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 personnel Saturday after Penn State’s local media day. The Nittany Lions opened their doors in practice No. 3 outside Holuba Hall for the first public viewing session of training camp.

Overall, Penn State seemed to be in a good place despite being early in camp. Key contributors across the board returned to practice after missing some or all of spring ball because injuries, surgeries or veteran rest. That included Tony Rojas, Dani Dennis-Sutton, Zane Durant, Alonzo Ford Jr., Anthony Donkoh and Nolan Rucci.

That’s especially good news, as Saturday served as Penn State’s first padded practice of the fall — a point of demarcation for Franklin.

“Some of these guys that are limited up there, they’re ready to go,” the head coach said Saturday. “And I think if you asked them, they could play in a game right now. But we hold them in a limited category until they actually go out and do it.”

Thus, Penn State’s somewhat concerning list of injuries to start fall camp should be shrinking in a big way this week.

The Nittany Lions, though, will be without fourth-year wide receiver Kaden Saunders for an extended period. He was not at practice.

Here’s what else we learned in Saturday’s brief viewing session:

• Penn State’s revamped wide receiver room is off and running to start 2025. Syracuse transfer Trebor Peña and USC transfer Kyron Hudson led drill lines. Peña, in particular, looked smooth in his route running. Liam Clifford was also near the top of the group.
• Troy transfer Devonte Ross did not participate in each drill, but he was active in routes on air and in uniform.
• Veteran offensive lineman Anthony Donkoh, the starter at right tackle before an injury last season, saw some action at guard. Penn State will get creative with its extremely deep offensive line to get the best five out there at all times.
• Penn State has an ongoing competition for its backup quarterback job, and that was reflected in drills Saturday. Ethan Grunkemeyer and Jaxon Smolik each took turns following Drew Allar and participated in a roughly equal share of snaps.
• Expect Penn State to emphasize running backs catching passes out of the backfield this year, something the Lions have steadily tried to improve on recently.
• Two freshmen turned heads: defensive end Chaz Coleman and cornerback Daryus Dixson. Both have impressive size and length and have received high praise from teammates thus far.
• Dom DeLuca, Keon Wylie, Tony Rojas and Anthony Speca led the linebacking corps in individual drills.
• Dennis-Sutton, Zuriah Fisher, Jaylen Harvey and Mason Robinson were at the top of the defensive end line.
• Steven Gonzalez, on the PSU offensive line from 2015 to 2019, was back and hanging around coach Phil Trautwein’s unit. Gonzalez continued his career in the United Football League as recently as this year.