Penn State’s offense struggled to find a rhythm last season for all kinds of reasons, from a young offensive line that surrendered to 44 sacks to a spotty rushing attack and a young wide receiver corps. The receivers, behind freshmen Saeed Blacknall, Chris Godwin and DaeSean Hamilton (redshirt) offered hope by season’s end that quarterback Christian Hackenberg would get more support in 2015. Bob Flounders and Dustin Hockensmith reviewed the…
KSN Podcast: An interview with Penn State director of player personnel Andy Frank
Penn State is making huge waves on the recruiting trail and second-year coach James Franklin with a tireless approach that includes every member of the coaching staff. The Nittany Lions netted a top-15 class in 2015 and got off to a hot start in the 2016 cycle with a quartet of four-star recruits in cornerback Lavert Hill, running back Miles Sanders, defensive end Shane Simmons and quarterback Jake Zembiec. Penn…
KSN Podcast: Five questions going into Penn State’s spring football practice
Penn State’s football program remains in a state of flux as coach James Franklin continues to make gains in an effort to recover from heavy scholarship reductions. The Nittany Lions are pushing forward in overall numbers, but inexperience in several key areas has led to questions going into spring practice. Can Penn State’s offensive line take a step forward? Can position coach Sean Spencer replace veteran defensive ends Deion Barnes…
KSN Podcast: Breaking down Penn State’s 2015 linebacker recruits with Ross Tucker
Penn State has improving depth up and down its roster going into the 2015 season, a product of dogged recruiting and crucial experience for young players working through the system. Looking ahead, the linebacker position has an intriguing blend of experience, talent and upside that could yield big results for defensive coordinator Bob Shoop and position coach Brent Pry. A trio of incoming freshmen in Manny Bowen, Jake Cooper and…
KSN Podcast: Ross Tucker breaks down Penn State recruits Saquon Barkley, Andre Robinson
Penn State added two talented running backs to its roster at an opportune time in 2015 recruits Saquon Barkley and Andre Robinson. Veterans Bill Belton and Zach Zwinak both graduated and moved on, leaving Akeel Lynch as the projected starter and a wide-open competition between Mark Allen, Nick Scott and Johnathan Thomas and incoming freshmen Barkley and Robinson. Ross Tucker joined Dustin Hockensmith on the Keystone Sports Network to break…
KSN Podcast: Looking closer at Penn State’s Big Ten-leading cost-of-attendance figure
If preliminary figures hold true, Penn State stands to offer student-athletes the largest cost-of-attendance stipend in the Big Ten at $4,788 per academic year. Perhaps more surprisingly, Ohio State ($2,454), Michigan ($2,054) and Michigan State ($1,872) all lag significantly behind, but with plenty of time to alter their respective stipend figures between now and July. The stipend has potential to become a tremendous recruiting tool for the programs that can…
KSN Podcast: Assessing Penn State’s linebacker group in 2015 and beyond
Penn State has quickly built terrific depth at the linebacker position, even as the program seeks a replacement for All-Big Ten pick and defensive captain Mike Hull in 2015. Young players are scattered throughout the depth chart, offering versatility, range and upside that could benefit the Nittany Lions for years to come. Among that group are promising redshirt freshmen Troy Reeder and Koa Farmer and incoming recruits Manny Bowen, Jake…
KSN Podcast: Forecasting the Philadelphia Eagles’ wild free agency season
The Philadelphia Eagles kick off the 2015 NFL league season with money to burn and roster spots to fill, having made a flurry of surprising decisions in Chip Kelly’s first offseason in full charge of personnel. LeSean McCoy was traded. Trent Cole and Todd Herremans were released. Jeremy Maclin was not re-signed, and quarterback Nick Foles was ultimately swapped out for Sam Bradford. The whole complexion of Philadelphia’s roster will…
KSN Podcast: Looking at the state of Penn State’s quarterback position
Penn State’s hand could be forced at the quarterback position as early as the 2016 season. Soon-to-be junior Christian Hackenberg has elite physical tools but comes off a sophomore season that featured bumps in the road. But a bounceback junior season could have Hackenberg thinking NFL draft, leaving Trace McSorley, Tommy Stevens and ’16 commitment Jake Zembiec to compete for the starting job. Ross Tucker, Bob Flounders and Dustin Hockensmith…
KSN Podcast: Recapping Penn State’s Junior Day and more with Greg Pickel
Penn State comes off a weekend in which nearly 100 talented recruits were on campus to learn about the program, meet the coaches and get an introduction to academics and more. It was a big event that led to at least six new scholarship offers but, unlike last February’s Junior Day, yielded no new commitments to the Nittany Lions’ 2016 recruiting class. PennLive recruiting reporter Greg Pickel joined Dustin Hockensmith…
KSN Podcast: Breaking down Penn State’s 2015 defensive line recruits with Ross Tucker
Penn State welcomes four new players to its defensive line rotation in the 2015 recruiting class, a group of big, talented athletes who are reinforcements at key positions. Defensive ends Ryan Buchholz, Kamonte Carter and Shareef Miller and defensive tackle Robert Windsor are all set to arrive in June with opportunities to compete for playing time. Former NFL offensive lineman and founder of Go Big Recruiting Ross Tucker broke down all four…
KSN Podcast: Scouting reports from Ross Tucker on Penn State’s O-line recruits
Penn State has offensive linemen of all sizes, shapes and skill sets signed in its 2015 recruiting class. Ryan Bates, Steven Gonzalez, Sterling Jenkins and Paris Palmer represent key reinforcements at a key time for the Nittany Lions as a rebuilding unit continues its search for depth and high-end talent. Ross Tucker joined Dustin Hockensmith on the Keystone Sports Network this week to talk about the strengths and weaknesses of…
KSN Podcast: A look at how Penn State players performed at the NFL combine
Penn State players turned in largely positive performances at the NFL combine in Indianapolis, helping to boost their individual stocks at the draft in April. Adrian Amos and Jesse James were arguably the most impressive of the group, but Mike Hull and Donovan Smith also posted solid numbers at their respective positions. Bob Flounders and Dustin Hockensmith broke down their combine performances on the Keystone Sports Network this week. Check…
KSN Podcast: An interview with Penn State alum Adam Taliaferro
Adam Taliaferro’s story is well-known in the Penn State community as a former player who suffered a severe spinal injury, defied the odds to walk again and went on to carve out a blossoming career as an attorney and politician. Taliaferro, 33, recently was sworn in to an Assembly seat in the third Legislative district of New Jersey. Taliaferro has also served as a Gloucester (N.J.) County Freeholder, an alumni-elected…
KSN Podcast: Assessing Penn State players at the 2015 NFL scouting combine
Penn State is sending five players to the NFL combine in Indianapolis, Ind., this week, where physical and mental testing await and could mean the difference between being drafted and battling long odds as a free agent. Adrian Amos, Sam Ficken, Mike Hull, Jesse James and Donovan Smith will all look to elevate their NFL draft stocks this week. Smith is likely the most highly regarded prospect in the group,…
KSN Podcast: A look at Penn State recruiting and more with Mark Brennan
Penn State got the right young pieces at the right time in the 2015 recruiting class, with 25 players who all checked in as either three of four-star prospects. Coach James Franklin attracted quality and, perhaps just as importantly, quantity in a push to get the Nittany Lions back to their full allotment of 85 overall scholarship players. That depth impressed FightOnState.com’s Mark Brennan more than anything, even in the presence…