Tag: Manny Diaz

James Franklin offers high praise to transfer player

James Franklin praised one of Penn State’s newest additions via the transfer portal

[autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] found the transfer portal last year and succeeded immediately by finding players who can make an immediate impact. It was the first time he truly utilized it and by combining that with a strong freshman class they spearheaded the season they had that ended in a Rose Bowl win.

This year, he took the transfer portal and made it go even more in his favor than in 2022.

He went out and was able to land two starting-caliber wide receivers as well as a new potential top corner. Three starters from the portal is a rare thing for a team to do and find success, [autotag]Manny Diaz [/autotag]bet on that approach in Miami and he is now on Franklin’s staff. For the group of transfers to enter State College this year, Franklin was asked what his initial thoughts were on them during media availability on Tuesday.

“They’ve bought a real veteran presence,” Franklin said. “Storm [Duck] is a guy that’s got tremendous maturity…He knows how to practice.”

[autotag]Storm Duck[/autotag] was considered one of the top defensive players in the transfer portal and was expected to head to either Oregon or Colorado to further his development. Instead, he chose Penn State to replace [autotag]Joey Porter Jr.[/autotag] and play alongside [autotag]Kalen King[/autotag].

As Franklin notes, he brings a veteran presence to a younger defense led by King and Abdul Carter. In Manny Diaz’s defense, Duck will thrive on the man coverage he likes to play and the aggressiveness he likes to see from his defenders.

Expect big things from Storm Duk in the blue and white this Spring and well into the Fall.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=10 tag=1905]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbz1mmy7gev0xbr player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=]

Every offensive recruit in 2024 who is warm on Penn State football

Here is an updated look at every recruit who is warm on Penn State in 2024.

Penn State has been acing the recruiting trails ever since [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] arrived on campus. It was easy to recruit good players before but coming off a Rose Bowl win is when you can capitalize and get elite talent on the recruiting trail.

Looking ahead to the 2024 recruiting class, Penn State has offers and has several players who are warm on the idea of becoming a Nittany Lion. The main difference between trending and warm is the latter refers to the recruiting thinking of having them be involved in their final choice of top schools.

Currently, Franklin and [autotag]Mike Yurcich[/autotag] have 14 recruits who are warm on Penn State in the 2024 class. Here is your chance to get to know them.

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.

Four-star CB Kenneth Woseley II commits to Penn State

Penn State went into the weekend with another four-star commitment on the board in the Class of 2024.

[autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] likes to say the best stay in PA and the Nittany Lions added another player who fits that mold on Friday.

Cornerback [autotag]Kenneth Woseley II[/autotag], a four-star recruit, committed to Penn State on Friday making him the fourth player to commit in the class of 2024. He joins fellow four-star recruits [autotag]Cooper Cousins[/autotag], [autotag]Anthony Speca[/autotag] and [autotag]Kari Jackson[/autotag] in next year’s class giving the Nittany Lions a strong start to what will be a tough cycle.

Something that always is nice, apart from getting a recruiting commitment, is taking away from other Big Ten schools. Woseley II was also considering Nebraska and Rutgers, but the player from Philadelphia ultimately decided to stay in the state and head northwest.

On the 247Sports live stream of his decision, Woseley II was asked what was Penn State going to be getting and he responded with “a top Philly dog.”

Woseley really got to work and spend time with defensive coordinator [autotag]Manny Diaz[/autotag] during his official visit with the team and it proved vital to his decision. Woseley explained, “I like how coach Diaz’s defense plays gritty and disruptive and I truly believe that it fits my style of play…coach (Bryce) Jones sees me playing corner or nickel.”

He becomes the fourth player that Franklin and his staff have recruited from Philadelphia now. They already have linebacker Abdul Carter, safety Tyrece Mills and linebacker Keon Wylie who all are on the defensive side of the ball and ready to welcome another from the area to their group.

According to 247Sports’ rankings, Woseley sits as the nation’s No. 31 cornerback overall and is eighth overall in the state of Pennslyvania. Looking at the bigger picture, Penn State now sits ranked 17th in the 2023 recruiting class rankings and is third in the Big Ten behind Iowa and Michigan who rank 14th and 5th respectively.

[lawrence-auto-related count=4 category=12]

[mm-video type=video id=01gtmp0by77tympe2t54 playlist_id=01ey902ehrs6e9bvhw player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gtmp0by77tympe2t54/01gtmp0by77tympe2t54-0c7b021ac9fbf7c24e9b0af72d70c22d.jpg]

P.J. Mustipher campaigns for Deion Barnes promotion

PJ Mustipher made it clear who he things should be Penn State’s next defensive line coach

When John Scott Jr. decided to leave Penn State for the NFL it left an opening on the coaching staff. [autotag]Manny Diaz[/autotag] and his defense showed tremendous growth last year and toward the end of the season, the defensive line started to click with it all.

Scott Jr. leaving has folks wondering who could step in and help them not to lose the momentum they have going into 2023, [autotag]P.J. Mustipher[/autotag] has a suggestion.

The former Nittany Lions defensive tackle and team captain spoke Wednesday at the NFL Scouting Combine and he was vocal in his support of [autotag]Deion Barnes[/autotag] getting the promotion from a defensive analyst.

“I want Coach Franklin to hire him,” Mustipher said. “I think he should because he’s put in a lot of work in our defensive line.”

Barnes returned to campus as a graduate assistant in 2020 following time spent as defensive coordinator at Northeast High School in Philadelphia. He would work closely and alongside Scott Jr. all the way up to his departure for the NFL last month.

[autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] has shown an affinity to be able to trust former players who come back to State College for a coaching career despite their experience. In the case of Barnes, he has never held a major coaching position within the program.

At the same time, Franklin has also shown he will look outside the program to make position coaching hirings as he did in January when he hired Marques Hagans from Virginia.

For the time being, the position remains vacant as spring practices continue on campus for the Nittany Lions.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=10 tag=1637]

[mm-video type=video id=01gtevm954h6nyrrajq9 playlist_id=01ey902ehrs6e9bvhw player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gtevm954h6nyrrajq9/01gtevm954h6nyrrajq9-6fb48bef0da0e935effed59089771a20.jpg]

Sporting News way-too-early top 25 slightly less optimistic about Penn State in 2023

Sporting News is slightly less optimistic about Penn State’s outlook in 2023 compared to other way-too-early rankings

It seems that most of the way-too-early top 25 rankings for the 2023 season are suggesting Penn State will be in the Big Ten and College Football Playoff hunt with rankings sitting just outside of the College Football Playoff. The Sporting News also sees Penn State having a top-10 worthy season but is coming off slightly less optimistic about its ranking next season.

The Sporting News’ way-too-early top 25 ranking released this week places Penn State at no. 9 in its look ahead to the 2023 season. That is a few spots lower than similar way-too-early rankings released by 247Sports and ESPN, for example. But it may be unfair to suggest Sporting News thinks Penn State won’t be as good as the other rankings suggest. It may be more of the fact Sporting News is more optimistic about some other programs than the other outlets have been.

The top four in the Sporting News ranking are similar to most others with Georgia and Alabama taking the top two spots and Michigan and Ohio State each ranked ahead of Penn State. But Sporting News has USC, TCU, LSU, and Tennessee all ranked ahead of the Nittany Lions.

Here is what Sporting News had to say about Penn State in 2023;

[autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] broke the losing streak against top-10 teams with Penn State’s impressive 35-14 victory against Utah in the Rose Bowl. Now, the [autotag]Drew Allar[/autotag] era at quarterback begins, and running back [autotag]Nick Singleton[/autotag] seems primed to be one of the best running backs in the country. Tackle [autotag]Olu Fashanu[/autotag] is back, too. Defensive coordinator [autotag]Manny Diaz[/autotag] returns a solid unit that features [autotag]Abdul Carter[/autotag] and [autotag]Kalen King[/autotag]. This might be their best team since the 2016 Big Ten championship team. Michigan visits Happy Valley, and the Nittany Lions have to win at Ohio State. The stakes have not changed.

Penn State going 2-0 against Michigan and Ohio State would in all likelihood put Penn State firmly in the playoff picture, as long as it avoids a speedbump elsewhere on its 2023 schedule. But just earning a split between the two teams could be enough to factor into Penn State having a shot at the Big Ten title, and perhaps a spot in the College Football Playoff for the first time. But the assessment is correct in suggesting Penn State has to do some damage against the Wolverines and Buckeyes if it wants to take the next step toward a playoff berth.

[vertical-gallery id=28458]

[listicle id=28148]

[lawrence-related id=28707,28698,28692,28690,28687]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01ey902ehrs6e9bvhw player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=]

Follow Kevin McGuire on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

Follow Nittany Lions Wire on Twitter and like us on Facebook for continuing Penn State coverage and discussion. Let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

Where does Penn State land in ESPN’s way-too-early top 25 for 2023?

ESPN’s way-too-early top 25 suggests another solid season for Penn State in 2023

The dust has just settled on Penn State’s 11-2 season with a victory in the Rose Bowl capping off the year, but the hype for what could be in store in 2023 is already on the rise.

ESPN released its way-too-early top 25 this week as the college football season came to a close with the national championship game, and Penn State secured a top 10 ranking. ESPN ranks Penn State at no. 6 in the way-too-early top 25 for the 2023 season, another encouraging sign that Penn State could be preparing for a big season that could have them in the Big Ten and College Football Playoff picture.

But Michigan and Ohio State each come in ranked ahead of the Nittany Lions in the way-too-early ranking from ESPN, which is not too surprising considering both the Wolverines and Buckeyes are coming off an appearance in the College Football Playoff and should be in playoff contention again next season.

Here is what ESPN had to say about Penn State in looking ahead to the 2023 season;

After a couple of mediocre seasons, coach James Franklin has the Nittany Lions headed back in the right direction. Penn State won 11 games in 2022 and might be poised to challenge Michigan and Ohio State for a Big Ten title. Clifford departs at quarterback, but the coaching staff is excited about freshman [autotag]Drew Allar[/autotag], who was the No. 2 pocket passer in the 2022 ESPN 300. Many of Penn State’s best players this past season were freshmen or sophomores, including tailbacks [autotag]Kaytron Allen[/autotag] and [autotag]Nick Singleton[/autotag], receiver [autotag]KeAndre Lambert-Smith[/autotag], cornerback [autotag]Kalen King[/autotag] and linebacker [autotag]Abdul Carter[/autotag]. The defense made tremendous strides under new coordinator [autotag]Manny Diaz[/autotag], finishing in the top 20 in the FBS in scoring defense, run defense and total defense. The Nittany Lions will play division crossover games against Iowa (home) and Illinois (road) next season, and they’ll play Ohio State on the road and Michigan at home.

Penn State seems to have a schedule that could play to its advantage. It’s clear Penn State has to at least split its games against Michigan and Ohio State if it wants to have a realistic shot at a Big Ten title, and games against Iowa and Illinois should be good challenges next fall, but each of the crossover games should be winnable. And Penn State will open the season against West Virginia at home.

Penn State was ranked no. 5 in the way-too-early top 25 from 247Sports.

[vertical-gallery id=28635]

[listicle id=28603]

[lawrence-related id=28707,28698,28692,28690,28687]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01ey902ehrs6e9bvhw player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=]

Follow Kevin McGuire on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

Follow Nittany Lions Wire on Twitter and like us on Facebook for continuing Penn State coverage and discussion. Let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

Report Card: Grading Penn State’s Rose Bowl win

The grades are in for Penn State’s performance in the Rose Bowl, and there are plenty of high marks to share!

There have been easy report cards to make this year in what turned into an impressive year for the Nittany Lions but this was easily the most complete performance this team had all year.

[autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] and his staff pulled out all the tricks in their book while having a game plan that was designed to be consistent on offense and to bend but not break on defense.

This is your final Penn State football report card of the 2022 season.

Quarterback

Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Grade: A+

[autotag]Sean Clifford[/autotag] played the game of his life and is going out as tied for the winningest quarterback in school history. He made a ton of big throws that he hadn’t made all year. So much so that the Utah defense couldn’t stack the box against the Penn State running game which ended up making the difference. Congrats on a perfect game and an amazing career Sean Clifford.

NEXT: Running backs

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4

Instant Reaction: Penn State wins the Rose Bowl!

Penn State wins the Rose Bowl! Defense shuts things down after halftime of 35-21 win over Utah.

After witnessing the Big Ten lose four consecutive bowl games leading up to the Rose Bowl, Penn State ended its season on a winning note and snapped the Big Ten bowl losing streak in a big way. Penn State took full control of Pac-12 champion Utah in the Rose Bowl on Monday and celebrated a 35-21 victory in Pasadena.

After the teams played to a 14-14 tie in the first half, Penn State got the scoring started in a big way with [autotag]Nick Singleton[/autotag] rushing 87 yards early in the third quarter on a third down and short. Just seconds into the fourth quarter, once again facing a third down deep in their own end, Clifford connected with [autotag]KeAndre Lambert-Smith[/autotag] for an 88-yard touchdown pass to extend the Penn State lead to 28-14. Almost four minutes later, [autotag]Kaytron Allen[/autotag] punched one in from the goal line to push the Penn State lead to 35-14.

In fairness, the game took a huge swing in Penn State’s favor early in the third quarter when Utah starting quarterback Cam Rising left the game with an apparent leg injury. Bryson Barnes came in to lead the Utah offense but Penn State defensive coordinator [autotag]Manny Diaz[/autotag] brought the heat and the defense took control of the game almost immediately. [autotag]Ji’Ayir Brown[/autotag] picked off a deep pass by Bryson shortly after Utah was forced to go with the backup, and the Utes offense never regained much momentum.

Penn State closes out the season with a record of 11-2, with the only losses coming to two Big Ten teams that participated in the College Football Playoff, Michigan and Ohio State. The roster will see some roster turnover with players heading off to the NFL and another solid recruiting class coming in, and the outlook for 2023 already looks promising with the continued development of some key players from the 2022 season including Singleton, Allen and [autotag]Abdul Carter[/autotag]. And, of course, the potential for expected starting quarterback Drew Allar will lead to some promise in the fall.

This is the third New Years Six bowl victory for Penn State head coach [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag]. Franklin previously coached Penn State to victories in the Fiesta Bowl and the Cotton Bowl. This is Penn State’s second Rose Bowl victory in program history, joining the 1994 team’s victory in the 1995 Rose Bowl.

Penn State’s spring game will be played on April 15, 2023 and the countdown to the start of the 2023 season is already underway. Penn State will open the 2023 season at home against West Virginia on Saturday, September 2, 2023.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01ey902ehrs6e9bvhw player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=]

Follow Kevin McGuire on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

Follow Nittany Lions Wire on Twitter and like us on Facebook for continuing Penn State coverage and discussion. Let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.