Manny Diaz, somehow, is not a finalist for the Broyles Award.
Diaz, Penn State’s defensive coordinator who was a semifinalist for the award given to college football’s top assistant, was not named among the five finalists on Monday.
Instead, the Broyles Award finalists are Michigan offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore, Iowa defensive coordinator Phil Parker, LSU offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock, Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein and Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo.
Diaz led a unit that ranked first in the FBS in total defense, allowing 223.3 yards per game — the lowest per game figure since Alabama’s 2011 national title-winning defense.
Penn State also ranked first nationally in yards per play (3.91) and sacks (48). The Nittany Lions were second in passing defense (153.6 yards per game) and third in scoring defense (11.4 points per game), rush defense (69.7 yards per game) and tackles for loss (101).
Diaz’s unit pitched two shutouts, including a 31-0 victory over Iowa. Parker and the Hawkeyes allowed four touchdowns in the Nittany Lions’ dominant Whiteout win in September.
Diaz, in his second season with the program, directed a defense that carried Penn State to a 10-2 record and a possible New Year’s Six bowl game. He helped develop several future NFL players — Chop Robinson, Adisa Isaac, Curtis Jacobs and Kalen King, to name a few.
Diaz, who had his own Nittanyville sign in the Beaver Stadium student section, became beloved by the fan base after James Franklin hired him ahead of the 2022 season. Miami’s loss after the Hurricanes fired Diaz as their head coach became the Nittany Lions’ gain.
Now the question is, how long will Penn State be able to hold onto Diaz? The carousel is in full effect, and Diaz will be looking to secure another head coaching opportunity.
If the right situation doesn’t arise, Penn State would love to have Diaz back for a third year.
“I do believe that Manny has done a phenomenal job of not only taking what we’ve been able to do here over 10 years, but taking it to another level,” Franklin said last week. “… Manny has done a phenomenal job. It’s been earned and appreciated across the board.”