Tag: Malik McClain

Blue-White Game Preview: 5 offensive keys to watch

What are the offensive keys to pay attention to during Penn State’s spring Blue-White Game?

Spring is officially here and that means team practices are underway as they lead up to the traditional Blue-White Game on Saturday.

Last year was a year with mild expectations that eventually led to a grand finale in the form of a Rose Bowl win and a total of 11 wins on the year. They started the season unranked but ended in the top ten, this year they are likely to keep that ranking and start off with larger temptations.

The defense has been ole reliable for the Nittany Lions but it may finally be the offense’s turn to take center stage. With so many young and promising faces on that side of the ball, the spring game will be a fun preview of what could be coming this season.

5 Things to watch in Penn State’s spring game

Penn State’s Blue-White Game is this week. Here are five things to watch.

Football is in the air in State College in the month of April, and it is that time of year once again for the annual Blue and White Game.

Penn State’s spring game has taken it up a notch in previous years under [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] and this Penn State team is coming off one of its best years in program history. With that comes expectations being raised and more eyeballs on them.

It all starts in the spring game as mentioned but it can all be boiled down to five things that need to be looked at in the Blue and White Game.

Mike Yurcich comments on offensive position battles

Penn State offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich sheds light on key offensive position battles this spring.

Last week, James Franklin created a tiny stir when discussing the quarterback “battle” that will be ongoing. Offensive coordinator [autotag]Mike Yurcich[/autotag] spoke to the media on Tuesday and gave further comments regarding the competitions ongoing at several positions on offense.

Yurcich was asked about the wide receiver position with the departure of [autotag]Parker Washington[/autotag] and he responded by stating “We’d like to think that there’s a competition everywhere…but it’s a spot where we’re definitely looking for guys to step up and contribute in a major way.”

They hit the transfer portal hard in adding depth at the position by getting both Malik McClain and Dante Cephas. Those two paired with KeAndre Lambert-Smith will be competing for the attention of the new quarterback this year. Lambert-Smith is a veteran so he could be expected to lead the way but both McClain and Cephas are expected to produce decent numbers as well.

Speaking of whoever the quarterback will be, Yurcich also spoke about the two quarterbacks competing for the starting job. He added, “I think all the quarterbacks, especially Drew [Allar] and Beau [Pribula], have done a very good job of leading by example.”

[autotag]Beau Pribula[/autotag] has one extra year on campus compared to [autotag]Drew Allar [/autotag]but the now Sophomore in Allar is expected to be the starter. Yurcich and Franklin have done a decent job of entertaining the idea of competition but Allar being used as much as he was last year while finding success, indicates how they feel about him.

Look for Allar to be the starter post-blue-white game and for all the receivers mentioned above to be used in a diverse way to help him find success in his first year as the starter.

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What does James Franklin want Penn State’s offense to improve this spring?

James Franklin outlines the spring practice goals for the offense

Penn State officially opened spring football practices on Tuesday with a full staff now put in place. The Nittany Lions are looking to build off the rejuvenated momentum of the 2022 season that ended with a 10-2 regular season record and a victory over Utah in the Rose Bowl, and there will be a number of key positions to pay attention to this spring. But head coach James Franklin outlined what he is looking to improve on all parts of the roster beginning this spring.

Franklin noted a number of areas to improve on offense, including getting more out of the running game, increasing the toughness, and getting more explosiveness out of the offense on the ground and through the air. But perhaps the more pressing issue on offense is finding new leaders on the offense. After losing veteran and experienced starting quarterback Sean Clifford, two NFL wide receivers in Parker Washington and Mitchell Tinsley, and tight end Brenton Strange, the Nittany Lions have some big shoes and a good chunk of offensive production to replace in 2023.

Penn State will open the spring with [autotag]Drew Allar[/autotag] expected to be the successor to Clifford in his sophomore season. Allar was given a number of opportunities to get some playing time last season in relief of Clifford. Allar will have some new targets to get in sync with the return of [autotag]KeAndre Lambert-Smith[/autotag] and the transfer portal addition of [autotag]Malik McClain[/autotag] from Florida State this spring. The tight ends will be anchored by returning vets [autotag]Theo Johnson[/autotag] and [autotag]Tyler Warren[/autotag].

The passing game does begin the spring with more questions than any other facet on the offense, it would seem. Such is bound to happen with a young quarterback set to take over and after losing the top three receivers on the roster from the previous season.

“That room, we think there’s the talent in that room to go where we want to go,” Franklin said in a press conference on Tuesday. “I think we have to be tougher and we have to be more consistent. If you look at college football and if you look at the NFL, probably the area where you can change games the fastest in college football and the NFL right now, is at wide receiver.”

Franklin’s mentioning of the running game was interesting considering the strength of its young running back duo last season. [autotag]Nick Singleton[/autotag] and [autotag]Kaytron Allen[/autotag] each exceeded the former freshman rushing touchdown record for the program last season. Penn State had the Big Ten’s fourth-best rushing offense last season with an average of 181 rushing yards per game.

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Penn State spring football preview: Wide receivers and tight ends

Who will be the wide receivers and tight ends to watch in Penn State spring football practices this year?

As Penn State gets ready to embark on the 2023 season, the offense will be expected to be the big storyline this fall. With a new starting quarterback taking the spotlight, it should not go without mentioning that the wide receiver position will be instrumental to Penn State’s success this season. And with its top two wide receivers and leading tight end from last season departing the program for the NFL, there is more to figure out on offense than whether or not its new quarterback is ready to take flight.

Penn State loses Parker Washington and Mitchell Tinsley at wide receiver and Brenton Strange at tight end. Together, that accounts for 1,550 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns to replace in the passing offense from a year ago. Fortunately, Penn State has some players ready to step up and make up for the lost production, including some young players that will continue to develop this spring.

Here is a look at what Penn State has to offer at wide receiver and tight end this spring when spring football practices open on March 14.

Keandre Lambert-Smith

Michael Hickey/Getty Images

Measurables: 6’1″, 184 lb

Year: Junior

Expected role: Starting wide receiver

KeAndre Lambert-Smith is Penn State’s top returning wide receiver from a season ago. Following the departures of Parker Washington and Mitchell Tinsley, Lambert-Smith has the most Penn State experience at the position, and he should remain a fixture in the offense for new starting quarterback Drew Allar to rely on stretching the field.

[autotag]KeAndre Lambert-Smith[/autotag]

Harrison Wallace III

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Measurables: 6’1″, 196 lb

Year: Redshirt sophomore

Expected role: Possible starting wide receiver, solid contributor

Competing for a possible starting job could be Harrison Wallace III, who had 19 catches for 273 yards and a touchdown last season as a reserve option. Wallace finished sixth on the team in receiving yards in 2022 and is the third-leading receiver coming back from last year’s roster, although a pair of transfer additions to the roster means Wallace will look to make a statement this spring for consideration for an increased role in the fall.

NEXT: Key transfer additions

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Former Penn State football assistant lands at Air Force

One of James Franklin’s former assistant coaches is taking a job with a service academy

After Penn State and [autotag]Taylor Stubblefield[/autotag] parted ways back in January, his job as wide receivers coach was filled quickly. Two months later, the former Penn State assistant has now found his new home with a new coaching job.

Stubblefield is heading to Air Force for the exact position of Wide Receivers coach, according to The Athletic.

This will be his second stint at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs where he previously coached alongside their head coach Troy Calhoun. He had been there for the 2017 and 2018 seasons before heading to Miami (FL) and landing at Penn State.

Stubblefield left under murky circumstances back in January. At the time, [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] would only comment stating “as you guys know, I try to share as much as I possibly can with the media that I think is appropriate. I don’t necessarily think that is appropriate in this setting.”

Stubblefield did leave with a nice statement however stating “I’m proud of the kids whose names are etched in the Penn State record books. And finally, I am elated to have been part of a team that went 11-2, culminating in a Rose Bowl victory.”

His replacement was hired just days after Stubblefield’s departure and came in the form of Virginia wide receivers coach [autotag]Marques Hagans[/autotag]. Since his arrival, Franklin and Penn State have landed transfer wide receivers [autotag]Dante Cephas[/autotag] and [autotag]Malik McClain[/autotag] which will further his expectations.

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Top 5 position battles heading into Penn State’s spring practices

These position battles will be heating up when Penn State opens spring football practices.

Penn State football is in a very good position overall with the way that James Franklin has this team constructed. Of course, there are a few positions that need to be sorted out still.

The position battles going on this spring will be what solidify the starting lineup. The team is very deep and whoever loses these battles shouldn’t be seen as someone not of the quality you expect from Penn State. Rather, it will speak volumes as to what the starters should be seen as which is top-level quality players.

Here are the top five position battles to monitor this spring.

5 new faces to watch during Penn State spring football practices

Penn State’s spring football practices will begin soon. Here are five newcomers you should get to know.

Penn State coach James Franklin hasn’t always utilized the transfer portal the way most coaches do but that has changed and now we see more impact players coming in for the program.

He has always recruited well for the Nittany Lions and has had a great staff that attracts players to come in. This offseason he was able to attract several significant transfer players to pair with a strong 2023 recruiting class for the team.

Get to know just some of the new faces on campus that could be making plays in the Fall inside Beaver Stadium.

ESPN says these non-QB players will define Penn State’s success in 2023

ESPN says this group of players will be the key to Penn State’s success this football season.

As Penn State begins to prepare for spring football practices, the position under the brightest spotlight is the quarterback position. Following the long career of [autotag]Sean Clifford[/autotag], which ended with multiple Penn State passing records and a Rose Bowl victory to cap an 11-2 season, sophomore [autotag]Drew Allar[/autotag] is the expected successor for the Nittany Lions, and he comes with plenty of hype and lofty expectations moving forward. But if you eliminate the obvious quarterback position from the discussion, what position or positions will have the largest impact on what Penn State does in 2023?

ESPN went through each of its way-too-early top 25 teams for the 2023 season and singled out one group that will be the biggest key for each team this fall. When it came to Penn State, the focus stayed on the offensive side of the football with the supporting cast surrounding Allar. ESPN grouped all of Penn State’s skill position players into the key category as the players that will ultimately dictate whether Penn State has a successful season or not. To be fair, this seems like an easy out, but it does make some sense.

The defense will have some key players to replace but the entire defense still has a good amount of talent to rely on for the upcoming season. And the offense has the dynamic young duo of [autotag]Nick Singleton[/autotag] and [autotag]Kaytron Allen[/autotag] to run the football after stellar freshman seasons in 2022. Allen would have set the freshman rushing touchdown record for Penn State if it were not for Singleton also breaking and setting the new freshman record last season. Expect plenty of Singleton and Allen again in 2023.

Penn State’s biggest question mark on offense may come with the receivers after losing [autotag]Parker Washington[/autotag] and [autotag]Mitchell Tinsley[/autotag] to the NFL. The Nittany Lions bring back [autotag]KeAndre Lambert-Smith[/autotag], who had a big Rose Bowl, and the program attacked the transfer portal to add [autotag]Dante Cephas[/autotag] from Kent State and [autotag]Malik McClain[/autotag] from Florida State. The two new transfer additions should fit right in with the offense, but it is fair to wonder just how quickly the receivers get in sync with Allar.

Penn State was a common team placed in the top 10 of the way-too-early top 25 rankings following the conclusion of the 2022 season, and it is expected the Nittany Lions could be in the Big Ten championship and College Football Playoff discussion in the fall, and if the offense is firing on all cylinders, then the Nittany Lions could be in for a wild season.

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Penn State makes top 13 for four-star athlete in 2024

Penn State makes latest top schools cut for four-star two-way player in Class of 2024

Penn State is officially in the running for an athletic four-star player in the Class of 2024. According to Hayes Fawcett of On3, California native Aaron Butler has updated his top schools list to 13, and Penn State is among the latest batch of candidates.

Butler was previously committed to USC but has recently reopened his recruitment. USC is still in the mix as well, and may still be considered the favorite. Penn State will have some work to do to make a big dent in this recruiting battle.

In addition to Penn State and USC, the other top schools reportedly in the hunt are Alabama, Colorado, Georgia, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas Tech, and Washington.

Butler has been profiled as an athlete because he is a versatile two-way player who has played cornerback and wide receiver. And at this point, it remains to be seen where his primary position may be at the next level. And, perhaps, his decision may come down to which position he will be given to play at each contending school in the recruiting process.

Judging by his social media feed, it does seem as though Butler would prefer to be considered a wide receiver over cornerback.

Penn State will be looking to add some playmakers at wide receiver in the Class of 2024. After losing [autotag]Parker Washington[/autotag] and [autotag]Mitchell Tinsley[/autotag] to the NFL draft, and seeing [autotag]Jaden Dottin[/autotag] enter the transfer portal, Penn State could use some more long-term options at the position. Penn State did add a couple of transfer wide receivers in [autotag]Dante Cephas[/autotag] from Kent State and [autotag]Malik McClain[/autotag] from Florida State.

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