Penn State category, Page 17
Penn State defensive end Zuriah Fisher, an Aliquippa grad, out indefinitely with injury
Penn State has one of the deepest defensive lines not only in the Big Ten but also in the country entering the 2024 season. But a key piece of that group appears set to watch from the sidelines. Penn State defensive end Zuriah Fisher, an Aliquippa native, is out “indefinitely”...
3-star Florida DB Antonio Branch Jr. commits to Penn State’s 2025 class
Safeties coach Anthony Poindexter and cornerbacks coach Terry Smith are putting in work for Penn State on the recruiting trail. Antonio Branch Jr., a three-star safety from Miami, committed to Penn State on Wednesday. He became the first safety in Penn State’s 2025 class and the third defensive back to...
Penn State receives commitment from 4-star New Jersey DB Jahmir Joseph
Penn State used its third official visit weekend of the summer for many of its already-committed 2025 prospects, leaving a few spots for top targets the coaching staff hoped would be convinced by the heavy Penn State enthusiasm. It’s already paid off. Class of 2025 cornerback Jahmir Joseph committed to...
10 years in, James Franklin reaches a critical point in his Penn State tenure
James Franklin leaned back in his seat as he pondered the question. Was he as happy as he anticipated being 10 years into his Penn State career? He sat in a makeshift office two floors lower in the Lasch Football Building than his office of the past decade, due to...
Left tackle’s return after offseason surgery gives boost to Penn State offensive line
One of Penn State’s biggest pieces of the offensive line — literally and figuratively — is back with the team at full capacity. Tackle Drew Shelton, who underwent offseason surgery and missed spring practice, has been cleared for all activities, coach James Franklin said Thursday. The 6-foot-5, 306-pound Shelton was...
Penn State lands commitment from highly touted DB Daryus Dixson
After its second major official visit and camp weekend of the summer, Penn State has its first class of 2025 commitment since early May — and it’s a big one. Cornerback Daryus Dixson, a highly rated four-star according to the 247Sports composite rankings, committed to Penn State on Monday after...
Inside Penn State OC Andy Kotelnicki’s unconventional path from Division III to Happy Valley
STATE COLLEGE — Andy Kotelnicki leaned back in his conference room chair, rubbed his beard and thought long and hard about what he was going to say next. The question was simple yet complicated: How did a former offensive lineman at a Division III school in Wisconsin become one of...
First Call: Context for Cam Heyward’s contract desires; are Steelers a 2nd option for Micah Parsons down the road?
Wednesday’s “First Call” puts some numbers to what Cameron Heyward may be asking of the Pittsburgh Steelers in terms of compensation for the rest of his career. Also, a Dallas Cowboys star is putting out feelers about joining the Steelers if the circumstances are right … players besides Brandon Aiyuk...
Penn State found ‘friction’ between coach James Franklin and team doctor, but could not determine violation
An internal review by Penn State in 2019 found evidence of “friction” between football coach James Franklin and a now-former team doctor, but it could not determine whether Franklin violated NCAA bylaws or Big Ten standards by interfering with medical decisions. The 15-page document from Penn State’s office of ethics...
First Call: Giants keep signing former Steelers; Allen Robinson surprised at release
Friday’s “First Call” shows us yet another Pittsburgh Steeler heading to New York. An ex-Steeler describes why he was surprised at his release from Pittsburgh. Isaiah Buggs got sassy with the media covering his animal cruelty case. And the Pirates have a Spider-Man meme opponent in Canada this weekend. Big...
Penn State at West Virginia football opener set for Big Noon Kickoff
Penn State will begin its 2024 college football season on one of the sport’s biggest stages. The Nittany Lions’ season opener Aug. 31 at West Virginia will kick off at noon on FOX as part of “Big Noon Kickoff.” Penn State’s matchup at West Virginia will wrap up a scheduled...
Jury delivers stunning verdict in fired Penn State football doctor’s trial
A Dauphin County jury Wednesday night found in favor of a fired Penn State football team doctor who claimed Nittany Lions head football coach James Franklin repeatedly interfered with his medical decisions and return-to-play decisions for injured players. Dr. Scott Lynch was awarded the stunning sum of $5.25 million in...
Gabe Swanson’s double in 9th lifts Nebraska over Penn State 2-1 for Big Ten title, spot in super regional
OMAHA, Neb. — Nebraska’s Gabe Swanson drove in pinch-runner Cayden Brumbaugh with a two-out double in the top of the ninth inning and Big Ten pitcher of the year Brett Sears retired the heart of the Penn State order to seal a 2-1 victory on Sunday, earning the Cornhuskers the...
Penn State product NaVorro Bowman transitioning from All-Pro LB to Chargers assistant
COSTA MESA, Calif. — NaVorro Bowman was able to see as a player how quickly Jim Harbaugh could turn a team into a Super Bowl contender. Bowman has reunited with Harbaugh, albeit in a different capacity. Harbaugh hired Bowman in February to be the Los Angeles Chargers’ linebackers coach. It...
Bryce Molinaro’s grand slam rallies Penn State to victory over Michigan in Big Ten Tournament
OMAHA, Neb. — Bryce Molinaro hit a go-ahead grand slam in the bottom of a six-run eighth inning and eighth-seeded Penn State rallied last in a 9-5 victory over No. 4 seed Michigan at the Big Ten Tournament on Thursday night. Molinaro’s home run followed a three-run shot by Michigan’s...
Penn State baseball team tops No. 1 seed Illinois in Big Ten Tournament
OMAHA, Neb. — Adam Cecere hit a home run and made a highlight catch, J.T. Marr added three hits and No. 8 seed Penn State beat top-seeded Illinois, 8-4, on Wednesday as the Illini suffered their eighth straight loss at the Big Ten Tournament. Penn State (27-23), which advances to...
Penn State trustees approve $700M renovation of Beaver Stadium
Penn State University trustees approved a $700 million renovation to Beaver Stadium on Tuesday after a sometimes heated debate about the athletic and economic benefits versus financial risks. The 26-2 vote during a special meeting followed a 90-minute presentation and discussion. There were three abstentions. Earlier Tuesday, the project passed...
Penn State trustee opposes $700M stadium renovation on eve of vote
Penn State University trustees are expected to vote Tuesday on whether an institution that is both a football powerhouse and hundreds of millions of dollars in debt should spend $700 million for a stadium renovation. One trustee has made it quite clear publicly how he feels. On his website, trustee...
Penn State QB Drew Allar on pressure, expectations and what’s driving him in 2024
STATE COLLEGE — There might not be a more recognizable person on this sprawling campus than Drew Allar. Penn State’s quarterback, the player tasked, fairly or unfairly, with pushing a football program and fan base over the hump, is an unassuming celebrity. But his 6-foot-5 stature, brown hair and boyish...
Pitt’s Bill Fralic lends local flavor to Croatian American Hall of Fame
The 2024 inductees to the Croatian American Sports Hall of Fame include many names with local connections, including Pitt football great Bill Fralic and his agent, who was an outstanding athlete himself. Plus, a slow-pitch softball star known as King Kong. The CAS-HOF’s selection committee announced the following area inductees:...
Tim Benz: A Super League with NFL ties? Power conference CBAs? Many paths still uncertain for college athletes
The latest forecast of what could become the college sports landscape came last week from Yahoo.com’s Ross Dellenger. He outlined the prospect of a compensation model for power schools of $300 million each over the next decade via a $17 million- to $22 million-per-year revenue distribution cap for athletes. That...
Oklahoma State hires Olympic gold medalist, Penn State great David Taylor as wrestling coach
Oklahoma State has hired Olympic gold medalist David Taylor as its wrestling coach to replace John Smith, the school said in a news release Tuesday. Taylor, 33, won gold in the 86-kilogram freestyle class at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 when he beat Iran’s Hassan Yazdani. He sought another Olympic...
Beaver Stadium renovation plan set for vote by Penn State trustees this month
Penn State’s Board of Trustees will hold a meeting on May 21 to vote on approving the Beaver Stadium renovation plan. The Board of Trustees will meet via conference call at 10 a.m. in an executive session. The board’s committee on Finance, Business and Capital Planning will then hold a...
Robert Morris, Penn State, Mercyhurst hockey teams join new conference
Hockey teams at Robert Morris (men’s and women’s), Mercyhurst (men’s and women’s) and Penn State (women’s) will be part of a new conference starting with the 2024-25 season. The Atlantic Hockey and College Hockey America conferences have merged to form Atlantic Hockey America. That union was announced Tuesday. Robert Morris’...
From Abdul Carter to Drew Allar, a way-too-early look at Penn State’s 2025 NFL draft class
Penn State is coming off a successful 2024 NFL draft. Olu Fashanu and Chop Robinson were selected in the first round. Adisa Isaac and Caedan Wallace went on Day 2. In total, Penn State had eight players drafted, tied for the fourth-most with Georgia and Oregon. But the Nittany Lions’...
