the 12th year in a single program speaks volumes. Franklin’s records in the big games are not something history will bow down to. But his consistency in the efforts to build a culture and a community that can thrive together in the face of challenges is an unwavering asset. It becomes most significant in the ever-changing NIL era.

In a world where everybody has money to flip the players, having trust that can transcend the paycheck is crucial. Franklin continued dishing out the thank-you note to all who matter, “That is important because of the sense of community that we have. All the NFL players, current players, it is phenomenal. We appreciate all the young men and what they have given to our program.”

“Couldn’t be more proud of these #PennState GRADUATES,” Franklin tweeted on Saturday. “Congratulations on this major accomplishment, you earned it! #WeAreProud.” He has, however, more reason to gloat. The university’s student-athletes posted a 93% NCAA Graduation Success Rate, tying the school’s record. Really, a moment worth taking the hat off for the school.

Well, it’s not just the poetic promulgation of Coach Franklin that had the fans buzzing. National analysts, with all their doubts and faith, bet their dime on the Big 10 giant.

National analyst brews big hope for coach Franklin’s 12th year at Pennsylvania

Drew Allar, entering his third season, can prove to be a game-changer for the Nittany Lions. Despite some drawbacks exposed in the big-time showdowns, Allar garnered strong praise as one of the best quarterbacks in the nation. The Lions have several returners, including Kaytron Allen, Nick Singleton, and more. So, the ceiling is higher. At least, the trend of the champions says so.

“They are following the blueprint of the teams that just won the national championship,” Joel Klatt said. “This is why I am putting them in this spot. You look at what Michigan did in 2023, you look at what Ohio State did in 2024. Both of those teams had a core group of veteran players who stayed. They stayed, and they won a championship.”

Franklin, however, going far beyond the win and loss, keeps thinking about the individual growth and future of his guys. In a candid chat with Adam Breneman, Franklin said, “I care so much about the kids, and their journey, and their experience, and what — I know you know this better than anybody — the Penn State experience can do for them over this next 50 years.” A coach? A guardian angel? You choose the title that best fits Coach Franklin while the Irish continue moving on their path toward the trophy.