Penn State embarks on its second season under coach James Franklin with plenty of promise in a loaded Big Ten East division. The Nittany Lions have better depth and talent and nearly a full allotment of scholarships for the first time after being slammed with NCAA sanctions in 2012. But while Penn State improves, so does it competition in defending national champion Ohio State, Michigan under Jim Harbaugh and Michigan…
KSN Podcast: Thoughts on Penn State recruit Karamo Dioubate, training camp observations
Penn State entered the midway point of its 2015 training camp with a number of known issues to resolve in advance of the Sept. 5 opener at Temple. The left tackle position and the placekicker battle between Joey Julius and Tyler Davis remain unresolved, but several others look to be in good hands, particularly with the rise of true freshmen John Reid and Saquon Barkley. Junior college transfer Paris Palmer…
KSN Podcast: ‘Tucker’s Tape’ breaks down Penn State’s defensive line
Penn State’s defensive line is anchored by one of the best tackle tandems in the nation in Anthony Zettel and Austin Johnson. The duo is back in 2015 after wreaking havoc a season ago and is joined by two new starters at defensive end in Garrett Sickels and Carl Nassib. The unit underwent change in the offseason but should be as dominant as ever this season. James Franklin and the…
KSN Podcast: Penn State football interview with Fight On State’s Mark Brennan
Penn State is going through its practice reps this summer in search of solutions at a number of key positions, including the left tackle spot and the backup running backs, to name two. The Nittany Lions are hoping for a quick transition from junior college offensive tackle Paris Palmer and holding open an open competition at the running back spot with Akeel Lynch, Mark Allen, Nick Scott and Saquon Barkley…
KSN Podcast: Breaking down Penn State’s most important players, Nos. 16-20
Penn State has a deeper roster and more experienced nucleus going into the 2015 season as the program continues to ascend from NCAA sanctions that were levied in 2012. Coach James Franklin has quickly added high-end talent in the 2014 and ’15 classes, but many of those prospects have yet to make an impact on the field. Bob Flounders and Andrew P. Shay continued a series looking at the most…
KSN Podcast: Penn State O-line developments, the running back depth chart and more
The stability and success of Penn State’s offensive line this season goes far beyond just one player, but it wouldn’t hurt the Lions if junior college Paris Palmer acclimates quickly. The 6-7, 300-pounder is off to a slow start in practice while redshirt junior Wendy Laurent has been mentioned by name as turning heads. Could James Franklin be forced to shuffle the deck if Palmer continues to struggle? While that…
KSN Podcast: ‘Tucker’s Tape’ breaks down Penn State’s quarterback depth chart
Penn State is putting all the pieces together on a roster that boasts its best depth in years and continues to accumulate high-end recruits at a quick rate. The Nittany Lions are building toward Big Ten contention as the program continues its ascent out of three years of NCAA sanctions. Coach James Franklin’s ability to take the next step depends on how he addresses areas of concern, namely the offensive…
KSN Podcast: Breaking down Penn State’s most important players, Nos. 21-25
For Penn State to take a sizable leap forward in 2015, coach James Franklin is relying on more than a few key factors. His team is young and still has depth and experience issues, particularly along the offensive line, but the 2015 season brings optimism that a nearly full roster of scholarship players can take a big step toward being a Big Ten title contender. Christian Hackenberg, Austin Johnson and…
KSN Podcast: ‘Tucker’s Tape’ breaks down offensive linemen on the spot in 2015
There’s no escaping the importance of progress on Penn State’s offensive line this season. The offense can only go so far as that group takes it, and the hope is that a season of experience and a full year learning coordinator John Donovan’s offense can lead to big breakthroughs for the likes of Brendan Mahon, Brian Gaia and Angelo Mangiro. A number of scenarios exist for the starting lineup this…
KSN Podcast: Penn State news, from the O-line to Big Ten rivals and more
Penn State has kicked off its summer training camp this week and hopes to create momentum in a few key areas. The offensive line is the big issue going into the 2015 season after the unit struggled to protect quarterback Christian Hackenberg and create running lanes a year ago. That group is worth watching to see progress in camp, along with linebackers and running backs, to name a few. Fifth-year senior…
KSN Podcast: Penn State football media day recap with Bob Flounders
Penn State held its annual media day in Happy Valley this week, which marked an opportunity to catch up with assistant coaches and players, many of whom for the first time since last season. James Franklin talked about a number of topics in his opening news conference, and coordinators Bob Shoop and John Donovan were available to talk about the team’s offensive and defensive units. After that was a free-for-all…
KSN Podcast: Penn State 2016 recruiting overview and key targets
Penn State is set to enter summer camp and turn its focus to the current team, but coach James Franklin is far from finished on the recruiting trail. The Nittany Lions are loaded with talent in their 2016 recruiting class and still have a number of high-profile targets within their reach. Penn State could still add big-time prospects to a class that has consensus top-10 rankings. Franklin has 18 verbal…
KSN Podcast: Penn State news and notes on Lavert Hill, Micah Parsons and more
Penn State got ominous news on the recruiting front this week when four-star cornerback Lavert Hill made his intentions known to visit Michigan for the BBQ at the Big House recruiting event. Hill, who committed to the Nittany Lions last January, is in line to visit his third school following stops at Michigan State and USC this summer. Hill has been on de-commitment watch for months, with that talk slowing…
KSN Podcast: Previewing Penn State football storylines entering summer camp
Penn State comes off a strong finish to a 2014 season that featured its share of trials and tribulations. Coach James Franklin went 7-6 in his Happy Valley debut while working with a deeply flawed offense that featured inexperience at offensive line and wide receiver and little support for sophomore quarterback Christian Hackenberg. The results were forgettable as Penn State ranked among the worst offenses in the country. Looking ahead…
KSN Podcast: Talking Penn State recruiting with Rivals analyst Adam Friedman
Penn State is well on its way to another nationally acclaimed recruiting class under second-year coach James Franklin, with 18 commits in a 2016 class that currently ranks among the top 10 nationally on all four major recruiting services. The Nittany Lions are poised to add another elite collection of talent to a roster that continues to reload in the aftermath of NCAA sanctions. Looking ahead to 2017, the state…
KSN Podcast: The best players Penn State will face in 2015, Nos. 1-5
Penn State has perks in its 2015 schedule, namely with a manageable offseason slate and a run of five straight home games, but the Big Ten East division features few weeks off. The Nittany Lions take on two national championship hopefuls in Michigan State and Ohio State, programs that both have multiple candidates for the first round of the 2016 NFL draft. The Spartans and Buckeyes occupied 16 spots on…