The Clemson Insider · Aug 7, 2025
Allen’s Simplicity Allowing Defense to ‘Fly Around, Hit People’
CLEMSON — Tom Allen is bringing simplicity to the Clemson defense.
After struggling in all facets on that side of the ball last season, particularly when it came to stopping the run, Dabo Swinney made the decision to move on from Wes Goodwin, bringing in Allen from Penn State. The change has been a refreshing one, with every player on the Tigers’ defense openly embracing a new voice leading the charge.
Allen has brough with him a philosophy that places a huge emphasis on the fundamentals, which inlcudes being more gap sound, something the Tigers were not a season ago. Add in more accountability across the entire unit, and the change has been noticeable.