· Manny Diaz was hired as Penn State’s defensive coordinator and linebackers coach on Dec. 11, 2021. · Diaz, who has 24 years of collegiate coaching experience, including three as a head coach and 13 as a defensive coordinator, joined the Nittany Lions after spending six seasons (2016-21) at the University of Miami, including three seasons as head coach (2019-21), where he coached the Hurricanes to three bowl appearances. · Penn State has limited seven opponents to less than 100 rushing yards this season (Purdue, 61; Ohio, 99; Central Michigan, 88; Northwestern, 31; Ohio State, 98; Indiana, 65; Maryland, 60) · The Nittany Lions have held four teams to under 50 percent pass completions this season (Ohio, 42.5; Northwestern, 40.5; Minnesota, 40.9; Maryland, 47.8). · Penn State had six or more sacks in back-to-back games (6, at Indiana; 7, Maryland) for the first time since 2007 when it had two consecutive games with six or more sacks(7, Florida International, 9/1; 6, Notre Dame, 9/8).
· Defenses under Diaz have been a force behind the line of scrimmage. From 2018-20, Miami’s defense featured at least one player with 15 tackles for loss: Jaelan Phillips (15.5) in 2020, Gregory Rousseau (19.5) in 2019 and Jonathan Garvin (18.0) in 2018. · During Diaz’s tenure in Miami, the Hurricanes ranked in the top 10 nationally in tackles for loss each year. Miami was No. 9 in 2021 (7.75 per game), No. 4 in 2020 (8.6), No. 4 in 2019 (8.3), No. 1 in 2018 (10.5), No. 4 in 2017 (8.5) and No. 5 in 2016 (8.3).
