Tag: Kaytron Allen

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.

Social media reacts to Penn State’s dreadful Peach Bowl loss to Ole Miss

Social media reacts to Penn State’s Peach bowl loss to Ole Miss

Penn State’s offense has been under fire for pretty much the whole 2023 season, and the unit’s performance in the Peach Bowl against Ole Miss was much of the same. Lackluster, uninspiring, one-dimensional, un-explosive, or whatever word you want to describe it surfaced Saturday afternoon in the 38-25 loss to the Rebels. The Nittany Lions finished the season 10-3 and will go into next season with a lot of questions surrounding their offense and what it will look like.

The offseason should be an interesting one, with Penn State in dire need of offensive upgrades, especially in the receiver department. There are pieces to build around, like Kaytron Allen, Nick Singleton, and perhaps Harrison Wallace III, but that’s a conversation for another time. Social media is a here-and-now atmosphere, and it sure didn’t miss on Penn State’s dud performance in the Peach Bowl centered around another anemic passing performance, Drew Allar, and the Penn State offense.

5 keys to a Penn State victory over Ole Miss the Peach Bowl

5 keys for a Penn State victory in the Peach Bowl against Ole Miss

It’s been about a month since Penn State took care of business on Black Friday against Michigan State in their last regular season game. We are now less than a day away from the Nittany Lions taking on No. 11 Ole Miss Rebels in the 56th annual Peach Bowl.

Penn State is seeking its 11 win of the season, and it won’t be an easy task. Ole Miss has improved from an 8-5 finish last year and, with a win against LSU, had a resurgent season, going 10-2 and finishing in the top-5 of the SEC. The Nittany Lions and the Rebels have never faced one another, and Ole Miss is the last remaining SEC school Penn State has yet to face. Historically, Penn State has a .500 record against the rest of the SEC, including Texas and Oklahoma.

Both teams and programs are pretty different from each other, but both have ended up in Atlanta, with one team going home with a statement win for next season and the other with three losses. Here are five keys to a Nittany Lion win on Saturday against the Rebels.

Penn State’s cornerbacks coach discusses potential contributing freshmen

Could any of these freshmen find a role in Penn State’s defense in 2024? An assistant coach offers his opinion.

Penn State had a fantastic signing day, locking up all 25 of their commits and having no drama surround their program on a day that can become filled with potential commits signing elsewhere.

On the recruiting front, the Nittany Lions’ coaching staff will turn their attention towards future classes and continue to try and build another elite class that has become the norm under [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag].

As far as the on field product goes, the next question that presents itself is which one of the incoming freshman could become impact players in their first season in the program?

Penn State had five players, all on the defensive side of the ball, forego their redshirt seasons during the 2023-24 campaign. Linebacker [autotag]Tony Rojas[/autotag], defensive end [autotag]Jameial Lyons[/autotag], safety [autotag]King Mack[/autotag] and corners [autotag]Zion Tracy[/autotag] and [autotag]Elliott Washington[/autotag] all contributed in limited roles.

Cornerbacks coach, Terry Smith, was asked which players in the 2024 class could follow that mold and become contributors immediately in their first year by Ryan Snyder of On3 (paid subscription required).

He immediately looked to his position group as the Nittany Lions have three players entering the NFL draft.

Smith said that [autotag]Jon Mitchell[/autotag] and [autotag]Antoine Belgrave-Shorter[/autotag] are two players to watch since they are enrolling in January and will get to work within the program as soon as possible.

He notes that it will come down to if they can make the transition from the high school level to high-major Power 5 football and adjust to the processing speed it takes to recognize what is happening during the play.

Talent-wise he thinks Mitchell and Belgrave-Shorter have the tools to be contributors, but it will come down to making that adjustment.

As far as the offensive side of the ball, he has his eye on running back, [autotag]Quentin Martin[/autotag], who is a Top-100 player.

Even in a loaded running back room with [autotag]Kaytron Allen[/autotag] and [autotag]Nick Singleton[/autotag] coming back, Martin is an explosive playmaker and could be used in the passing game early on as he is considered the best receiver in the room already.

Top 10 Penn State bowl game individual rushing performances

Here is a look at the top 10 individual rushing performances in Penn State bowl history.

As we count down the days until Penn State kicks off against Ole Miss in the 2023 Peach Bowl, it’s fun to look back on some Nittany Lions’ bowl game history. Two standout backs, [autotag]Kaytron Allen[/autotag] and [autotag]Nick Singleton[/autotag], are expected to play in the bowl game this year so perhaps more memorable performances are on deck.

Penn State has had its share of quality running backs throughout its storied history, none more famous than [autotag]Saquon Barkley[/autotag] and [autotag]Franco Harris[/autotag]. Harris was a big and powerful runner who led the Nittany Lions to an undefeated season in 1971 as an All-American. He would go on to win four Super Bowls with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Barkley broke several Penn State rushing records during his time in Happy Valley and showed the innate ability to break off highlight plays. He was one of if not the most electrifying players in Penn State history

Do either of these two backs make the list of top-10 rushing performances in Penn State bowl game history?

5 reactions to Penn State’s Peach Bowl matchup against Ole Miss

With Penn State bid in the Peach Bowl confirmed, we give our reactions to the matchup against Ole Miss.

Penn State received a date to the Peach Bowl, where Ole Miss will be waiting for them in Atlanta on December 30th, which comes out of the SEC as the third-highest-ranked team behind Alabama and Georgia. The Nittany Lions’ appearance in the Peach Bowl is the program’s first and the fifth New Year’s Six bowl under [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag]. Penn State and Ole Miss have never faced each other and come into the matchup with both teams holding just two losses each against the top two teams in their respective conferences.

The Rebels typically high-powered offense struggled against Alabama and Georgia, while their defense gave up 52 points to the Bulldogs just three weeks ago. Penn State’s defense will have their handful with a top-20 scoring offense. Ole Miss has had an up-and-down year defensively, but the Rebels should still present [autotag]Drew Allar[/autotag] and the Nittany Lions with a challenge.

With all of the bowls being announced today, let’s take a look at some quick reactions to [autotag]Penn State’s Peach Bowl[/autotag] matchup against Ole Miss in arguably the top bowl matchup outside of the College Football Playoff.

Five stats that show what Andy Kotelnicki’s offense is all about

These numbers suggest Penn State’s offense will be in good hands under the leadership of Andy Kotelnicki.

Penn State’s search for a new offensive coordinator officially came to a close with the hiring of [autotag]Andy Kotelnicki[/autotag], just a day after reports of the hire began to spread.. The Minnesota native will be tasked with turning one of the country’s least explosive offensives into one that can take the top off the defense. For most, Kotelnicki’s name might not have been at the top of their shortlists, but in the 24 hours since the news broke, everyone seems to agree that the hire is a slam dunk.

If you have watched Kansas football this year, you would know that the creativity jumps off the tape, and that trait was sorely missed in Happy Valley this season. James Franklin said he wanted a head coach of the offense, and Kotelnicki’s track record at Kansas and before that Buffalo shows that he can and will make the offense his own. While we won’t have any visuals on the new look Nittany Lion offense until the 2024 Blue-White game in the spring, that won’t stop us from diving into some numbers that should give Penn State fans some hope that better offensive production is on the way.

Social media reacts to Penn State’s offensive coordinator hire

How Twitter reacted to the reported hiring of Andy Kotelnicki as offensive coordinator at Penn State.

Penn State has filled its vacancy at offensive coordinator with the reported hire of Andy Kotelnicki. Kotelnicki is leaving Kansas after three years with the Big 12 program and his hire seems to have been received quite well on social media.

Kotelnicki has been a key coordinator for Kansas head coach Lance Leipold for a long time dating back to Leipold’s time as a dominant Division 3 coach with Wisconsin-Whitewater. Each time Leipold has moved on to a new job (at Buffalo and then Kansas), Kotelnicki has been one of the key staff members making the move as well. Now, Kotelnicki will take on a new position with high expectations to get the most out of Penn State’s offense.

And as some have pointed out on social media, a look at the track record of an offense coached by [autotag]Andy Kotelnicki[/autotag] is definitely something to get excited about for an offense that has [autotag]Drew Allar[/autotag], [autotag]Nick Singleton[/autotag], and [autotag]Kaytron Allen[/autotag] coming back in 2024.

Here is a look at what some of the reactions from social media have had to say about Penn State’s new offensive coordinator hire.

Olu Fashanu named Big Ten offensive lineman of the year

The return of Olu Fashanu paid off for Penn State in 2023. Now he’s adding some hardware to his collection.

When offensive lineman [autotag]Olu Fashanu[/autotag] announced he would be returning for another year at Penn State, it was a bit of a shock. Expected to be a potential first-round draft pick had he declared for the 2023 NFL draft, Fashanu gambled on a return for one more season of college football before turning pro. It seems that gamble has been paying off quite nicely.

On Wednesday, the Big Ten announced Fashanu had been named the Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year. He was also a consensus first-team All-Big Ten player according to Big Ten coaches and media.

Fashanu is the second Penn State player to win the Big Ten’s top offensive lineman award. [autotag]A.Q. Shipley[/autotag] received the award in 2008. Fashanu remains a clear first-round draft pick prospect, and he could be one of the earlier picks in the draft after his performance this season.

Here is a look at how the Big Ten coaches voted for the conference’s top players on the football field in 2023. Penn State was well-represented across the board this year.

All-Big Ten selections by Big Ten coaches

  • OT Olu Fashanu (first-team)
  • DE [autotag]Chop Robinson[/autotag] (first team)
  • LB [autotag]Abdul Carter[/autotag] (first team)
  • DE [autotag]Adisa Isaac[/autotag] (second team)
  • RB [autotag]Kaytron Allen[/autotag] (second team offense, honorable mention special teams)
  • DB [autotag]Kalen King[/autotag] (second team)
  • C [autotag]Hunter Nourzad[/autotag] (second team)
  • DL [autotag]Dani Dennis-Sutton[/autotag] (third team)
  • DB [autotag]Johnny Dixon[/autotag] (third team)
  • DB [autotag]Daequan Hardy[/autotag] (third team defense; second team special teams)
  • RB [autotag]Nick Singleton[/autotag] (third team)
  • TE [autotag]Tyler Warren[/autotag] (third team)
  • K [autotag]Alex Felkins[/autotag] (third team)
  • OL [autotag]Caedan Wallace[/autotag] (honorable mention)
  • OL [autotag]JB Nelson[/autotag] (honorable mention)
  • OL [autotag]Sal Wormley[/autotag] (honorable mention)
  • TE [autotag]Theo Johnson[/autotag] (honorable mention)
  • WR [autotag]KeAndre Lambert-Smith[/autotag] (honorable mention)
  • QB [autotag]Drew Allar[/autotag] (honorable mention)
  • P [autotag]Riley Thompson[/autotag] (honorable mention)

 

Penn State dominates Michigan State, 42-0, for 10-2 regular season

Penn State kept its hopes for a New Years Six bowl game within reach wiht a decisive victory over Michigan State.

Penn State wasn’t about to have any Thanksgiving hangover in its regular-season finale on Friday night. [autotag]Drew Allar[/autotag]’s big night through the air and an aggressive defense was far more than Michigan State could handle in a 42-0 victory by the Nittany Lions in Ford Field in Detroit.

Allar was 17-of-26 for 292 yards and 2 touchdowns without an interception. That included a pair of passes that traveled over 40 yards with running back [autotag]Nick Singleton[/autotag] taking a pass for 53 yards and [autotag]Omari Evans[/autotag] getting his hands on a deep ball for a 60-yard gain to set up a touchdown.

Singleton ended the night with 118 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown, and 68 receiving yards. [autotag]Kaytron Allen[/autotag] carried the football 15 times for 137 yards. It was the first game all season where any Penn State player rushed for 100 yards.

Penn State was a bit slow out of the gates with a field goal by [autotag]Alex Felkins[/autotag] in the first quarter and an early miss from Felkins on a later drive. Penn State led by a score of 13-0 at halftime before putting the game away in the second half.

Penn State’s defense recorded 6 sacks and 11 TFL on a night with constant pressure in the backfield. [autotag]Chop Robinson[/autotag], [autotag]Adisa Isaac[/autotag] (7 tackles, 1 sack, 1.5 TFL), and Abdul Carter (2 sacks, 2 TFL)all had some big plays as they never allowed Spartans quarterback Katin Houser to feel comfortable. Houser passed for just 87 yards with 1 interception.

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Penn State’s victory is the first shutout in series history against the Spartans. It is the fourth shutout in the all-time series with Penn State being shutout in 1945, 1949, and 1965.

This is Penn State’s second-straight season with at least 10 wins. Penn State went 10-2 in the regular season last year and ended the year with a victory in the Rose Bowl for an 11-2 record. Penn State will get a chance to get to 11 wins with their upcoming bowl game this bowl season. This is also the fifth season with at least 10 wins under James Franklin.

Penn State’s regular season is now in the books and the waiting game begins to learn which bowl game will be the next destination for the Nittany Lions. At 10-2, Penn State sits in a favorable spot for a potential at-large spot in a New Years Six bowl game, although a lot could happen in the final week of the regular season and in next week’s conference championship games to impact the final bowl projections.

Michigan State will now focus on turning the page as a program with a new head coach being hired. There are reports the Spartans could name a new head coach in the coming days as the coaching carousel is about to spin wildly out of control.

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