KSN Podcast: Assessing Penn State’s linebacker group in 2015 and beyond

March 13, 2015

Penn State has quickly built terrific depth at the linebacker position, even as the program seeks a replacement for All-Big Ten pick and defensive captain Mike Hull in 2015. Young players are scattered throughout the depth chart, offering versatility, range and upside that could benefit the Nittany Lions for years to come. Among that group are promising redshirt freshmen Troy Reeder and Koa Farmer and incoming recruits Manny Bowen, Jake…

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KSN Podcast: Looking at the state of Penn State’s quarterback position

March 5, 2015

Penn State’s hand could be forced at the quarterback position as early as the 2016 season. Soon-to-be junior Christian Hackenberg has elite physical tools but comes off a sophomore season that featured bumps in the road. But a bounceback junior season could have Hackenberg thinking NFL draft, leaving Trace McSorley, Tommy Stevens and ’16 commitment Jake Zembiec to compete for the starting job. Ross Tucker, Bob Flounders and Dustin Hockensmith…

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KSN Podcast: Recapping Penn State’s Junior Day and more with Greg Pickel

March 4, 2015

Penn State comes off a weekend in which nearly 100 talented recruits were on campus to learn about the program, meet the coaches and get an introduction to academics and more. It was a big event that led to at least six new scholarship offers but, unlike last February’s Junior Day, yielded no new commitments to the Nittany Lions’ 2016 recruiting class. PennLive recruiting reporter Greg Pickel joined Dustin Hockensmith…

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KSN Podcast: Breaking down Penn State’s 2015 defensive line recruits with Ross Tucker

March 3, 2015

Penn State welcomes four new players to its defensive line rotation in the 2015 recruiting class, a group of big, talented athletes who are reinforcements at key positions. Defensive ends Ryan Buchholz, Kamonte Carter and Shareef Miller and defensive tackle Robert Windsor are all set to arrive in June with opportunities to compete for playing time. Former NFL offensive lineman and founder of Go Big Recruiting Ross Tucker broke down all four…

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KSN Podcast: Scouting reports from Ross Tucker on Penn State’s O-line recruits

February 26, 2015

Penn State has offensive linemen of all sizes, shapes and skill sets signed in its 2015 recruiting class. Ryan Bates, Steven Gonzalez, Sterling Jenkins and Paris Palmer represent key reinforcements at a key time for the Nittany Lions as a rebuilding unit continues its search for depth and high-end talent. Ross Tucker joined Dustin Hockensmith on the Keystone Sports Network this week to talk about the strengths and weaknesses of…

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KSN Podcast: A look at how Penn State players performed at the NFL combine

February 25, 2015

Penn State players turned in largely positive performances at the NFL combine in Indianapolis, helping to boost their individual stocks at the draft in April. Adrian Amos and Jesse James were arguably the most impressive of the group, but Mike Hull and Donovan Smith also posted solid numbers at their respective positions. Bob Flounders and Dustin Hockensmith broke down their combine performances on the Keystone Sports Network this week. Check…

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KSN Podcast: An interview with Penn State alum Adam Taliaferro

February 19, 2015

Adam Taliaferro’s story is well-known in the Penn State community as a former player who suffered a severe spinal injury, defied the odds to walk again and went on to carve out a blossoming career as an attorney and politician. Taliaferro, 33, recently was sworn in to an Assembly seat in the third Legislative district of New Jersey. Taliaferro has also served as a Gloucester (N.J.) County Freeholder, an alumni-elected…

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KSN Podcast: Assessing Penn State players at the 2015 NFL scouting combine

February 17, 2015

Penn State is sending five players to the NFL combine in Indianapolis, Ind., this week, where physical and mental testing await and could mean the difference between being drafted and battling long odds as a free agent. Adrian Amos, Sam Ficken, Mike Hull, Jesse James and Donovan Smith will all look to elevate their NFL draft stocks this week. Smith is likely the most highly regarded prospect in the group,…

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KSN Podcast: A look at Penn State recruiting and more with Mark Brennan

February 13, 2015

Penn State got the right young pieces at the right time in the 2015 recruiting class, with 25 players who all checked in as either three of four-star prospects. Coach James Franklin attracted quality and, perhaps just as importantly, quantity in a push to get the Nittany Lions back to their full allotment of 85 overall scholarship players. That depth impressed FightOnState.com’s Mark Brennan more than anything, even in the presence…

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KSN Podcast: An interview with Penn State recruit Andre Robinson

February 12, 2015

Penn State landed a gem in four-star running back Andre Robinson, a compact runner and one of the most accomplished players in Bishop McDevitt High School history. He is one of two talented running backs in the Nittany Lions’ 2015 recruiting class, along with Saquon Barkley, and he arrives at Penn State as a proven winner and physical, elusive runner. Robinson joined Dustin Hockensmith and Andrew P. Shay on the…

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KSN Podcast: Bishop McDevitt’s Jeff Weachter talks Penn State, Andre Robinson

February 12, 2015

Bishop McDevitt High School is sending a recruit to Penn State for the first time in a decade in four-star running back Andre Robinson. McDevitt coach Jeff Weachter doesn’t see much reason to celebrate the fact, other than in Penn State getting a talented, hard-working player in Robinson who is in “rare air” as a productive four-year starter for the Crusaders. Weachter joined Dustin Hockensmith and Andrew P. Shay on…

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KSN podcast: Breaking down Penn State’s 2016 early recruiting strategy

February 11, 2015

The recruiting calendar has officially turned to 2016, and Penn State’s coaching staff is pouring all its resources into adding to a class of four commitments in cornerback Lavert Hill, running back Miles Sanders, defensive end Shane Simmons and quarterback Jake Zembiec. Coach James Franklin will take a big step in those efforts later this month when Penn State hosts top recruits for Junior Day. The same event helped to…

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KSN Podcast: Penn State’s redshirt freshmen and how they’ll fare in 2015

February 6, 2015

Penn State got contributions from eight true freshmen in James Franklin’s first season and managed to redshirt 16 others from a 2014 recruiting class that ranked No. 25 nationally, according to Rivals.com. While Grant Haley, Marcus Allen and others made an impact right away, twice as many will enter the mix in 2015 and add valuable reinforcements to the roster. Among the names to watch are wide receiver DeAndre Thompkins;…

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KSN Podcast: Turning the page to Penn State’s 2016 recruiting with Greg Pickel

February 5, 2015

Penn State put the finishing touches on its 2015 recruiting class yesterday, a 25-member haul that positions the Nittany Lions one step closer to a full, balanced roster. Coach James Franklin got the class off to a hot start with seven verbal commitments by the end of February and three more in March. The same formula with a Junior Day this month and more aggressive strategy. Coach James Franklin had…

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KSN Podcast: Handing out superlatives in Penn State’s 2015 recruiting class

February 4, 2015

Penn State today puts the finishing touches on its 2015 recruiting class, inking its full 25-member class to financial aid agreements on National Signing Day. The class is strong from top to bottom and enters the day ranked among the top 15 in the country by 247 Sports, ESPN, Rivals and Scout. The science of recruiting is inexact and star ratings are often proven laughably wrong. Dustin Hockensmith and Andrew…

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KSN Podcast: An interview with Penn State recruit Kamonte Carter

January 28, 2015

Penn State is getting a strong, versatile athlete in Kamonte Carter, a four-star defensive end from Gaithersburg (Md.) High School who checks in at a stout 6-4 and 250 pounds. Carter has played virtually all over the field during a standout prep career, but has settled at defensive end, where he can add depth to a position in need. Carter has had a unique high school career as a do-it-all…

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