Tag: 2021 Blue White Game

Franklin: Kalen King ‘most advanced freshman’ since we’ve been here

One freshman cornerback is making a name for himself during the spring in Happy Valley.

Ahead of the annual Blue-White Game on Saturday, Penn State football head coach James Franklin addressed the media to discuss the improvements the team has made with only two spring practices left. During that press conference, he made remarks about one freshman cornerback that has been making noise this spring.

“Kalen King is probably the most advanced freshman we’ve had since we’ve been here,” Franklin said.

The freshman hails from Detroit, Michigan and comes to State College paired with his twin brother, Kobe King, who will play linebacker for the Nittany Lions.

Penn State’s depth at the cornerback position is somewhat in question. They do have five corners returning including Tariq Castro-Fields and Keaton Ellis, but the addition of King could provide an improvement at the position in his first season.

King is considered to be one of Penn State’s top recruits for the 2021 class, according to 247Sports. He comes in at 5-foot-11, which is right around the average size for the corner position, but his quick change in direction can make up for that early on in his career.

The Nittany Lions wrap up their spring practices this Saturday at Beaver Stadium and it’s clear that fans should be exciting to see King get his first “unofficial” action as a Nittany Lion.

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Penn State’s final spring football practice will not be televised

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Penn State’s final spring football practice will not be televised

Big Ten Network will be airing the Ohio State spring game while Penn State’s final spring practice is ongoing at the same time.

If you were wondering how you can catch all of the action from Penn State’s final spring practice of the year, you better make sure you have your internet connection in good working order. Penn State’s final spring practice will not be airing on television, but Penn State will have a way for you to catch all of the action if you are checking in from home.

Big Ten Network is scheduled to air the Ohio State spring game on Saturday at noon eastern, which is the same time Penn State has its final spring practice inside Beaver Stadium scheduled. With no coverage on Big Ten Network or any other media outlet, Penn State will still give fans a chance to stay up to date on the development son the field with a live radio broadcast streaming on Penn State’s official athletics website.

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Penn State will also be interactive with fans all morning and afternoon with Facebook and Twitter updates and a pre-practice show on the athletics website. Penn State will also be utilizing their Instagram account for live check-ins around the spring practice beginning at noon eastern.

It is unfortunate that fans will not be able to watch any of the fun from the comfort at home, but it makes sense this practice would not air on TV. Because this is not an actual spring game, it would be difficult to televise in any functional way. Based on past experiences watching live TV coverage of a spring practice as opposed to a spring game, it just is not an enjoyable product to watch as cameras are always finding a way to be following the wrong players and announcers may be reacting to something entirely different on another part of the field.

Perhaps things will be different in 2022, but for now, fans will just have to wait until the fall to catch the Nittany Lions on TV again.

Follow Nittany Lions Wire on Twitter and like us on Facebook for continuing Penn State coverage and discussion.

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Penn State Blue-White game preview: 5 questions for the offense

Penn State’s offense has been the main story of the spring. On Saturday, fans will get to see what the fuss is all about.

Penn State’s spring football practice schedule will culminate this weekend with the final spring practice being held on Saturday inside Beaver Stadium. A small fraction of fans will be allowed to enter through the gates of Beaver Stadium for the first time since 2019, which is exciting on its own, but the offense of the Nittany Lions has a real chance to offer its own form of excitement. The Blue-White Game, in whatever form it will hold this week, should offer a glimpse of big things to come, but just how much of that will we see in live action?

With a new offensive coordinator in Mike Yurcich, a third-year starting quarterback in Sena Clifford, and one of the Big Ten’s top wide receivers in Jahan Dotson, the key ingredients for a fun offense appear to be in place. Here are five questions about the offense to keep in mind this weekend.

1. Just how much of the Mike Yurcich offense will we actually see?

Penn State made an upgrade on the coaching staff this offseason with the addition of Mike Yurcich, formerly of Texas. Yurcich inherits an offense that got off to a tough start in 2020 but started to turn a corner in the second half of the season. There is no question Yurcich has some good players to work with in the Penn State offense, but for reasons that will be outlined in a moment, it may not be fair to judge the status of the Penn State offense based on whatever is shown off on Saturday.

Saturday’s final spring practice will not likely be a showcase for all that will be unfolding in the Yurcich offense, either because some of the key players may not be on the field long enough to get a chance to shine the way they may in the fall. Instead, this could be a good opportunity to see what some other players on the roster have to offer.

Speaking of which…

2. What will the quarterback situation look like after the spring game?

One of the biggest questions Penn State head coach James Franklin has faced this offseason has been what he will do with the quarterback situation after the spring. Sean Clifford is without hesitation the team’s starting quarterback, but the experience and depth behind him is a looming concern following the transfer of Will Levis (to Kentucky) and Micah Bowens (to Oklahoma).

How much time in the final spring practice is dedicated to Sean Clifford may be relatively brief. Instead, this will serve as a good opportunity to get more reps for backups Taquan Roberson and Christian Veilleux. If all goes well, both will show they have blossomed this spring and given Franklin and Yurcich much more confidence about what they have on the depth chart behind Clifford. Otherwise, Penn State’s search in the transfer portal could intensify in a hurry.

Next: Brenton Strange taking charge at tight end

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