Penn State coach James Franklin has attracted scores of talent to Happy Valley in his first full year on the job, including a 2015 recruiting class that ranks among the top 10 nationally on Rivals and 247 Sports. The class is full of gifted football players, but perhaps none with the raw talent four-star wide receiver Juwan Johnson brings to the table. Johnson stands at 6-4 and 210 pounds, with…
KSN Podcast: Breaking down Packers-Seahawks in NFC championship game
The Green Bay Packers survived a questionable call and rode the late heroics of quarterback Aaron Rodgers into the NFC championship, where a date with the top-seeded Seattle Seahawks awaits. The ‘Hawks are big favorites behind the NFL’s best rushing attack and a stifling defense that can render even the best quarterbacks ineffective. Green Bay toppled Dallas in the NFC divisional round, while Seattle took care of business against the…
KSN Podcast: Latest Penn State recruiting news on Robert Windsor, Kamaal Seymour, more
Penn State’s push toward National Signing Day will include long looks at defensive tackle targets Robert Windsor and Kamaal Seymour, either (or both) of whom could add a crucial big body to the Nittany Lions’ 2015 recruiting class. In the absence of Christian Wilkins, who gave a verbal commitment to Clemson, coach James Franklin is still in search of his first defensive tackle in the 2015 class. The Nittany Lions…
KSN Podcast: Previewing Carolina-Seattle, Dallas-Green Bay in NFC divisional round
Two NFC teams will punch their tickets to the conference championship game this weekend, with both the Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers entering the week as heavy favorites in their respective matchups. The defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks are 11-point favorites over the Carolina Panthers, and the Packers are six-point favorites over the visiting Dallas Cowboys. Can the Panthers or Cowboys spring an upset after pulling off surprises in…
KSN Podcast: Reacting to the Philadelphia Eagles’ power-shifting front office moves
The Philadelphia Eagles made a series of front-office moves in the hopes of streamlining their personnel strategy, ultimately handing more power to coach Chip Kelly, who just completed his second season in the NFL. General manager Howie Roseman was elevated in job title, but he deferred all personnel strategy to Kelly and a yet-to-be-named executive. The Eagles previously made waves by parting ways with former personnel executive Tom Gamble, which…
KSN podcast: An interview with Penn State 2016 recruiting target Michal Menet
Penn State is pushing forward in its 2016 recruiting class with three high-profile commitments already in place in five-star defensive end Shane Simmons, four-star running back Miles Sanders and four-star quarterback Jake Zembiec. That trio has laid the foundation for another nationally elite class if coach James Franklin can continue to build momentum after National Signing Day next month. One of the Nittany Lions’ top remaining targets is Exeter Township…
KSN podcast: Penn State football news and notes on Deion Barnes, Jesse James, Christian Wilkins
The Penn State football program withstood its third early defection of the offseason this week when defensive end Deion Barnes and tight end Jesse James both announced their intention to declare for the 2015 NFL draft. Add Barnes and James to Donovan Smith, and James Franklin has seen three players leave eligibility on the table and bolt early. In addition to the NFL draft candidates, Penn State is also in…
KSN Podcast: Rose Bowl news and notes with ‘correspondent’ Andrew P. Shay
Oregon and defending national champion Florida State clash in the Rose Bowl this New Year’s Day with a berth in the College Football Playoff championship on the line. The Ducks enter the Rose Bowl as a nine-point favorite behind quarterback Marcus Mariota, while the Seminoles survived a number of close calls in posting a perfect 13-0 record behind the strong arm of reigning Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston. The matchup…
KSN Podcast: Breaking down the latest on Donovan Smith, Tommy Stevens and more
Penn State was dealt a blow Monday when redshirt junior Donovan Smith announced he would forgo his final season of eligibility and declare for the 2015 NFL draft, a move that strips an already-young offensive line of its most veteran member. Smith started 31 games in his three-year career, earning a prominent role on the Nittany Lions’ line as a redshirt freshman in 2012. On the same day, Penn State…
KSN Podcast: Penn State-Boston College Pinstripe Bowl review
Penn State wrapped up its 2014 season in dramatic fashion with a 31-30 victory over Boston College in the Pinstripe Bowl. The Nittany Lions capitalized on a Golden Eagles missed extra point in the first overtime period, when Christian Hackenberg connected with tight end Kyle Carter for the game-winning score. After nailing the tying field goal, Sam Ficken drilled the extra point to deliver a walk-off win. The victory delivered…
KSN Podcast: Uplifting Athletes: Holiday & Bowl Season Update
Scott Shirley and Andy Shay preview the holiday and bowl season for the Uplifting Athletes chapter network, the year in review for our nonprofit organization, the college football awards, and a few personal stories from the past. Visit upliftingathletes.org for more coverage of the nonprofit organization that aligns college football with rare diseases.
KSN Podcast: Critiquing a 4-team College Football Playoff from the fan’s perspective
College football is rolling toward its first four-team playoff with Alabama, Oregon, Florida State and Ohio State all vying for a national championship. The final pairing will be determined after No. 1 Alabama and No. 4 Ohio State clash in the Sugar Bowl and No. 2 Oregon and No. 3 Florida State square off in the Rose Bowl, both on New Year’s Day. The future is uncertain for a four-team…
KSN Podcast: Fantasy football Week 17 quick hits on Teddy Bridgewater, Matt Asiata, others
The fantasy football season has ended in most league formats, but a handful remain competitive entering Week 17 of the NFL season. Season finales tend to bring with them unpredictable results and individual surprises that can, and do, make unfortunate impacts on meaningful matchups in fantasy. “Week 17 never makes any sense,” former NFL fullback Jon Ritchie concluded. “It is an uncontrollable whirlwind of a week, and I just don’t…
KSN Podcast: Gauging the significance of Penn State-Boston College in the Pinstripe Bowl
Penn State remains an underdog in its first bowl game since the 2011 season, as the Nittany Lions get set to clash with Boston College in the Pinstripe Bowl. James Franklin’s team enters the postseason with a struggling offense and losses in six of its last eight games and faces an Eagles team that plays the same brand of football with a stout defense and one-dimensional offense. Perhaps more importantly…
KSN Podcast: Breaking down Philadelphia Eagles after their elimination from NFC playoff picture
The Philadelphia Eagles were eliminated from playoff contention after suffering a third consecutive loss, a 27-24 setback to the struggling Washington Redskins. Philadelphia was ultimately done in by lackluster quarterback play, issues in its secondary and regression from a rushing attack that led the NFL in yards in 2013. So, where does Chip Kelly go from here as he enters his second offseason on the job? Is Nick Foles the…
KSN Podcast: Penn State recruits Paris Palmer, Sterling Jenkins make commitments official
Penn State has officially landed two talented offensive line recruits in four-star tackles Sterling Jenkins and Paris Palmer, who both signed paperwork to make their commitments official. Palmer, a four-star junior college recruit from Lackawanna College, signed his letter of intent on Dec. 17, while Jenkins, a four-star talent from Baldwin High School signed a financial aid agreement on Dec. 22. Jenkins and Palmer will enroll at Penn State in…