Penn State category, Page 16
McKeesport sophomore Kemon Spell gives Penn State 1st commitment from 2027 class
McKeesport sophomore Kemon Spell can’t sign with for two more years, but the highly recruited running back and defensive back has already picked his college. Spell committed Friday to Penn State, making him the school’s first commitment in the 2027 class. The 5-foot-9, 195-pounder had a growing list of Division...
Penn State’s Jaylen Reed destined for bigger role in defensive backfield this year
Penn State liked Jaylen Reed right away. The Nittany Lions’ defensive coaches played the young safety in eight games during his true freshman season of 2021. Starting? Not an option with Jaquan Brisker and Ji’Ayir Brown on that roster. Reed played in all 13 games in 2022 and emerged as...
2 Penn State football players placed on interim suspension
Weeks before the start of the new season, two Penn State football players were placed on interim suspension, a program spokesperson said Wednesday. Defensive end Jameial Lyons and linebacker Kaveion Keys are on interim suspension to “deal with a personal matter,” spokesperson Greg Kincaid said. The program will have no...
Penn State receives commitments from 2 defensive line prospects
Make it two more commitments for Penn State and a huge hot streak for the Nittany Lions on the trail. Daniel Jennings, a four-star defensive end in the Class of 2026 from Princeton, W.Va., committed to Penn State over hometown West Virginia on Wednesday. He followed the afternoon commitment of...
Penn State alum Stephen Nedoroscik waited his whole life for one routine, and the U.S. pommel horse specialist nailed it
PARIS — Sam Mikulak pulled Stephen Nedoroscik close and tasked the American pommel horse specialist with the impossible. The U.S. men’s gymnastics team’s first Olympic medal in 16 years a solitary routine away, Mikulak — a Penn State alumnus — told the pommel horse specialist that he didn’t need to...
Harrisburg junior lineman Kevin Brown, state’s top prospect, commits to Penn State
Harrisburg junior offensive tackle Kevin Brown holds an offer from just about every major college football program in the country. So what was it that set Penn State apart from the rest of his deep and decorated list of offering schools? It was simple: trust. That trust and belief in...
Penn State WR Julian Fleming enters camp with ‘huge chip on his shoulder’
Julian Fleming is an older receiver in a new position. The former five-star recruit is back in his home state, and the expectations for the Southern Columbia grad are great. Fleming, who transferred from Ohio State to Penn State after the 2023 season, impressed the Nittany Lions coaching staff and...
Whether at linebacker or defensive end, Penn State expects Abdul Carter to make an impact
INDIANAPOLIS — Abdul Carter certainly looks like a Big Ten defensive end. The former first-team All-Big Ten linebacker made the move to edge rusher prior to spring drills, and Carter is listed at 6-foot-3, 249 pounds on the Penn State roster. But new defensive coordinator Tom Allen is a fan...
Several Penn State defenders set to play bigger roles this fall
INDIANAPOLIS — Jaylen Reed and Dvon J-Thomas are representing the Penn State defense at Big Ten Media Days inside Lucas Oil Stadium this week. The veteran Lions will also play significant roles in new coordinator Tom Allen’s defense. It’s a unit that should be led by an edge group featuring...
Big Ten media days provide formal welcome to USC, UCLA and other former Pac-12 schools
INDIANAPOLIS — Southern California coach Lincoln Riley strolled across the Lucas Oil Stadium stage for the first time Wednesday, greeted by a familiar tune — “Fight On.” He was nowhere near the only newcomer to this week’s Big Ten Media Days. Riley’s remarks were preceded by those of first-year UCLA...
Kirk Ferentz still committed to Iowa after watching friends Bill Belichick, Nick Saban move on
INDIANAPOLIS — Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz watched two of his best coaching friends, Bill Belichick and Nick Saban, leave football after last season. So, naturally, college football’s longest-tenured coach smiles and nods as he reflects on his own potential exit. “All of us have to do that,” the 68-year-old Ferentz...
Zoo Crew suffers tough loss to Happy Valley Hoopers in The Basketball Tournament
The disappointment will linger with Nelly Cummings after he and his Zoo Crew teammates lost to the Happy Valley Hoopers, 85-82, on Wednesday night in the Sweet 16 of The Basketball Tournament at Petersen Events Center. After all, a team composed largely of former Pitt players led their Penn State...
James Franklin, Penn State embrace high expectations for 2024
James Franklin understands that this year is a little different. Franklin, entering his 11th season as Penn State’s head coach, took the podium at Big Ten media days on Wednesday and answered questions from a crowd of national reporters at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The final question he fielded...
Penn State’s Abdul Carter joins Michigan, Ohio State stars in earning Big Ten’s preseason position honors
INDIANAPOLIS — Players from defending national champion Michigan and Ohio State claimed seven of the Big Ten’s 12 positional honors on Tuesday. They were selected by a media panel on the first of three conference media days in Indianapolis. The Buckeyes had four selections — safety Caleb Downs, receiver Emeka...
Penn State football sets White Out game for Nov. 9 matchup with Washington
Penn State football’s tradition of making its fans part of game-day activities while in their seats will continue this season with three themed games, plus several promotions, at Beaver Stadium. The highlight is the annual White Out, which is scheduled for the Nov. 9 game against Big Ten newcomer Washington....
First Call: LaVar Arrington calls Steelers ‘mid-tier’; 49ers Pro Bowler discusses Brandon Aiyuk situation
Thursday’s “First Call” gives us LaVar Arrington’s view of the Steelers in 2024. We get a teammate’s opinion of the ongoing Brandon Aiyuk saga in San Francisco. Former Penguin Carl Hagelin updates his health. And the Pirates get a second crack at a pitcher that recently gave them problems. No...
Penn State lands commitment from DT Randy Adirika
Penn State’s impressive recruiting surge is still going after James Franklin and his coaching staff added yet another sought-after defensive lineman to their 2025 class. Randy Adirika, a four-star prospect from Miami Central (Fla.), verbally committed to the Nittany Lions’ 2025 class Tuesday. He projects as a defensive tackle at...
Penn State picks up commitment from legacy recruit LaVar Arrington II
The son of a Penn State legend is following in his father’s footsteps. LaVar Arrington II committed to the Nittany Lions’ 2025 recruiting class on Thursday. The son of Penn State great LaVar Arrington announced his decision on social media. Arrington II is a three-star linebacker from Charter Oak High...
Penn State recruiting: What holes still need to be filled?
James Franklin and Penn State are on a recruiting heater. But what more can Franklin and his coaching staff add to the Nittany Lions’ 2025 recruiting class? Penn State’s recruiting run has been mightily impressive. The Nittany Lions have secured verbal commitments from eight prospects in the 2025 cycle in...
Ranking the top 10 offensive players in coach James Franklin’s 10 years at Penn State
Coach James Franklin has been at the helm of the Penn State football program for a decade, with plenty of offensive players finding immense success in that time. Here’s a look at the top 10 offensive players of Franklin’s tenure. 1. RB Saquon Barkley There is a pretty clear top...
Penn State lands commitment from 2025 4-star edge rusher Jayden Woods
James Franklin and Penn State’s coaching staff are on a recruiting heater, bolstering their 2025 class with yet another high-profile, four-star prospect. Jayden Woods, a consensus four-star edge rusher from Mill Valley High School (Kan.), verbally committed to Penn State’s 2025 recruiting class Wednesday. Woods, ranked as the No. 167...
Penn State open to selling ads on field but ‘it’s always going to be Beaver Stadium’
Recent NCAA rule changes have opened the door for schools to put logos on fields, opening sponsorship opportunities for programs across the country. With Beaver Stadium already in the early stages of renovations, that gives Penn State a chance to add an extra revenue stream to help pay for those...
Penn State adds coveted 4-star quarterback to its 2026 recruiting class
The future of Penn State’s quarterback position just got brighter. California quarterback Troy Huhn, a four-star prospect in the 2026 class, verbally committed to the Nittany Lions’ program on Tuesday morning, per Blue-White Illustrated. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound Huhn, who was pursued by James Franklin, offensive assistant Danny O’Brien and offensive...
Penn State lands commitment from coveted 4-star DE Granville
Penn State added yet another high-profile prospect to its 2025 recruiting class. Max Granville, a consensus four-star defensive end/linebacker from Fort Bend Christian Academy (Texas), verbally committed to the Nittany Lions on Monday night. Granville, one of Penn State’s top defensive targets in the 2025 cycle, picked the Nittany Lions...
Penn State’s wild weekend includes 3 commitments, 2 defections
It has been a wild weekend for Penn State recruiting. After a commitment and a flip already came Sunday, 4-star Maryland defensive end Cortez Harris committed to Penn State in the evening. Harris, who plays at Riverdale Baptist in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, is rated as the No. 20 edge prospect...
