In-helmet communication continues to be a work in progress for Penn State football.

Defensive specialist Dan Connor has started communicating play calls for Penn State’s defense. Defensive coordinator Tom Allen remains the play caller but will no longer be on the headset mic after a disastrous defensive performance in the Nittany Lions’ first half against Bowling Green.

With new rules allowing helmet communication from coaches to players, coaches have until 15 seconds remaining on the play clock to get the play call in. James Franklin said sometimes coaches can tell players too much information during that time. However, Connor’s NFL experience helps simplify the play call for linebacker Kobe King and allows Allen to just focus on calling the game.

“I think that’s been good for us. I think that’s been good for our defense,” Franklin said Monday. “It’s been good for Kobe. It’s been good for Dan and Tom.”

The Kent State game was the first time in several years Allen called a game from the press box. Franklin said after the game he felt the box was the best place for a coordinator to call a game, and along with the relocation, came a change in headset duties.

“I think Dan has a very bright future,” Franklin said. “Dan is a unique guy. He really is. He doesn’t say a whole lot, but when he speaks, everybody listens.”

“He’s got a great perspective on college football, a great perspective on the state of Pennsylvania. He’s got great perspective on the NFL and what it takes to be successful at that level,” Franklin continued.

Penn State’s defense has allowed 285 total yards and seven points since the change two weeks ago.

This isn’t Connor’s first time working with in-helmet communication.

The 38-year-old is a Wallingford, Pennsylvania, native and played linebacker at Penn State from 2004 to 2007. Connor was named an All-American twice, won the Chuck Bednarik Award for the nation’s best defensive player his senior year, and still holds the school record for most career tackles with 419.

Connor was drafted by the Carolina Panthers at No. 74 overall in the third round in the 2008 NFL Draft and played for Carolina until 2011 when injuries began to plague his career. Connor then played for the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants for the next two years before retiring as a Panther in 2013.

Connor started his coaching career in 2014 at West Chester University and later coached at Archbishop Carroll High School and Widener University before joining the Nittany Lions in 2022.

King said Connor’s playing and coaching experience has made an impact on him and the linebacker room.

“He knows what he’s talking about and just his production, what he’s done in his past, everything we can learn from that, and guys admire him,” King said after practice last Wednesday. “He’s been a part of LBU, and he’s still a part of LBU.”

The in-helmet communication has been a big change for King, too. The new rule allows only one player on each side of the ball to use the headset during the game and King, being that player for Penn State’s defense, said hearing Allen was sometimes difficult due to his raspy and often strained voice.

But King said the switch to Connor, who played 62 games during his NFL career, has made it easier for him to relay the play to the rest of the defense.

“It’s definitely easier from this transition that they made,” King said. “Just [Allen] not being on the mic and Dan Connor having the mic and it being a different voice that’s more understandable. Not saying that coach Allen wasn’t understandable, but Dan’s a younger guy. He gets us more.”

As the season goes on, Franklin and the coaching staff will continue to work on perfecting in-helmet communication. Franklin has been transparent about the team’s strategy since fall camp and said the team will continue to improve in that area.

“I think we’re getting to a good spot now and [figuring out] what’s the best way for Penn State to do it,” Franklin said.