UNIVERSITY PARK — James Franklin often talks about Penn State being “bold and aggressive.”

He pulled off such a move on Sunday with the report that Jim Knowles was being hired as the Nittany Lions’ defensive coordinator and rewarding him with a three-year contract worth $3.1 annually.

The deal will reportedly make Knowles, previously the defensive coordinator at Ohio State, the highest paid assistant coach in college football.

Neither Penn State, Ohio State or Knowles confirmed the news by Sunday evening, but it was being widely reported by national media that cover college football.

ESPN college football writer Pete Thamel was the first to break the news.

Knowles, 59, spent the last three years in Columbus after previously serving as DC at Oklahoma State from 2018-21. He was the defensive coordinator at Duke from 2010-17 and also did stints at Ole Miss, along with Ole Miss, Western Michigan and Cornell, his alma mater.

Knowles has roots in Pennsylvania, having attended high school at St. Joe’s Prep.

The Penn State position became open after Tom Allen accepted the defensive coordinator job at Clemson after one season in Happy Valley.

Allen made $1.5 million at PSU last year and was scheduled to make $1.6 million in 2025.

Knowles reportedly was paid $2.2 million by the Buckeyes last year with bonuses taking him to $3 million. He was also drawing interest from Oklahoma and Notre Dame.

Ohio State led the nation in total defense this past season, allowing 251.8 yards per game and an average of 161.1 passing yards and the Buckeyes won the national title.

The Bucks ranked third in rushing defense, giving up 89.9 yards per game. Knowles’ unit finished No. 1 among FBS teams in scoring defense, averaging 12.2 points allowed.

The Nittany Lions ranked No. 8 nationally in scoring defense under Allen, giving up 16.5 points per game.

PSU returns several defensive standouts including edge rusher Dani Dennis-Sutton, tackle Zane Durant and safety Zakee Wheatley.

Penn State visits Ohio State on Nov. 1 in what will be a matchup of two preseason top-five teams.

Fox analyst Joel Klatt has already slotted Penn State No. 1 in his preseason Top 25.

Among the Lions’ offensive returnees are quarterback Drew Allar and running backs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen.