Knowles would join James Franklin's Penn State staff after three seasons at Ohio State, where he won a national championship.

Penn State has lured Tom Knowles away from Ohio State. The Nittany Lions have hired Knowles to serve as their defensive coordinator.

Penn State announced Monday it had hired Jim Knowles as its defensive coordinator. According to multiple reports, Knowles reached a three-year contract with an average annual salary of $3.1 million. Knowles is a Philadelphia native. In a statement, Knowles said he was "excited for this opportunity" to join the Nittany Lions' program.

CBS Sports reports that Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles is leaving the Buckeyes to join James Franklin's staff at Penn State. Knowles is expected to be paid an average of $3.1 million over three years, according to ESPN . During Knowles' time at Ohio State, the Buckeyes ranked in the top three in total defense for two of those years.

As Ryan Day looks to hire his fourth defensive coordinator in seven seasons, here are potential candidates to replace Jim Knowles.

The Nittany Lions reportedly made the former Ohio State assistant college football's highest-paid defensive coordinator.

The Ohio State Buckeyes are standing alone at the top of the college football mountain after manhandling the field in the first-ever 12-team college football playoff in route to defeating the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the national championship.