Penn State category, Page 51
Penn State cornerback Tariq Castro-Fields goes to the 49ers in 6th round
When the San Francisco 49ers drafted former Penn State cornerback Tariq Castro-Fields with last pick (221st overall) in the sixth round, they added a defender with the requisite experience in big games against quality opponents. Castro-Fields (6-foo-1, 197 pounds) played at Penn State from 2017-21, appearing in 52 games with...
Ravens choose Penn State punter Jordan Stout in 4th round
All-American Jordan Stout did it all at Penn State — punting, placement kicking and kickoffs. After making Stout the first punter drafted Saturday, (fourth round, 130th overall), the Baltimore Ravens will use him almost exclusively as a punter. Which makes sense with Justin Tucker, one of the best kickers in...
Panthers choose Penn State linebacker Brandon Smith in 4th round
Brandon Smith, who was part of Penn State’s linebacker rotation for three seasons, was drafted in the fourth round Saturday (120th overall) by the Carolina Panthers. Smith (6-foot-3, 241 pounds) was one of 19 Penn State first-year freshmen to appear in a game in 2019, launching a career that included...
Bears select former Gateway, Penn State safety Jaquan Brisker
Former Penn State safety Jaquan Brisker, who was named an All-American safety on the junior college and Power 5 levels after a decorated career at Gateway, started a new journey Friday night when he was drafted in the second round (48th overall) by the Chicago Bears. Brisker is the fifth...
Falcons choose Penn State defensive end Arnold Ebiketie in 2nd round
Arnold Ebiketie transferred from Temple to Penn State last year for the purpose of showing the NFL he could handle Power 5 blockers. The league’s talent evaluators paid attention, and Ebiketie, a defensive end, was chosen Friday night in the second round of the NFL Draft (38th overall) by the...
Penn State hires Patrick Kraft as its next athletic director
Patrick Kraft, who has held leadership roles at Boston College, Temple, Loyola Chicago and Indiana for the past 15 years, has been named Penn State’s next athletic director. Kraft will assume his new position July 1 and replace Sandy Barbour, who previously announced she will retire this summer. Barbour has...
Commanders pick Penn State wide receiver Jahan Dotson in 1st round, 16th overall
The Washington Commanders took a long look at former Penn State wide receiver Jahan Dotson and were not bothered by his relatively slight 5-foot-11, 184-pound frame. So much so that the Commanders made Dotson a first-round choice Friday (No. 16 overall). “I’m a big fan of Jahan Dotson. I think...
Where will former Nittany Lions go in the 2022 NFL Draft? Here’s a final look at projections
The draft is set to begin this week and final mock drafts are getting published. There are three Nittany Lions who seem set to go in the first three rounds of the 2022 NFL Draft, and potentially all three could go in the first two rounds. Let’s take a final...
From Gateway water boy to Penn State star, Jaquan Brisker ready for the NFL
Sometimes, Jaquan Brisker inserted himself into practice drills at Gateway High School, inching as close to the varsity football team — and his brothers — as a 12-year-old boy could get. Other times, he was quick to provide relief, producing a cold drink of water for the tired and thirsty...
AP source: Penn State finalizing deal to make BC’s Kraft AD
Penn State is working to finalize a deal with Boston College athletic director Patrick Kraft to replace the retiring Sandy Barbour and become the school’s next AD. A person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press that the school and Kraft were closing in on an agreement. The...
Penn State shows emphasis on running game during final spring practice
UNIVERSITY PARK — Penn State lined up for its first three plays of its final spring practice Saturday with the same decision, one that’s been emphasized over the last two months. They were going to run. The three run plays went for 11 yards, but more importantly they answered emphatically...
‘Old man’ Sean Clifford, Penn State offense use spring ball to improveVideo
STATE COLLEGE — Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford considers himself a good communicator, but he’s found connecting with his younger teammates to be a bit tougher this spring. He attributes it to the age gap. Now in his sixth season with the Nittany Lions and fourth as their starter, Clifford...
‘We have a lot to prove’: How Penn State football plans to fix its run game next season
Penn State football coach James Franklin was visibly frustrated following his team’s 30-27 loss to Michigan State in late November 2021. When asked about the importance of running, he was succinct. “It’s important,” he said. “I want to be able to run the ball.” While Penn State wasn’t able to...
Former Penn State staff member David Corley named Steelers assistant QB coach
With two relatively young quarterbacks on the roster and a third potentially joining them in the NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers hired David Corley as assistant quarterbacks coach. The announcement was made Tuesday. Corley, 42, was the running backs coach at Richmond in 2021 and spent the 2018 season as...
Sean Clifford, Penn State offense hopes to reap benefits of 2nd year under Mike Yurcich
STATE COLLEGE — Sean Clifford’s revolving door of offensive coordinators at Penn State has been well-documented. In his first three years as a starting quarterback, he had three different voices in his ear, from Ricky Rahne in 2019 to Kirk Ciarrocca in 2020 to Mike Yurcich in 2021. This spring,...
What are Penn State’s areas of concern as spring season winds down?Video
One week to go. Penn State’s spring season concludes with Saturday afternoon’s Blue-White game at Beaver Stadium. James Franklin’s Nittany Lions, coming off a disappointing 2021 that saw them drop six of their final eight games, are replacing talented players at wideout, left tackle, linebacker, cornerback, safety and even at...
Bucknell’s Andrew Funk transferring to Penn State
After scoring more than 1,200 career points, being an all-conference player and the Patriot League men’s basketball scholar-athlete of the year, Bucknell senior Andrew Funk wanted a new challenge for his fifth year of college basketball. Funk, a 6-foot-5 guard from Warrington, didn’t have to go far to find the...
Penn State adjusts to limited offensive line depth during spring practice
UNIVERSITY PARK — Penn State’s offensive line has drawn the ire of fans in most years since coach James Franklin took over in 2014. The 2021 season was no different, making the current spring ball just as important as the rest when it comes to the group’s development. That progression...
Penn State lands commitment from former top 75 recruit
Penn State football picked up a commitment from the transfer portal Tuesday morning at a major position of need. Former four-star defensive end Demeioun Robinson announced his commitment to the Nittany Lions and head coach James Franklin via his personal Twitter account. Robinson was a highly touted pass rusher in...
Fox Chapel Golf Club set to host Big Ten women’s golf championships
The Big Ten is coming. The prestigious, Power Five conference has selected the Fox Chapel Golf Club for the site of its women’s golf championships over the next two seasons. This year’s event will be from April 22-24, with a practice round on April 21. There will be six female...
Penn State lands 4-star quarterback recruit
Penn State landed a four-star quarterback recruit Friday, picking up a verbal commitment from Marcus Stokes of Nease High School in Florida. Stokes is rated the 17th-best quarterback recruit in the country by 247sports.com. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound Stokes threw for 2,672 yards, 22 touchdowns and nine interceptions in Florida’s second-largest...
Penn State’s Curtis Jacobs steps into new linebacker role
UNIVERSITY PARK — Curtis Jacobs was caught off guard when he met new Penn State defensive coordinator Manny Diaz in December. “It was kind of funny,” the sophomore linebacker said with a laugh. “…I thought he was a little taller.” Wednesday night, Jacobs said he was surprised by something else...
Penn State football lands 4-star tight end Andrew Rappleyea
Penn State landed the commitment of four-star tight end Andrew Rappleyea on Sunday, following his initial commitment to Michigan on Jan. 16. “Michigan is a great place with great people, but the reality is I committed too quickly and take full responsibility for that,” Rappleyea wrote on Twitter. “I have...
Lots of optimism around Sean Clifford, young Penn State QBs
STATE COLLEGE — Sean Clifford might be returning to Penn State for his sixth college season, but it marks just the second time in his career that he’ll be working with the same offensive coordinator for the second year in a row. In Clifford’s first three years as a starter,...
Penn State’s questions for spring: Which young quarterback will take the biggest step forward?
Penn State’s quarterback room includes one productive, experienced leader and three very talented young followers. Sean Clifford is back for his sixth season, and he is the Nittany Lions’ projected starter when Penn State opens the season Sept. 1 at Purdue. Clifford has made 33 career starts, amassed more than...
