Penn State category, Page 15
Penn State’s DaKaari Nelson playing physical after camp switch to linebacker
It’s not often you see position changes once camp has started and a team gets this close to its season opener, but for a guy such as Penn State safety-turned-linebacker DaKaari Nelson, it made a lot of sense. Nelson, a former highly regarded four-star prospect from Alabama, has the frame...
Penn State OC Andy Kotelnicki balances creating big plays with continuing to limit turnovers
Offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki is tasked with bringing the big play back to Penn State. But not all of Penn State’s 2023 numbers need to change. James Franklin was thrilled with the way his offense protected the ball. PSU ranked No. 2 in FBS in turnover margin, finishing at plus-16....
You may not fully believe what Carmelo Anthony said about his U.S. gold medals. But wouldn’t you like to?
The necessary disclosure for this column is that, as a Syracuse University graduate, I’m predisposed to stick up for Carmelo Anthony on just about all fronts. He arrived on campus a few years after I graduated and finally won an NCAA basketball championship for our school during his freshman season....
Penn State student killed during hazing incident will be focus of A&E series’ next episode
A series on A&E will feature an episode dedicated to a hazing at Penn State which left one student dead. Episode three of “Houses Of Horror: Secrets of College Greek Life” will focus on the story of Tim Piazza, a 19-year-old freshman at Penn State who was pledging at the...
Penn State notebook: Despite injury, North Allegheny’s Khalil Dinkins expected to play key role in offense
James Franklin offered some positive news on Penn State’s wide receiver room a few days back. A couple of fourth-year players have emerged in August. There have been other interesting revelations with the West Virginia opener two weeks away. Here are a few updates on the progress of Penn State...
Returning DB Cam Miller confident in Penn State’s new-look cornerback room
Cam Miller had to wait 24 games to make his first start at Penn State. His next start could be only a couple weeks away. The Nittany Lions will unveil a revamped cornerback room against West Virginia on Aug. 31 in Morgantown. Johnny Dixon, Kalen King and Daequan Hardy, Penn...
Penn State WR Julian Fleming embraces leadership role after transfer from Ohio State
STATE COLLEGE — For Julian Fleming, this feels somewhat like a dream come true, even though he could have lived it for the past half decade had he chosen to do so. While the recruiting process out of high school gave him an opportunity to pursue another set of goals,...
More big hits expected from Penn State defensive tackle Zane Durant in 2024
If you ask Zane Durant about last year’s Northwestern game, there’s a good chance he will smile. Penn State’s third-year defensive tackle produced arguably his best game, collecting three tackles for loss. One of them, a sack of Northwestern quarterback Ben Bryant early in the fourth quarter, ended any hope...
Veteran wide receivers step up for Penn State with Central Catholic’s Peter Gonzalez sidelined
STATE COLLEGE — The news is mostly good concerning Penn State’s wide receiver room with the Nittany Lions a little more than two weeks away from their season opener at West Virginia. Mostly. Coach James Franklin singled out the play of a couple of fourth-year wideouts following the team’s practice...
Penn State freshman lineman Cooper Cousins pushing for early playing time
Penn State coach James Franklin, as measured as he always tries to be when discussing young players, had a hard time holding back when asked about freshman offensive lineman Cooper Cousins. Cousins — a 6-6, 320-pound behemoth and former No. 1 prospect in Pennsylvania — has impressed at just about...
Safety Kevin Winston Jr. ‘totally locked in’ after leading Penn State in tackles last season
As the game continues to slow down for Kevin Winston Jr., it is fair to wonder how much better the Penn State safety can get in his second year as a starter. Year 1 was impressive. Now a third-year junior, Winston led the Nittany Lions in tackles with 61 (34...
Georgia No. 1 in preseason AP Top 25, Ohio State No. 2 as expanded SEC, Big Ten flex muscles
Georgia is No. 1 in The Associated Press Top 25 preseason college football poll for the second straight year as the superconference era begins with the SEC and Big Ten dominating the top 10 of the rankings. The Bulldogs received 46 first-place votes and 1,532 points in the Top 25...
Former Penn State wrestler Zain Retherford withdraws from Paris Olympics
Penn State alum and U.S. Olympian Zain Retherford has withdrawn from competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics as a “medical precaution,” ending his opportunity at a bronze medal, USA Wrestling announced Saturday. According to USA Wrestling, the former Nittany Lion suffered a concussion while training prior to the Olympics and...
Penn State DE Dani Dennis-Sutton ready to fulfill NFL potential
Tom Allen was familiar with Dani Dennis-Sutton well before becoming Penn State’s defensive coordinator. Allen, the former head coach at Indiana, watched from the visitors’ sideline at Beaver Stadium last fall as the defensive end put an end to the Hoosiers’ upset bid. Indiana was tied with Penn State late...
Deep group of defensive tackles looks promising for Penn State
Penn State should have strength in numbers at the defensive tackle position in the fall. At the very least. The Nittany Lions’ top edge rushers, led by Abdul Carter and Dani Dennis-Sutton, are the headliners and deservedly so. Both players, should they leave PSU after 2024, are projected to be...
Penn State’s battle at right tackle taking shape
With Penn State fully underway in fall camp now, position battles will be key to watch before the Nittany Lions travel to Morgantown, W.Va., at the end of the month. Coach James Franklin provided an update at an important spot Thursday night. Redshirt freshman Anthony Donkoh and redshirt junior Nolan...
How will QB Beau Pribula’s ‘elite athleticism’ be utilized in Penn State’s new offense?
There’s strong belief within the Lasch Building that Andy Kotelnicki and his creative scheme will reinvigorate a Penn State offense that became stale and, at times, ineffective last year. Drew Allar had a “good, but not good enough” first season as the starting quarterback. Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen weren’t...
Greensburg Central Catholic baseball player Anthony Grippo commits to Penn State
A new NCAA recruiting rule kicked in earlier this month. It prevents college coaches from communicating with prospects until Aug. 1 of their junior year. When that day rolled around for Anthony Grippo, his cellphone “blew up.” The rising junior from Greensburg Central Catholic had more than 20 calls or...
Penn State coaches, teammates continue to praise Zakee Wheatley, who has been the talk of the offseason
Penn State’s coaching staff identified Zakee Wheatley as a potential playmaker prior to the 2022 season. The reserve safety intercepted a pair of passes and forced a fumble that year, but his opportunities were minimal last season. This year is different. The breakout opportunity is real for the fourth-year Nittany...
‘It’s been a lot more efficient’: Penn State coaches, players share reaction to in-helmet communication
College football teams’ spring games are typically defined by motifs relating to new things, whether it’s new players, coaching staffs, stadiums, etc. One of this year’s new things came in the form of offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki’s voice buzzing through a tiny speaker in the helmet of his quarterbacks —...
Ex-Penn State cornerback, agent of iconic 2016 play, retires from football
An orchestrator of one of the biggest upsets in Penn State history has hung up his cleats. Former Lions defensive back Grant Haley announced his retirement from football Monday evening with a heartfelt Instagram post. Haley went on to play five seasons in the NFL, bouncing around practice squads with...
Anchored by Ohio State transfer Julian Fleming, Penn State WRs have something to prove
Penn State’s offense was far from one-dimensional last season, but its effectiveness through the air left plenty of room for improvement. Drew Allar proved capable in his first season as starting quarterback, yet by year’s end, Penn State’s shortcomings in the passing game were apparent. The Nittany Lions ranked 77th...
Penn State ranked 9th in preseason USA Today Coaches Poll; Georgia 1st
NEW YORK — Penn State will open the season ninth in the preseason USA Today Coaches Poll, which was released Monday. Georgia is No. 1, a year after its two-year run as national champion ended. The Bulldogs received 46 of the 55 first-place votes from college football coaches. Preseason No....
Mt. Lebanon’s JB Nelson looks to help stabilize Penn State’s new-look offensive line
STATE COLLEGE — From the outside looking in, replacing three starters on the offensive line, all of whom were NFL Draft picks in April, is among the most pressing to-do items on Penn State’s camp agenda. Losing Olu Fashanu, Caedan Wallace and Hunter Nourzad opened up spots at both tackle...
Debuts of 3 new coordinators to weigh heavily in Penn State’s success
STATE COLLEGE — It’s a testament to Penn State’s returning players that the Nittany Lions are considered to be a strong contender for the 12-team College Football Playoff this season, the first year of expansion from the four-team field. During the CFP’s four-team era (2014-23), making the cut proved elusive...
