STATE COLLEGE – Penn State’s James Franklin, now in his 12th season leading the program, suddenly finds himself in the market for a new running backs coach. Franklin, speaking Tuesday afternoon at a media availability at Pegula Ice Arena, confirmed Ja’Juan Seider “has moved on” to take the same job with Notre Dame.

Ja’Juan Seider’s former boss James Franklin was very complimentary of his former RB coach as he heads off for the same position at Notre Dame.

In the days after the Orange Bowl, Penn State’s players gathered on campus for a team meeting. At that point in January, they found out defensive coordinator Tom Allen was leaving for Clemson and that James Franklin would do his part to hire the best candidate he could.

Jim Knowles had been on James Franklin’s wish list as a potential Penn State defensive coordinator since at least 2021. But not until after Ohio State’s win over Notre Dame in the national title game last month did Franklin think the Nittany Lions’ chances of hiring Knowles away from the Buckeyes were legitimate.