Penn State category, Page 7
James Franklin encouraged by effort of Penn State’s D-line, says a key player is ‘close’ to returning
Penn State’s defense was able to consistently apply pressure to Nevada’s offense in the Nittany Lions’ season-opening 46-11 victory on Saturday at Beaver Stadium. The Wolf Pack only had 52 offensive snaps, compared to PSU’s 71. Jim Knowles’ defense produced nine tackles for loss, recovered a pair of fumbles and...
Penn State’s offseason work at wide receiver ‘really paid off’ in Nevada win
STATE COLLEGE — Drew Allar stepped back and fired an on-time hitch route to USC transfer wide receiver Kyron Hudson on Penn State’s second offensive snap of the 2025 opener vs. Nevada. It was a simple pitch and catch, but they made it look easy. They looked like a talented...
Nicholas Singleton, Kaytron Allen lead No. 2 Penn State in opening romp over NevadaVideo
UNIVERSITY PARK — Nicholas Singleton ran for two touchdowns, Penn State forced three turnovers and the No. 2 Nittany Lions pulled away to beat Nevada, 46-11, on Saturday in the opener for both teams. Singleton capped Penn State’s opening possession with a 1-yard run then scored on another short plunge...
Penn State hockey to host doubleheader at Beaver Stadium
For the first time, Penn State is bringing its hockey programs to an iconic venue. Both the men’s and women’s hockey teams will play a game in Beaver Stadium on Jan. 31, the programs announced Friday. The men will take on Big Ten powerhouse Michigan State, while the women will...
No. 2 Penn State to lean on deep roster in season opener against Nevada
STATE COLLEGE — It’s been just over seven months since Penn State center Nick Dawkins and his teammates last played a football game. They feel like they’ve been waiting much longer. Coming one game away from playing for a national championship seems to have that effect. The No. 2 Nittany...
Penn State’s James Franklin’s hopes to create depth while limiting his stars’ workload
Balancing the present and the future can be tricky for a college football coach. As Penn State continues preparations for what could be a special season, James Franklin is pleased with the way his talented veterans progressed through preseason camp. But Franklin also knows 2026 is coming fast. The Nittany...
Drew Allar’s command of Penn State’s offense is the focus in Year 2 with offensive coordinator Kotelnicki
STATE COLLEGE — Andy Kotelnicki and Drew Allar have developed quite the coach- quarterback tandem in their 18 months together. Their partnership has grown to the point where Kotelnicki, Penn State’s second-year offensive coordinator, let Allar plan out most of what the No. 2 Nittany Lions would drill during their final...
James Franklin expects Jim Knowles to shake things up, starting with Penn State’s base defense
It started out as question for James Franklin about Penn State’s nickel defensive back position and how junior corner Zion Tracy continues to evolve in that role. The resulting answer was a little bit of everything from Franklin, including how new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles is going to change things...
Transfers, freshman listed atop Penn State’s early depth chart at wide receiver
Penn State and James Franklin sought answers — both from the transfer portal and in high school recruiting — to remedy another brutal performance at wide receiver in 2024. Thanks to the additions of Syracuse’s Trebor Peña, USC’s Kyron Hudson and Troy’s Devonte Ross, as well as freshman Koby Howard,...
Why 3 Big Ten foes shape up as ‘trap’ games for Penn State in 2025
Penn State’s quest to the 2025 College Football Playoffs, and, potentially, a national championship, runs through an intriguing regular-season schedule. On one hand, the Nittany Lions will face all three Big Ten teams that made the CFP last season: Oregon, Ohio State and Indiana. But the Ducks and Hoosiers must...
Penn State, home of Linebacker U, now a destination place for cornerbacks, safeties
In the modern era of the NFL Draft, 63 Penn State linebackers have been selected, the most at any position for one of the most distinguished programs in college football. Six PSU linebackers are in the College Football Hall of Fame: Dave Robinson, Jack Ham, Dennis Onkotz, Shane Conlan, LaVar...
After delaying their NFL dreams, No. 2 Penn State’s stars are chasing an elusive national titleVideo
STATE COLLEGE — The longer Penn State quarterback Drew Allar weighed his options, the more he thought how sweet it would be to bring a national championship to Happy Valley. After No. 2 Penn State’s down-to-the-wire loss to Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff semifinal last season, the allure...
First Call: Wondering about Beanie Bishop; Jerry Jones says Micah Parsons’ agent told him to ‘stick it’
Friday’s “First Call” examines an odd omission from the Pittsburgh Steelers’ preseason game in Carolina. Things are tense between Micah Parsons and the Cowboys. Ke’Bryan Hayes is heating up with the Reds. Also, the Pirates and Rockies clash in a meeting of … well, um, they are meeting. And there...
Why a Penn State veteran starter could be switching positions in 2025: ‘You have to be versatile’
STATE COLLEGE — Penn State has a poster of the Joe Moore Award, given to the nation’s best offensive line unit each year, plastered in the group’s meeting room. Position coach Phil Trautwein and his pupils strongly believe they can be the best in the country in 2025. That’s born...
At Linebacker U, Dan Connor says a Penn State vet ‘looks incredible,’ another has taken ‘huge steps’
Penn State’s current group of linebackers is coached by the program’s all-time leader in tackles. Dan Connor produced 419 of them during his four seasons in State College. Defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, one of the sport’s elite minds, is also keeping close tabs on the position as it moves on...
Penn State’s Pat Kraft offers Beaver Stadium renovation update
STATE COLLEGE — “Let’s talk about the west side.” With that, Penn State athletic director Pat Kraft on Tuesday discussed at length what has transpired at Beaver Stadium since early January. James Franklin’s Nittany Lions open their season Aug. 30 against Nevada in State College. Penn State kicked off its...
Imani Christian 4-star DB Gabe Jenkins commits to Penn State
Penn State already had a commitment from one talented Imani Christian defensive back, and now the Nittany Lions have another. Junior cornerback Gabriel Jenkins announced his commitment to Penn State on Monday, joining teammate David Davis, a senior who committed there in March. Another former Imani Christian standout, linebacker Dayshaun...
Texas, Penn State each place 3 players on AP preseason All-America 1st team; 2 from Pitt honored
Texas and Penn State, the top two teams in The Associated Press preseason Top 25, each had three players selected for the preseason AP All-America team announced Monday. No. 1 Texas had one player from each level of its defense on the first team: edge rusher Colin Simmons, linebacker Anthony...
Can Penn State WR Kyron Hudson take another step forward?
Penn State vet Kyron Hudson is entering Year 5 in college. The Nittany Lions expect his final season to be his best one. The 6-foot-1, 215-pound wideout made 13 starts for USC the last two years, producing a combined 55 catches for 651 yards and five touchdowns. Hudson caught a...
Penn State’s QB coach pleased with ongoing backup competition
STATE COLLEGE — Penn State is one of the nation’s most veteran teams, a big reason the Nittany Lions are ranked No. 2 in the Associated Press Top 25 heading into the season. The quarterback position, manned by third-year starter Drew Allar, is a big part of that. There are...
Big Ten preview: No. 2 Penn State primed to make run at first conference title since 2016; Ohio St, Oregon in hunt again
The stage is set for Penn State, and now the question is whether the second-ranked Nittany Lions will capitalize. While defending national champion Ohio State, defending Big Ten champ Oregon and heavyweight Michigan are breaking in new quarterbacks, Penn State goes into the season with three-year starter Drew Allar, a...
Former 5-star recruit J’ven Williams stays patient, awaits chance to make impact along Penn State offensive line
It’s become commonplace for five-star recruits to enter the transfer portal a year or two after signing with their original schools. Just take a look at the 2023 recruiting class. Eleven out of 247 Sports’ top 25 high school prospects in that cycle have transferred. Some players — star safety...
3 Penn State freshmen vying for early playing time
STATE COLLEGE — Every great team needs young players to step up. If Penn State is to reach its national championship hopes, some freshmen will have to produce. James Franklin, at Tuesday night’s practice, named three players who are pushing for playing time midway through fall camp: cornerback Daryus Dixson...
From last-minute recruit to preseason All-American, Penn State happy to have Vega Ioane
Penn State’s 2022 recruiting class was among the best in the country. Abdul Carter developed into a top-five NFL draft pick. Drew Allar, Nick Singleton, Kaytron Allen and Dani Dennis-Sutton are big reasons why Penn State is a national title contender this year. All were blue-chip prospects, expected to take...
Texas is No. 1 in preseason AP Top 25 for 1st time, edging Penn State, Ohio State
For the first time, Texas will open a college football season ranked No. 1 in The Associated Press Top 25. The Longhorns hardly have a mandate in the poll released Monday: They edged out Penn State by just five points in the closest preseason vote since 1998. Texas received 25...
