Penn State category, Page 8
Penn State to benefit from depth along offensive line
This is Year 6 for Penn State veteran Nick Dawkins. A standout at Parkland High School in the Lehigh Valley, Dawkins was part of the 2020 PSU recruiting class that also included Olu Fashanu, Tyler Warren, Curtis Jacobs, Parker Washington, Ji’Ayir Brown, Theo Johnson and current Nittany Lions edge rusher...
‘You’re never satisfied’: Penn State keeps pushing star running backs
When Stan Drayton replaced Ja’Juan Seider as Penn State’s running backs coach, he had a refreshing answer when asked about overseeing the continued development of 1,000-yard backs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen. Drayton, who previously coached Ezekiel Elliott, Bijan Robinson and Brian Westbrook at the college level, said he wanted...
Penn State has installed Jim Knowles’ defense at ‘rapid pace,’ with a few big changes coming
STATE COLLEGE — Jim Knowles has quickly made his presence known at Penn State. He carries a calm, quiet demeanor as he observes practices, noting everything he likes and doesn’t to pass it on to his position coaches. But when he wants to command a room, he can do so...
Pitt, Penn State players picked for Sporting News preseason All-American team
Football players from Pitt and Penn State continue to be recognized among the best in the nation as the 2025 season inches closer. Members of the Panthers and Nittany Lions were picked for the Sporting News Preseason All-American team released Wednesday. Pitt redshirt junior linebacker Kyle Louis and senior running...
Penn State’s high-stakes backup QB competition could shape program’s future
Drew Allar has one year left at Penn State, and it’s a pretty big year. The Nittany Lions are among the favorites to win the national title, and Allar, one of the best and most experienced quarterbacks in the country, is a primary reason why they’re held in such high...
Penn State’s Nick Singleton, Kaytron Allen named among nation’s best running backs
Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen are both within reach of the Penn State all-time rushing record entering their senior seasons. Their careers to this point have earned them strong reputations nationally, as both earned spots on the Doak Walker Award watch list Tuesday. Semifinalists and finalists for the nation’s top...
Transfer WR Trebor Pena explains why he chose Penn State
Trebor Pena described his brief recruitment as “pretty stressful.” Such is life in the transfer portal. Pena, the former Syracuse wide receiver, fielded calls from coaches across the country over the course of 10 days in April. By that point, most rosters were set. But some of the biggest teams...
Penn State’s Drew Allar, Nick Singleton named national player of the year candidates
Penn State’s recognition on national preseason watch lists continued Monday after a brief weekend hiatus. Senior quarterback Drew Allar and senior running back Nick Singleton earned spots on the Walter Camp Player of the Year watch list. Penn State was one of six schools (Arizona State, Clemson, Ohio State, Oregon,...
Why Year 2 with Andy Kotelnicki can make ‘enormous difference’ in Penn State’s offense
STATE COLLEGE — The difference is three plays, in Andy Kotelnicki’s mind. Had Penn State executed one more successful play in any of its three losses in 2024, it could have marked the difference in a national championship appearance, a Big Ten Championship or an undefeated regular season. To reach...
Penn State coach Franklin believes team has depth at tight end to ease loss of Warren
STATE COLLEGE — Few saw Tyler Warren’s 2025 season coming. Warren was outstanding in Penn State’s final game of 2023, catching 127 yards worth of passes in the Nittany Lions’ Peach Bowl loss to Ole Miss. But Warren’s 2024 numbers were almost unbelievable, which explains why the All-American was picked...
Penn State’s James Franklin has high praise for players, coaches
STATE COLLEGE — James Franklin reiterated Saturday a point he made at Big Ten Media Days in Las Vegas not long ago: He thinks, between players and coaches, that the 2025 team is his best personnel in 12 years at Penn State. We got our first full-blown look at that...
Penn State’s James Franklin could see Pitt back on Lions’ schedule, but there’s a catch
Penn State’s 2025 nonconference schedule is, well, non-threatening. James Franklin’s Nittany Lions open their season with home games against Nevada (Aug. 30), Florida International (Sept. 6) and Villanova (Sept. 13). Big Ten teams all play nine conference games. Not all major conferences do. The SEC doesn’t, and neither does the...
5 questions at Penn State football camp
Penn State football opened training camp Wednesday after months of anticipation and buildup as the Nittany Lions prepare for a 2025 season saddled with sky-high expectations. Buoyed by a boatload of returning talent and a College Football Playoff semifinal finish last season, James Franklin’s Nittany Lions look like one of...
Pitt, Penn State to renew basketball rivalry
The Pitt and Penn State rivalry has been a much-discussed and debated topic for years across Pennsylvania. Though the schools’ administrators have not been able to renew the longtime matchup on the football field, they were able to find a spot in the schedule for the men’s basketball teams to...
James Franklin ‘excited’ about Penn State’s newcomers via transfer portal
Penn State is replacing three of its top options in the pass game. The Nittany Lions have also added three productive receivers. All-American tight end Tyler Warren is in the NFL. Wideouts Harrison Wallace (Ole Miss) and Omari Evans (Washington) have new college homes. James Franklin has added three veteran...
Position battles, storylines as Penn State football begins preseason practice
Penn State is deep at several key positions with the Nittany Lions set to begin preseason practices this week. James Franklin, in his 12th season, recently called the 2025 PSU team his most complete, referring to the Lions’ returning cast and a veteran coaching staff led by offensive coordinator Andy...
Pitt, Penn State players earn prestigious preseason recognition
A pair of Pitt football players and three from Penn State are listed among the nation’s top preseason contenders for the Maxwell Award, which is presented to the most outstanding player in college football. The 80-member Maxwell Award Watch List includes Pitt quarterback Eli Holstein and running back Desmond Reid,...
James Franklin believes 2025 Penn State team is his best in terms of personnel
LAS VEGAS — Penn State’s appearance in last season’s Big Ten championship game was the Nittany Lions’ first since 2016, the year Saquon Barkley, Trace McSorley, Chris Godwin and the rest knocked off Wisconsin in Indianapolis to win the title. James Franklin’s Nittany Lions pushed Oregon to the limit last...
Penn State’s Drew Allar on his 2025 approach: ‘Not taking any of these moments for granted’
LAS VEGAS — When it comes to individual statistics, you can’t argue with Drew Allar’s numbers. Penn State’s fourth-year quarterback has thrown 49 touchdown passes and run for 10 touchdowns. Interceptions? Just 10. Allar enters the 2025 season, his final one at Penn State, with a 62.9 percent completion percentage,...
Penn State blocks out noise, focuses on playoff run
LAS VEGAS — New year, new slate, no outside noise. That’s the mantra in Happy Valley, despite James Franklin being saddled with a 4-20 mark as coach at Penn State against teams ranked in the AP Top 10. “Coming to Penn State, I came here to win Big Ten championships...
Arrival of phenom Gavin McKenna turns eyes of hockey world to Penn StateVideo
With eight words — “the best spot for me is Penn State” — Gavin McKenna made a monumental announcement that changed the way hockey’s top prospects make their way to the NHL. McKenna, the no-doubt No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, committed to play at Penn State...
Penn State hockey coach discusses the responsibility, attention that goes with guiding Gavin McKenna
Men’s hockey coach Guy Gadowsky and his staff got NHL uber-prospect Gavin McKenna to commit to Penn State. Now, Gadowsky has to coach him up. Or does he? 17-year-old hockey phenom Gavin McKenna is heading to Penn State to continue his career ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/qrxxfILu9P— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 8, 2025 The...
Ranking Penn State’s best linebackers of the 21st century
Twenty-five years into the century, the Centre Daily Times put together a panel to rank Penn State’s top 10 linebackers since 2000. That panel is made up of Neil Rudel (Altoona Mirror), Rich Scarcella (Reading Eagle), Audrey Snyder (The Nittany Dispatch), Mark Brennan (Lions247), Mark Wogenrich (Penn State on SI),...
QB Drew Allar discusses decision to pass on NFL Draft, return to Penn State
Drew Allar has plenty to offer an NFL team searching for a franchise quarterback. Entering his third year as Penn State’s starter, he has experience. He has the size. He has a cannon of an arm. He’s played on the big stage — and is primed for more time in...
Tim Benz: If the NCAA still wants to expand March Madness, at least fix one flaw along the way
It appears that the NCAA Division I Basketball Tournaments will not expand. For now. Thankfully. Although it does seem like just a matter of time before that happens. “The still viable outcomes include the tournaments remaining at 68 teams or expanding the fields to either 72 or 76 teams in...
