Tag: jerry cross

Penn State player availability report for Week 1 at West Virginia

Penn State’s updated player availability reports confirms a couple of players expected to be out of action.

Penn State’s first road trip to open the season will see the roster without a number of players available. Penn State’s player availability report was released two hours before kicking off at West Virginia, and a total of 14 players have officially been ruled out of action.

Some of the names appearing on the list were not surprising to see. Linebacker Keon Wylie has previously been reported to be out of action for a significant period of time since the spring. Backup quarterback Jaxon Smolik was also banged up with an undisclosed injury during camp.

One of the notable players to miss the West Virginia game includes tight end Khalil Dinkins, who is expected to be a key alternative to star Tyler Warren at the position. James Franklin did note this week that Dinkins had been getting banged up leading up to the game, however.

The following players have been ruled out for Penn State in Week 1:

  • [autotag]Jaxon Smolik[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Khalil Dinkins[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Mylachi Williams[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Kari Jackson[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Keon Wylie[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Zuriah Fisher[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Mason Robinson[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Xavier Gilliam[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Peter Gonzalez[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Jerry Cross[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Sam Siafa[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Liam Andrews[/autotag]
  • [autotag]De’Andre Cook[/autotag]
  • [autotag]T.A. Cunningham[/autotag]

Big Ten schools are required to provide a player availability report no later than two hours prior to a scheduled kickoff. The policy was put into effect in 2023 and has seen a few conferences follow that idea in 2024.

West Virginia has not had any reported injuries this week. The Big 12 does not have the same kind of rules requiring player availability reports for its members. The SEC and MAC each enacted a similar policy beginning this season following the Big Ten’s lead.

Penn State and West Virginia kick off the season with their game at noon Eastern on Fox.

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2023 Penn State football snapshot profile: No. 88 Jerry Cross

Penn State’s top two TEs are solid, but could Jerry cross be the next man up at the position in 2023?

Going into the 2023 football season, Nittany Lions Wire will be looking at each scholarship player listed on the Penn State roster. Over the preseason, each profile will cover where the player is from, how recruiting websites rated them coming out of high school, and what role they will play for James Franklin this season.

Next up in this series is a look at another young tight end looking to crack into some playing time this fall, [autotag]Jerry Cross[/autotag]. After joining the program in 2022, Cross could be a player to keep a close eye on this fall as Penn State looks to find a third tight end to rely on behind its top two on the roster in 2023.

Here is a snapshot look at Cross heading into the upcoming college football season.

2022 Penn State football: Nittany Lions’ tight ends preview

Overview of what Penn State has to offer at tight end going into the 2022 season.

The passing game has really allowed for Penn State to showcase it’s receiving talent. In recent memory we have seen [autotag]Pat Freiermuth[/autotag] and [autotag]Mike Gesicki[/autotag] who have turned State College success into NFL success.

The talent in the tight end room this year has some NFL-level talent in it as well. Players like [autotag]Theo Johnson[/autotag] and [autotag]Brenton Strange[/autotag] are already getting media attention being named to the John Mackey Award watchlist. Both men are expected to bring big time blocking and receiving to the Penn State offense with their own unique skillsets.

The room itself has a nice mix of young and old players in it. Coach James Franklin has shown an affinity to give the NFL talent at all positions and because of that he is now aware he has to have deep rosters at skill positions.

Penn State football snapshot profile: No. 86 Brenton Strange

Penn State tight end Brenton Strange looks to make that big leap in 2022, and he has the talent to do so. Snapshot profile:

Going into the 2022 football season, Nittany Lions Wire will be looking at each scholarship player listed on the Penn State roster.

Over the preseason, each profile will cover where the player is from, how recruiting websites rated them coming out of high school, and what role they will play for James Franklin this season.

The tight ends are a young group full of potential. [autotag]Jerry Cross[/autotag] was the headliner for the 2022 recruiting class, but it is likely he will be a reserve player with both [autotag]Brenton Strange[/autotag] and [autotag]Theo Johnson[/autotag] ahead of him.

Speaking of which, this snapshot profile highlights Brenton Strange, who saw more action after the departure of [autotag]Pat Freirmuth[/autotag] to the NFL. Strange looks to make that big leap in 2022, and he has the talent to do so.

Penn State football snapshot profile: No. 88 Jerry Cross

Penn State freshman tight end Jerry Cross may not have a huge role in 2022, but keep an eye out for him moving forward.

Going into the 2022 football season, Nittany Lions Wire will be looking at each scholarship player listed on the Penn State roster.

Over the preseason, each profile will cover where the player is from, how recruiting websites rated them coming out of high school, and what role they will play for [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] this season.

Penn State has a talented tight end room with plenty of potential headlined by [autotag]Brenton Strange[/autotag] and [autotag]Theo Johnson[/autotag]. But another name to watch is Milwaukee native [autotag]Jerry Cross[/autotag], who was a top 10 tight end in the country and one of the top players in the state of Wisconsin.

Cross has a lot of potential to be a crucial player in the tight end group.

Penn State announces uniform numbers for new players

Penn State has confirmed the jersey numbers for 10 new players in the program as spring football practices open

Penn State officially kicks off the spring football practice season on Monday, and a handful of new faces will get their first taste of spring football in Happy Valley. A number of early transfers from Penn State’s highly-touted Class of 2022 and a key addition through the transfer portal are getting to work with returning members of the program as Penn State looks to set the tone for what they hope will be a better 2022 season.

And with the start of spring football practices comes an official update to the roster, including a batch of new jersey numbers for the newest members of the program.

Penn State officially announced a batch of new uniform numbers for its newest players on the roster, including Western Kentucky transfer wide receiver Mitchell Tinsley, and Class of 2022 running back Nick Singleton and quarterback Drew Allar.

Here are the jersey numbers for 10 new players to the Penn State roster in 2022.

  • 5 – Mitchell Tinsley, wide receiver
  • 7 – Kaden Saunders, wide receiver
  • 9 – Beau Pribula, quarterback
  • 10 – Nick Singleton, running back
  • 13 – Kaytron Allen, running back
  • 15 – Drew Allar, quarterback
  • 18 – Omari Evans, wide receiver
  • 28 – Zane Durant, defensive tackle
  • 55 – JB Nelson, offensive line
  • 88 – Jerry Cross, tight end

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Uniform numbers for Penn State early-enrollees revealed during THON weekend

Uniform numbers for Penn State early enrollees in Class of 2022 revealed during THON weekend, including Drew Allar and Nicholas Singleton.

THON weekend is a signature event on Penn State’s campus, and it is much more important than sports. But sometimes it tears a page back on some sports developments going on around the campus. In this case, the first look at some of Penn State’s newest additions in the Class of 2022 in their new jerseys is worth noting.

Lions 247 caught a number of Penn State’s early enrollees in the Class of 2022, including quarterback Drew Allar and running back Nicholas Singleton, taking part in some activities that are a part of the THON Weekend, and they were wearing Penn State uniforms for the first time in a public setting.

While there could always be some changes down the line before the 2022 football season kicks off with a Thursday night opener at Purdue in Week 1, here is what uniform numbers some of the newest Nittany Lions were spotted wearing this weekend.

  • Kaden Saunders, WR – 7
  • Beau Pribula, QB – 9
  • Nicholas Singleton, RB – 10
  • Drew Allar, QB – 15
  • Omari Evans, WR – 18
  • Zane Durant, DL – 28
  • Jerry Cross, TE – 88

Penn State’s spring game, the Blue-White Game, is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 23.

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Video highlights of each member of Penn State football’s Class of 2022

WATCH: Video highlights of each Penn State Class of 2022 player

Penn State locked in its Class of 2022 at the start of the NCAA’s early signing period, and with it comes a bunch of buzz for the future of the Nittany Lions under the leadership of head coach James Franklin. But chances are most of you are unfamiliar with what any of these new faces will bring to the table for Penn State. So it’s a good thing Penn State served up some highlight packages to give fans a quick glimpse of the kind of talent that is joining the program.

Enjoy this collection of video highlights of Penn State’s newest additions in the Class of 2022.

Big board: Penn State’s 2022 football recruiting class by position

Breaking down Penn State football’s Class of 2022 position by position.

Penn State’s Class of 2022 has long been recognized as one of the top classes in the nation. The latest (and greatest) recruiting class to be signed by James Franklin looks to add some tremendous quality and depth to various positions across the roster and has some players to really look forward to watching grow almost immediately.

For a long stretch in this recruiting cycle, Penn State had the nation’s top-ranked class, and it continued to be ranked highest among Big Ten schools up until shortly before the early signing period. But there is no disputing the ranking of Penn State’s Class of 2022 is proof Penn State has been hitting it hard on the recruiting trail this cycle.

Here is a breakdown of Penn State’s Class of 2022 broken down by position.

Jerry Cross can continue Penn State’s TE tradition in Class of 2022

Penn State’s tight end legacy should continue with Class of 2022 addition Jerry Cross.

Position: Tight End

Height: 6′-6″

Weight: 257 lb

Hometown: Milwaukee, WI

High School: Rufus King High School

Twitter: @thejerrycross

Committed: July 28, 2020

247 Sports: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rivals.com: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Overview:

Jerry Cross is a big-bodied tight end that had some experience playing wide receiver in his early year of high school.

Penn State has always done a good job of developing tight ends. Even for next level, there are two currently starting in the NFL with Mike Gesicki (Dolphins) and Pat Freiermuth (Steelers).

Cross stands 6-foot-6 and 257 pounds. As mentioned, he does have experience playing wide receiver.

Throughout the season, we have seen multiple games where Penn State has used tight end packages with Brenton Strange and Theo Johnson. Not only that, but getting multiple involved on their offense.

Milwaukee King’s Jerry Cross catches a pass for a two-point conversaion over Milwaukee Reagan’s Keagan O’Keefe (1) and Christian Oliverria (32) and an official in the Milwaukee City Conference football championship game Friday, October 18, 2019. Photo credit: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

He was recruited as a tight end. However, with his ability to line up as a receiver, it will be interesting to see how much his versatility will become a part of the Penn State offense.

With his limited time playing receiver, Cross has exceptional route-running skills and definitely has the ability to develop into a more versatile piece of the Nittany Lions offense.

Can Cross become a vital part of Penn State’s offense? He certainly has the talent to do so.

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