10 Penn State players to watch in Blue-White Game

The Blue-White Game is almost here.

Penn State will close spring camp with its annual scrimmage at 2 p.m. Saturday at Beaver Stadium. Thousands of fans will descend on Happy Valley for the festivities and an extended look at the Nittany Lions, new and old.

Here are 10 players to keep an eye out for on Saturday.

QBs Drew Allar and Beau Pribula: We’ll get this out of the way because it’s the most obvious one. Many fans who would otherwise stay at their tailgates will grab a seat in Beaver Stadium to watch Allar and Pribula sling it around. Sean Clifford’s gone, and it’s looking like the start of the Allar era. But keep an eye on Pribula, too.

WR Malik McClain: Throughout camp, KeAndre Lambert-Smith and Harrison Wallace III have been identified as receivers ready to step up and replace Parker Washington and Mitchell Tinsley. But the Nittany Lions are still searching for more at receiver. The pressure might be on McClain, the Florida State transfer, to perform with highly-touted Kent State transfer Dante Cephas visiting ahead of his summer arrival.

LB Tony Rojas: Here’s the early enrollee who’s made the biggest splash this spring. Franklin said Rojas has gained “more and more confidence each day” throughout camp while special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach Stacy Collins called him “a natural talent.” For the first time, we’ll see that natural talent on display.

TEs Khalil Dinkins and Jerry Cross: With top tight ends Theo Johnson and Tyler Warren not expected to participate on Saturday, Dinkins and Cross should get plenty of reps. Dinkins had four catches last season while Cross didn’t see the field as a true freshman. This is an opportunity for the young tight ends.

CB Storm Duck: Duck’s transfer from North Carolina helped take the sting out of losing Joey Porter Jr. to the NFL draft. A second-team All-ACC honoree last season, Duck is a veteran both on and off the field. The corner room is deep with Kalen King, Johnny Dixon and Cam Miller returning. But Duck was a welcome addition.

DT Zane Durant: When he enrolled last January, Durant was 250 pounds. Now? He’s up to 282 pounds. Durant played in 12 games and was disruptive as a freshman. But he needed to beef up a bit against the run, especially with PJ Mustipher moving on. Franklin said last week that Durant is expected to take a “big jump” this fall.

S KJ Winston: Earlier this spring, Jaylen Reed made quite the claim: “You can mark my words, KJ Winston is going to be an All-American.” That probably won’t happen this year. But Winston is in-line for more playing time after an encouraging freshman season. With Ji’Ayir Brown gone, Reed and Keaton Ellis are the projected starters. But Winston and Zakee Wheatley are going to get plenty of playing time.

OT Drew Shelton: When left tackle Olu Fashanu suffered a season-ending injury last October, Shelton filled in admirably for the rest of the season. It’s not easy for a true freshman to hold down the blindside, but that’s what he did. With Fashanu back in the fold, Shelton is competing with veteran Caedan Wallace at right tackle. That battle won’t be decided Saturday. But it will give the staff valuable film to consider.