Julian Fleming – Syndication Server

Best pictures from Penn State’s White Out victory vs. Washington

Check out some of the best photos from Penn State’s latest home game against Washington in front of a White Out crowd in Beaver Stadium.

The White Out atmosphere was electric, as it always is on Saturday evening, and Penn State made sure its fans went home happy. The Nittany Lions offense came out on fire, scoring on four straight drives to put the wheels in motion for a 35-6 win over the Washington Huskies. There were several notable moments, especially when Tyler Warren went airborne for a touchdown.

Penn State will look to keep the positive momentum going next week on the road against Purdue, which was trounced by Ohio State earlier on Saturday. Penn State must remain sharp to keep the possibility of hosting a College Football Playoff game alive.

Here are some of the best photos from Penn State’s White Out against Washington.

Overtime win against USC shows Penn State is different from past seasons

2024 Penn State Nittany Lions primed for more after victory over USC

Throughout the second half of Saturday’s game, I thought one thing: Penn State has all the tools to win a game like this.

You could easily argue that for the first time in eight seasons, the Nittany Lions have the makings to win a game like Saturday’s classic in LA. Ironically, eight years ago was the last time USC and Penn State faced each other. It was in the 2017 Rose Bowl, a few weeks after Penn State won its most recent Big Ten title.

This 2024 Penn State team could be even better. They are 6-0 and have a quarterback with the poise to bring his team back from a 17-point deficit and put the team on his shoulders when they needed him most. The two fourth-and-long conversions to [autotag]Julian Fleming[/autotag] were the two biggest plays of Penn State’s season thus far, and [autotag]Drew Allar[/autotag] was money on both of them. Without those two plays, Penn State would likely fall to USC, and the question of winning big games remains.

USC was and still is a good team. Saturday was a “big game” win for Penn State and used to be the type of game many pundits would say a [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] coached Penn State team couldn’t win. When was the last time a Penn State game provided as much excitement that late into the game and overtime?

Another difference in this squad that seemed rarely present in past Penn State teams is the offense’s ability to pick up a struggling defense. PSU gave up 30 points against USC, and in many years, including last season, a 30-23 deficit against an above-average defense would have been game over. It seems this season and this offense, and as Saturday’s win proved, is different.

Andy Kotelnicki has the pieces and, most importantly, the quarterback to make a late-game comeback, where pinpoint throws and pocket maneuverability are crucial. I came away from yesterday’s game realizing that this Penn State offense just feels different when a play is needed. I am not saying I knew they would convert those two fourth downs, but I had confidence in the quarterback, receivers and the playcaller to get a good look.

That is a feeling I certainly did not have at any point last year.

No, USC is not Ohio State or Oregon, but they are a really good team and took it to Penn State’s defense for the better part of the game. The offense, led by Allar, came up clutch and showed they were ready for the next test. If they can shake the slow starts, the Nittany Lions can beat Ohio State in early November, compete for the Big Ten title and be a legit contender for the College Football Playoff.

Perhaps Penn State is not as good as its current No. 3 ranking, but after beating USC this weekend, the Nittany Lions have all the tools needed to go on a run they haven’t been on since 2016.

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Penn State rallies for thrilling overtime victory at USC!

Ryan Barker’s game-winning field goal keeps Penn State undefeated after overtime thriller in Los Angeles.

The last time Penn State traveled to California for a football game, it came up on the losing end of a Rose Bowl classic when USC kicked a game-winning field goal as time expired. On Saturday, the Nittany Lions were in another classic ending against USC, but this time it was the Nittany Lions celebrating a game-winning field goal. [autotag]Ryan Barker[/autotag]’s 36-yard field goal in overtime lift Penn State over USC, 33-30, to improve to 6-0.

Behind a record day from tight end [autotag]Tyler Warren[/autotag], Penn State battled all afternoon and dug out of a double-digit deficit in the first half to find a way out of the Los Angeles Coliseum with a memorable win. Warren set a FBS record for the most receptions ina. game by a tight end with 17, and he ended the day with the second-most receiving yards

Penn State trailed the Trojans 20-6 at halftime but asserted some control after halftime. Penn State scored two touchdowns in the second quarter to tie the game at 20-20 thanks in large part to the effort by Warren, but Penn State trailed by three heading into the fourth quarter after USC managed to regain the lead shortly after Allar’s second interception of the day, this one off a tipped pass. Despite great field position, USC may have left points on the board after a solid defensive stand by Penn State to limit the damage as best it could.

Penn State put together a 72-yard drive to start the fourth quarter but had to settle for a Ryan Barker field goal from the three-yard line. That was when USC came up with a potentially backbreaking drive.

USC marched right down the field on the Penn State defense with big runs from Woody Marks, and Miller Moss completed a pass over the middle to Kyron Hudson for a five-yard touchdown pass to put the Trojans up 30-23 with just under six minutes to play. But that was more than enough time for Penn State to come up with an answer.

Drew Allar led one of the best drives of his career by driving Penn State down the field without a pass completion to Warren. Instead to was [autotag]Julian Fleming[/autotag] coming up with big catches in the clutch as Penn State converted two fourth-down plays to keep the chains moving, one for a 16-yard gain and another for a 17-yard gain. Allar capped the drive with a touchdown pass to [autotag]Nicholas Singleton[/autotag], who returned to the field after missing last week’s game against UCLA.

Jaylen Reed picked off a pass from USC quarterback Miller Moss in the final seconds of the fourth quarter to prevent USC from setting up for a potentially game-winning field goal attempt, and Penn State was left with a few seconds to try and manufacture a deep shot to the end zone before overtime. Allar’s deep pass was picked off on the final play of regulation for his third interception of the game, which doubled his career total for interceptions.

After winning the coin toss and electing to go on defense, Penn State’s defense forced USC to try a field goal on the opening possession. USC missed a 45-yard attempt after the defense held strong, and got away with a couple of questionable missed interference calls in pass defense. Knowing a field goal would win it, Penn State didn’t try to do too much on its possession and just focused on putting the ball in a good spot for Barker, who connected on the game-winning field goal from 36 yards out.

PENN STATE SURVIVES IN OVERTIME 🫨@PennStateFball pic.twitter.com/UouAzsFIGx

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 12, 2024

Penn State will be off next week. The Nittany Lions will be back on the road in Big Ten play in two weeks when it visits Wisconsin. The Badgers routed Rutgers in New Jersey earlier on Saturday.

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Penn State wins first football game against UCLA since 1968

Penn State’s defense helped ensure UCLA would not be heading home with a souvenir victory on Saturday afternoon.

Penn State won its first game against UCLA since 1968 thanks to a 27-11 victory on Saturday afternoon in front of a striped-out Beaver Stadium crowd. In the first meeting between the Nittany Lions and Bruins as Big Ten opponents, Penn State got off to a slow start on offense before putting the Bruins to sleep behind a strong defensive effort.

UCLA started Justyn Martin at quarterback with Ethan Garbers listed as questionable prior to the game, and Martin seemed to give Penn State’s defense a few problems early on. But the Nittany Lions defense, led by leading tacklers linebacker [autotag]Tony Rojas[/autotag] and safety [autotag]Zakee Wheatley[/autotag], held the Bruins out of the end zone until the final 20 seconds of the game. UCLA had gone nearly 150 minutes of game time without scoring an offensive touchdown.

[autotag]Drew Allar[/autotag] completed 17 of 24 passes for 237 yards and a touchdown, including a 57-yard pass over the middle to [autotag]Liam Clifford[/autotag], who led all players with 107 yards. [autotag]Julian Fleming[/autotag] came within a yard of his first touchdown with Penn State, and [autotag]Tyler Warren[/autotag] added three catches for 29 yards with a touchdown.

Star running back [autotag]Nicholas Singleton[/autotag] did not appear in the game after being listed as questionable on Penn State’s pregame player availability report. So [autotag]Kaytron Allen[/autotag] took the lead on the ground with 21 carries for 78 yards and a touchdown.

Despite only managing three points, UCLA’s offense did give Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Allen a few things to work on heading into Penn State’s remaining schedule, starting with a top-25 matchup on the road next week.

Penn State will be on the road for its first Big Ten road game of the season next week when they visit another Big Ten newcomer, USC. Penn State will play its first game at USC since 1991.

UCLA will look to rebound and snap a three-game losing skid in Big Ten play with a home game against Minnesota next week.

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Best Penn State football photos from the Illinois game

Check out some of the best photos from Penn State’s win over Illinois.

Penn State played its first night game of the season on Saturday night, and what better setting to do so than at home in an electric Beaver Stadium? Although this was not an officially scheduled white-out game, the fans packed the stadium dressed for the occasion and later celebrated a 21-7 victory over Illinois as Penn State improved to 4-0 overall and opened Big Ten play with a win.

Penn State’s running game and defense led the way in what turned out to be a competitive defensive slugfest between two programs known for their hard-nosed defensive styles. Penn State eventually proved to have the upper hand with a stronger and more consistent running attack and the defense came up with seven sacks and a couple of turnovers to help put a cap on the first Big Ten win of the season in front of the home crowd.

Here are some of the best photos from Penn State’s primetime win over the Illini in Week 5.

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5 offensive keys for Penn State against West Virginia

Five offensive keys for Penn State as they head to Morgantown for a week one rematch against the Mountaineers.

When Penn State faced off against West Virginia last season, the Nittany Lion offense had one of their best days of the season.

Drew Allar threw for 325 yards while completing 21 of his 29 pass attempts and three touchdowns. Harrison Wallace III caught a team high seven passes for 72 yards. On the ground, Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen both rushed for over 50 yards. It was a great all around offensive performance that led to a 38-15 victory.

The Mountaineers made improvements on the defensive side of the ball, but it is still a weaker unit that can be exploited by a strong offensive gameplan. The weakest position group on West Virginia’s defense is at cornerback where Penn state should try to exploit and give a much needed jolt to a receiving group that underwhelmed in 2023.

Running the ball is always a staple of a PSU offense and with two elite running backs that shouldn’t change this Saturday despite the Mountaineers’ having a top-50 ranked run defense a season ago. Big plays on the ground could go a long way in changing the outlook of the game.

Expect a balanced Penn State offensive attack with Allar being given every opportunity to throw against a weaker West Virginia secondary. Here are five keys for Penn State’s offense heading into their week one matchup against the Mountaineers:

West Virginia is coming off a 9-4 season and has a dynamic offense, but even with upgrades to the secondary this offseason it looks like the Mountaineers’ weakest group.

The Penn State wide receiver room left a lot to be desired last year. However, with the addition of Julian Fleming and the expected growth from Harrison Wallace III and Kaden Saunders the Nittany Lions seem set up for a bounce-back year. A first game against West Virginia seems like an ideal time to let that talent loose. Kotelnicki was brought in to get skill players open and that should be an emphasis on Saturday.

The weather forecast for Morgantown on Saturday at noon looks to be very interesting. Rain and thunderstorms seem likely around kickoff making an early season road test even trickier.

Throwing the football in wet weather is always challenging, but Allar and the quarterbacks are prepared after playing with wet footballs during Wednesday’s practice. Even more important for the offense is for them to play to their strengths when the weather hits. With two talented running backs and an elite running quarterback, the Nittany Lions have the pieces to play through a wet field and that run the ball. As long as Penn State doesn’t get ahead of themselves, the weather shouldn’t limit the Nittany Lions chances at pulling off the victory.

Drew Allar shined in last year’s matchup against West Virginia while Beau Pribula did not see nearly as much of the field as many expected heading into week one.

This year should be different.

Pribula is just too good to be riding the pine for four quarters. A year after averaging 5.9 yards per carry and scoring six rushing touchdowns, Pribula is a dangerous weapon out of the quarterback position. With a hostile road environment expected his ability running the football can certainty play to Penn State’s advantage. It is exciting to think about what Andy Kotelnicki has in mind for Pribula this year and he seems like the perfect offensive coordinator to get the most out of his dual-threat QB2.

Tyler Warren had a huge game against Ole Miss in the Peach Bowl, but against the Mountaineers last year only caught one pass for nine yards. He is the Penn State receiving target with the most experience and should be an easy target for Drew Allar in week one.

Tight ends can open up the offense for everyone else so a big Tyler Warren game could mean great things for the rest of Penn State’s skill positions.

Easier said than done for sure, but it could be necessary in a wet weather road game against West Virginia. Last year the Mountaineers gave up 4.25 yards per rush and both Penn State running backs averaged over five yards per carry in last season’s matchup. The breakaway runs were missing for most of last year and having those explosive plays back this year would be a big game changer for the Nittany Lions, especially against West Virginia who lost its starting middle linebacker to the NFL.

James Franklin praises wide receiver group for offseason improvement

James Franklin provided some optimism about the Penn State wide receivers ahead of the season opener.

After the 2023 season, Penn State made it a priority to work in the offseason to find ways to get more out of its wide receivers in 2024. Despite losing some players to the transfer portal, including the team’s leading receiver, Penn State hired a new offensive coordinator and added a key transfer as part of a plan to revamp the offense’s production this fall. And with the first game of the season now just days away, head coach [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] seems to be gaining confidence in his wide receiver group.

“I would say wide receiver. I would say quarterback. I would say offensive line, specifically obviously with the offensive lineman that we lost to the NFL last year. I would say those three positions,” Franklin said during his weekly press conference this week, also noting the improvement of the offensive line and quarterback groups. “I think everybody had pretty good idea who we were at tight end, who we were at running back, so I would say those three positions, and really the three positions we needed to, right?”

Penn State hired Andy Kotelnicki from Kansas to inject some new life into the offense, and the addition of veteran [autotag]Julian Fleming[/autotag] from Ohio State was believed to help solidify the group. And with Drew Allar gearing up for his second season as the starting quarterback, things look like they may be in good shape this fall, beginning this weekend on the road at West Virginia.

One player who has stood out to Franklin among the receivers is [autotag]Liam Clifford[/autotag], the younger brother of former Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford.

“He’s more confident, more comfortable,” Franklin said of Clifford, a player who could step up and become a bigger contributor this season. “He’s much more consistent, which is what it’s all about for all these guys at this level. But it would not surprise me at all, and we are anticipating him having a really good year for us.”

So how many receivers is Penn State looking to field this season?

“I think at wide receiver when you talk about being an 11 personnel set, you know, you’re talking about two deep at two of the positions and then a swing guy in some ways,” Franklin said. “I think we are close to that.”

The big story for the receivers will be figuring out just who is going to step up and demand the football more this fall. Fleming is the veteran option, but Franklin noted a couple of other names we should be watching for.

“I think if you look at kind of across the board, a guy like [autotag]Mehki Flowers[/autotag] has really stepped up for us. Tyler Johnson has really stepped up for us. I think [autotag]Anthony Ivey[/autotag] have really stepped up for us.

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13 Penn State players appear on Senior Bowl watch list for 2024

A large number of Penn State players are on this year’s Senior Bowl watch list.

Penn State has historically been productive when it comes to manufacturing talent for the next level in the NFL, and this year’s roster is not short on potential NFL talent. One of the highlights of the draft cycle is the Reese’s Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, which invites the nation’s top seniors to participate in one of the premier scouting events outside of the annual NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. An invite to the Senior Bowl is cherished and must be earned, and is a sign of the respect the NFL draft and scouting community holds for a player. It is a great tryout in front of the NFL world and can dramatically impact a player’s draft stock.

The Senior Bowl released its watch list of players for the upcoming season, and Penn State was well represented with players that could eventually be invited to participate in the top senior all-star game leading up to the NFL draft.

The full list of Penn State players appearing on the watch list includes:

[autotag]Drew Allar[/autotag], QB
[autotag]Kaytron Allen[/autotag], RB
[autotag]Abdul Carter[/autotag], DL
[autotag]Dani Dennis-Sutton[/autotag], DL
[autotag]Julian Fleming[/autotag], WR
[autotag]Kobe King[/autotag], LB
[autotag]JB Nelson[/autotag], OL
[autotag]Jaylen Reed[/autotag], DB
[autotag]Nick Singleton[/autotag], RB
[autotag]Tyler Warren[/autotag], TE
[autotag]Kevin Winston Jr.[/autotag], DB
[autotag]Sal Wormley[/autotag], OL
[autotag]Nolan Rucci[/autotag], OL

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James Franklin highlights fourth year receiver as prime breakout candidate

Is Harrison Wallace the key for Penn State’s 2024 offense? James Franklin certainly thinks so.

[autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] spoke to local media members for the first time since the end of spring practices.

Franklin discussed various topics, most notably questions surrounding the Nittany Lions’ White Out opponent, which is still undecided according to the head man. He didn’t get into the finer details of his squad, but he highlighted one offseason standout he thinks is in line for a breakout year.

That player would be redshirt junior [autotag]Harrison Wallace III[/autotag]. The Penn State wide receiver room has been the talk of the offseason, and rightly so, after struggling mightily for much of last season. With former Ohio State 5-star recruit [autotag]Julian Fleming[/autotag] being the only major addition, someone needs to step up, and in Franklin’s eyes, that man is Harrison Wallace III.

After showing flashes throughout his career, Wallace III battled injuries last year, which turned into a lost season.

Franklin believes the fourth-year receiver is healthy and hungry to show out.

“We thought he was gonna have a big year last year, and that got limited by no fault of his own. We feel that way and probably more so this year,” Franklin said on Thursday. “He’s a year older, he’s a year more mature, he’s more developed. And I think he’s very hungry because I think there’s frustration that last year got cut short.”

Franklin also called the Montgomery, Alabama native one of the most explosive players on Penn State’s roster. Wallace has 38 receptions for 501 yards and two touchdowns over the past two seasons.

A healthy and productive Wallace would significantly boost the Penn State offense in 2024.

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Julian Fleming emerging as important player for Penn State

It sure sounds as if Julian Fleming is fitting right in with his new Penn State teammates.

Penn State missed out on [autotag]Julian Fleming[/autotag] when he was a highly-touted recruit out of Pennsylvania. The five-star ultimately chose Ohio State after a long, drawn out process that left many fans with a sour taste in their mouths.

However, as a graduate transfer, Fleming decided to come back home and become a member of the Nittany Lions for his final year of college football.

With there being a clear need for upgrades in the wide receiver room heading into the 2024-25 season, this was met with a lot of excitement considering he can immediately have an impact.

Early reviews coming out of spring camp have been great.

“The guys love him. He’s been awesome as a teammate. He’s been really coachable. I think he has been able to kind of move on, we’ve moved on. There’s been no talk about the past. He just been really good,” [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] said according to Tyler Donohue of 247Sports.

There was some uneasiness going into the second recruitment of Fleming based on what had transpired previously, but Franklin decided to personally reach out when the former coveted wide receiver entered his name into the portal.

Fleming talked about how both sides have grown and there was no issue building relationships the second time around.

As a fifth-year senior, he’ll be expected to have a leadership role within the locker room, something that the current players are noting he’s already starting to do.

“I’ve been nothing but impressed with Julian. He handles everything the right way and approaches everything like a pro … And he’s also bringing the young guys along. I think he’s a great mentor for all them,” [autotag]Drew Allar[/autotag] said back in February.

That’s a positive sign coming from the other position that the receiver will be working closely with.

But Allar isn’t the only one who Fleming has impressed so far.

“He’ll make a great impact and (be) a great leader. I think he could be a great leader for us. Like he does everything right. … Just the way he approaches practice, anything he does, it’s always the same. You never see him down bad. He’s always got good posture,” [autotag]Kaytron Allen[/autotag] added.

While Fleming will ultimately be judged by what he accomplishes on the field, his impact could be felt more than just the dozen or so games played on Saturdays.

The early reviews are a great sign that this new marriage is going to work for the upcoming season, and his presence could help the Nittany Lions develop their young receivers into becoming top-level performers as well.