Penn State category, Page 58
Penn State coach James Franklin discusses changing agents, Sean Clifford’s health
Penn State football coach James Franklin continues to be connected to openings at places such as LSU and USC, and a report Monday that he changed agents added fuel to that fire. Franklin, however, said that change was not something that happened recently. “(I’m) completely focused on our season and...
Jahan Dotson leads Penn State players in prominent positions in NFL draft analyst’s rankings
STATE COLLEGE — Penn State wide receiver Jahan Dotson returned to the Nittany Lions for his senior season to help erase memories of 2020’s 4-5 campaign, but he also has boosted his profile in the process. ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. released his updated “Big Board” for the...
Carson Palmer adds Mike Tomlin, James Franklin into the mix for USC job
On Monday, former USC quarterback Carson Palmer appeared on the “Dan Patrick Show” and said that Mike Tomlin is a “wild card” for the vacant coaching position at his alma mater if Tomlin “wants out” of his current job with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The former Cincinnati Bengals Pro Bowler also...
Chartiers Valley’s Lamont Payne thriving since committing to Penn State
Lamont Payne has lived up to his surname, as he has been a big pain for opposing coaches to game plan around. The Chartiers Valley junior is always looking to help his team on offense at wide receiver or on defense as a cornerback. The one thing Payne is no...
Penn State’s season on brink of disappointment after loss to Illinois
UNIVERSITY PARK — James Franklin was up front when asked if his team was ready to play a 2-5 Illinois team Saturday afternoon in Beaver Stadium. “We did not have our guys ready to play,” Franklin said after the game. “I think there was a difference between playing Iowa on...
Illinois stuns No. 7 Penn State 20-18 in NCAA’s 1st 9OT gameVideo
STATE COLLEGE — Over the course of an unprecedented nine overtimes, Illinois survived Penn State’s botched attempt at a trick play, lost its quarterback and a powerful running back to injury and failed to gain just three measly yards again and again. When Casey Washington finally came down with the...
Penn State faces tall task in replacing PJ Mustipher’s play, leadership on defensive line
STATE COLLEGE — PJ Mustipher’s physical absence along the Penn State defensive line will be hard to miss. After all, the senior defensive tackle stands 6-foot-4 and weighs in at 326 pounds, all while retaining the nimble athleticism of a smaller man. Mustipher can take up space for his fellow...
Penn State punter/kicker Jordan Stout gives team a leg up
UNIVERSITY PARK — Jordan Stout is in rare company at Penn State as the team’s primary kicker, punter and kickoff specialist. It’s a heavy workload for the redshirt senior, but Stout has thrived through the first half of the season after a couple of early hiccups. The No. 7 Nittany...
No. 7 Penn State, Illinois unsure of QBs ahead of matchup
UNIVERSITY PARK — Penn State coach James Franklin originally planned to practice with two quarterbacks this week, neither named Sean Clifford. But the third-year starter, who is nursing an unspecified upper-body injury, participated with some passes. He also split snaps with Ta’Quan Roberson and Christian Veilleux on Wednesday. Clifford’s return...
Penn State’s second-half adjustments: 4 areas where the Nittany Lions can improve during stretch run
It’s hard to find many faults with Penn State’s play through the first six games. The Nittany Lions, coming off a 4-5 season, are ranked No. 7 in the AP poll with victories over Wisconsin, Auburn and Indiana. Of course, 5-1 Penn State did close out the first half of...
Amid sports program cuts nationwide, local colleges played on during pandemic despite millions of dollars in losses
As college football stadiums, basketball arenas and hockey facilities sat idle during the coronavirus pandemic, Western Pennsylvania universities did not waver. They continued to field their teams. From Pitt and Penn State to Slippery Rock and Duquesne, local colleges bucked a nationwide trend of cutting athletic programs to offset crippling...
Penn State coach James Franklin responds to fake injury accusations
UNIVERSITY PARK — Penn State coach James Franklin responded to comments by his Iowa counterpart, Kirk Ferentz, who defended Iowa fans booing injured Nittany Lions during last week’s game. And Franklin didn’t hold back in a more than five-minute rant that addressed strategy and a scene that he said “isn’t...
Penn State defensive lineman PJ Mustipher out for the season, James Franklin saysVideo
UNIVERSITY PARK — Penn State head coach James Franklin announced on Wednesday that starting defensive tackle PJ Mustipher will be out for the remainder of the season. Mustipher suffered a lower body injury in the first quarter of the 23-20 loss against Iowa on Saturday. Following halftime, Mustipher returned to...
Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz: Fans booed on some Penn State injuries because they ‘smelled a rat’
Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said Tuesday he believed fans of the Hawkeyes booed some Penn State players when they stayed down after a play in Saturday’s game because “they smelled a rat, I guess.” Four defensive players for the Nittany Lions — safety Jaquan Brisker, tackle D’Von Ellies, safety Jonathan...
‘I learned we’re fighters’: No. 7 Penn State faces latest test in rebounding from 1st loss at No. 2 Iowa
IOWA CITY, Iowa — Ellis Brooks lingered by the Penn State tunnel at the southeast corner of Kinnick Stadium on Saturday night and surveyed the scene. Iowa fans clad in black and gold poured out of the stands, which held a sellout crowd of 69,250 for the top-five matchup, poured...
Penn State enters off week on heels of season’s first loss: ‘We have two weeks to get better now’Video
IOWA CITY, Iowa — For the first time this season, Penn State needs to rebound from a loss. And the Nittany Lions will have plenty of time to think about it. Penn State enters its off week after Saturday’s 23-20 loss at Iowa. There are a couple trains of thought...
Penn State forced to regroup, rally around Ta’Quan Roberson following loss to Iowa
Penn State wide receiver Jahan Dotson walked toward the away tunnel on Duke Slater Field at Kinnick Stadium Saturday night. He moved slowly through the crowd of fast-moving Iowa fans donning yellow and black jerseys that seemingly engulfed the 5-foot-11 wide receiver in his white uniform. Tears streamed down his...
No. 4 Penn State struggles after Sean Clifford’s injury, lose at No. 3 IowaVideo
IOWA CITY, Iowa — Spencer Petras threw a 44-yard touchdown pass to Nico Ragaini to complete No. 3 Iowa’s comeback from a two-touchdown deficit, No. 4 Penn State’s offense did next to nothing after quarterback Sean Clifford was knocked out of the game and the Hawkeyes held on for a...
5 new coaches take stage as Big Ten readies for basketball season
INDIANAPOLIS — Katie Gearlds, Micah Shrewsberry and Mike Woodson climbed the stairs as the second day of the Big Ten’s media tour began in Indianapolis. It was a short drive from their high schools and a little further from their college basketball days. But now the three Big Ten new...
No. 4 Penn State at No. 3 Iowa sets up as a day for defenses
IOWA CITY, Iowa — The last time Penn State and Iowa met at Kinnick Stadium, both were among the top three teams in the nation in scoring defense and the Nittany Lions won 17-12. The setup will be the same Saturday when No. 4 Penn State returns to face the...
Penn State offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich highlights ‘poised’ Sean Clifford’s areas of improvement
UNIVERSITY PARK — Mike Yurcich knows Sean Clifford’s improvement has been a hot topic concerning Penn State through the first five weeks of the season. The redshirt senior has rebounded from a down 2020 season to become one of the Big Ten’s more efficient and accurate passers. Plenty of credit...
No. 4 Penn State committed to running back timeshareVideo
UNIVERSITY PARK — Penn State coach James Franklin has always liked to use a lot of running backs, and he’d like to see one assert himself eventually this year. Not only would more big plays in the running game help balance out the No. 4 Nittany Lions’ offense, they’d certainly...
Iowa’s ball-hawking defense primed to face Penn State passing duoVideo
IOWA CITY, Iowa — Iowa leads the nation in interceptions, and Penn State features one of the most dynamic passing combinations in Sean Clifford and Jahan Dotson. How the third-ranked Hawkeyes fare in their showdown with No. 4 Penn State at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday could hinge on whether they...
Penn State, Michigan State getting big boost from transfersVideo
From its first snap of the season, Michigan State showed that coach Mel Tucker’s rebuilding project wouldn’t take nearly as long as expected. Wake Forest transfer Kenneth Walker took a handoff, made a move around a defender and raced down the left sideline for a 75-yard touchdown against Northwestern. Walker...
No. 4 Penn State preps for No. 3 Iowa’s ‘fast, confident and aggressive’ defenseVideo
STATE COLLEGE — James Franklin knows some might describe the Iowa defense as “simplistic,” given how long Hawkeyes coach Kirk Ferentz and defensive coordinator Phil Parker have worked together, but the Penn State coach is also well-aware that the system gets results. When No. 4 Penn State faces No. 3...
