How Tom Allen plans to overcome Clemson defense opt-outs, injuries in Pinstripe Bowl
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CLEMSON — Clemson football will be down 27 players in the Pinstripe Bowl, including six starters on defense.
Four Tigers opted out: cornerback Avieon Terrell, edge rusher T.J. Parker and defensive tackles Peter Woods and DeMonte Capehart. One is out with an injury: linebacker Wade Woodaz, and safety Khalil Barnes entered the transfer portal.
Key depth players will be out, too, including edge rusher Jahiem Lawson and defensive tackle Amare Adams, but Clemson first-year defensive coordinator Tom Allen isn’t making any excuses.
“It’s just part of the situation we find ourselves in, and you just focus on the guys that are there,” Allen said Dec. 17. “What a great opportunity for them — all these practices they’ve been able to have and all the reps that they’ve been getting, and we expect them to step up and play to the standard of our defense.”
Clemson (7-5) faces Penn State (6-6) on Dec. 27 (noon ET, ABC) at Yankee Stadium in New York.
With opt-outs and injuries, Allen has pointed to plenty of young or inexperienced players who have impressed him during bowl practices. Those include edge rushers Darien Mayo and Ari Watford, linebacker Kobe McCloud, C.J. Kubah-Taylor and Fletcher Cothran and defensive backs Corian Gipson, Branden Strozier and Jakarrion Kenan.
Still, Clemson will have to deal with Penn State running back Kaytron Allen, who is seventh nationally in rushing yards with 1,303 and has rushed for over 150 yards and scored a touchdown in his final three games. The Tigers have thrived against the run this season, ranking 15th nationally (102.8) and not allowing any 200-yard rushing games, but that was with fully stocked defense.
Allen is confident weeks of prep and players developing will lead to stifling Penn State’s offense.
“You better have a plan that’s flexible enough to adapt on game day to what you’re going to get, based on who ends up playing or not playing or how much they play or don’t play,” Allen said. “So, I think the system has to be flexible enough, and hopefully, you get to this stage of the season, you have enough bullets in your arsenal, you’ll be able to adapt and adjust.”
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney hired Allen away from Penn State with an emphasis to fix the Tigers’ run defense. Clemson ranked 84th nationally in run defense (160.6 yards), including allowing five 200-yard-plus rushing games, last season.
Allen will also face the Nittany Lions for the first time since leaving Penn State’s defensive-coordinator job in January to take the same role at Clemson. He was integral in Penn State’s run to the semifinals last season, being a semifinalist for the Broyles Award, given to the nation’s top assistant, and helping the Nittany Lions have a top-10 finish in scoring defense and total defense.
Allen worked under James Franklin, who Penn State fired in October and Virginia Tech hired as its coach in November. Despite Franklin not being there, he has familiarity with coaches and players on the Nittany Lions.
“I was only there for a year but still built some good relationships,” Allen said. “I think that’s what sticks out the most. A lot of great people there.”
Tom Allen on Indiana’s success under Curt Cignetti
Allen coached Indiana from 2017-23, having a 33-49 record and reaching bowl eligibility three times.
Curt Cignetti replaced Allen after he was fired, leading the Hoosiers to the College Football Playoff in 2024 and 2025. Indiana is the top seed in the CFP this year, having a 13-0 record for the first time in program history, and will play in the Rose Bowl against Oklahoma or Alabama on Jan. 1.
Allen applauded how his former school is performing under Cignetti.
“Just really, really happy for those guys and just really happy that they’ve chosen to invest in football,” Allen said. “That’s something they know they needed to do. I said that when I left, and they had not done that in the past at the level that was necessary, and it’s been awesome to see them recognize that and invest and be able to see them be rewarded for that.”
Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at DCarter@usatodayco.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Clemson football DC Tom Allen on opt-outs, injuries for Pinstripe Bowl
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