Penn State is hoping to build momentum on the recruiting trail with less than two months until National Signing Day. The Nittany Lions are checking in with top targets such as Khaleke Hudson and Brendan Ferns, while current commits are being reevaluated by national recruiting services.
Penn State is pushing toward the finish line in its 2016 recruiting class and starting to lay a better foundation in the 2017 class with another recent verbal commitment from four-star linebacker Dylan Rivers. James Franklin and his staff have looked the keep the momentum going by hitting the road in all different parts of the region, making contact with both commits and top targets alike. Greg Pickel joined Dustin…
Penn State is getting a gem in its 2016 recruiting class in Exeter five-star offensive lineman Michal Menet, who is one of the anchors in his class and the top-ranked prospect in the state of Pennsylvania, according to 247 Sports. Menet had a standout season for the Eagles before suffering a setback to Cumberland Valley in the District 3-AAAA football playoffs. Menet might have seen his prep career come to…
Still in search of a signature win in James Franklin’s second season, Penn State is flipping the calendar to the postseason after a season-ending, 55-16 loss to Michigan State. The Nittany Lions are 7-5 and getting routinely linked to the Music City, Foster Farms and TaxSlayer bowls, where Franklin will likely be without an offensive coordinator after firing John Donovan. The loss to the Spartans was the end result of…
Penn State still has a long way to close out its highly acclaimed 2016 recruiting class, with spots to fill and commitments to keep from the likes of Miles Sanders, Lavert Hill and Quinn Nordin. Coach James Franklin has kept the class intact, and it ranks as the No. 6 group nationally by 247 Sports. Meanwhile, the Nittany Lions have begun to forge ahead in 2017 with a second verbal…
Penn State rebuilding after three years of harsh NCAA sanctions. The program is showing signs of life by rejuvenating a depleted roster but still looking for improvement on the field. In the rugged Big Ten East division, coach James Franklin has a long way to go to overtake Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State and compete for Big Ten championships. While Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes command attention as the…
Penn State has 19 commitments in its 2016 recruiting class as the end of the season approaches. It’s a group that is loaded with nine offensive and defensive linemen but could still improve with a number of high-profile targets still left on the board. Tre Nixon, Jordan Fuller and Damar Hamlin highlight the target list for James Franklin and his staff. But Franklin also has work to do with a…
Penn State gets a much-needed week to rest in advance of the “White Out” game against Michigan after a run of nine straight games to open the season. For the Nittany Lions coaching staff, the week off also affords them time to watch film, evaluate targets and make recruiting trips. The timing of the bye week could be good with the highly anticipated contest against the Wolverines looming. The “White…
Penn State’s offensive line surrendered 10 sacks and contributed to a sputtering second-half offense in a 27-10 road loss to Temple last weekend. The unit had many of the same problems that plagued it last season, and coaches and linemen cited communication issues for their breakdowns against the Owls. And there were many as the Nittany Lions managed just 52 yards and zero points in the final 51 minutes of…
Penn State is getting one of the best offensive tackle recruits in the country in Exeter Township’s Michal Menet, a 6-5, 270-pound dynamo at one of the Nittany Lions’ biggest area of needs. Bob Flounders and Jim Galanti break down Menet’s game and what he brings to the table for Penn State in 2016 and beyond. Check out audio of the show in this post and be sure to check back…
Penn State was beaten by Temple for the first time since 1941, allowing 10 sacks and struggling mightily in a 27-10 loss at Lincoln Financial Field. Bob Flounders joined Jim Galanti on the Keystone Sports Network to recap a rough day in Philadelphia and what it means for the Lions moving forward. Check out audio of the show in this post and be sure to check back in to KeystoneSportsNetwork.com for plenty…
Temple’s defense returns 10 starters this season from a group that ranked among the best in the country in scoring (No. 4, 17.5 ppg), red-zone (No. 8, 0.727), passing (No. 13, 186.9 ypg) and total defense (No. 24, 347.1 ypg). The Owls are a formidable test in the season opener for a Nittany Lions offense that struggled run or pass with any consistency last season. Former NFL offensive lineman Ross…
Penn State entered the midway point of its 2015 training camp with a number of known issues to resolve in advance of the Sept. 5 opener at Temple. The left tackle position and the placekicker battle between Joey Julius and Tyler Davis remain unresolved, but several others look to be in good hands, particularly with the rise of true freshmen John Reid and Saquon Barkley. Junior college transfer Paris Palmer…
Penn State’s defensive line is anchored by one of the best tackle tandems in the nation in Anthony Zettel and Austin Johnson. The duo is back in 2015 after wreaking havoc a season ago and is joined by two new starters at defensive end in Garrett Sickels and Carl Nassib. The unit underwent change in the offseason but should be as dominant as ever this season. James Franklin and the…
Penn State is going through its practice reps this summer in search of solutions at a number of key positions, including the left tackle spot and the backup running backs, to name two. The Nittany Lions are hoping for a quick transition from junior college offensive tackle Paris Palmer and holding open an open competition at the running back spot with Akeel Lynch, Mark Allen, Nick Scott and Saquon Barkley…
The stability and success of Penn State’s offensive line this season goes far beyond just one player, but it wouldn’t hurt the Lions if junior college Paris Palmer acclimates quickly. The 6-7, 300-pounder is off to a slow start in practice while redshirt junior Wendy Laurent has been mentioned by name as turning heads. Could James Franklin be forced to shuffle the deck if Palmer continues to struggle? While that…