Blue-White Game Report Card: Grading Penn State’s spring football game

The grades are in for Penn State’s performance in the Blue-White Game.

Penn State’s spring game wasn’t exactly lighting up the scoreboard, even in a modified scoring system. And fans wanting to see drastic improvement from the program that has gone .500 over the past two seasons may be left wondering if Penn State is set up for another mediocre season in Happy Valley after watching the Blue-White Game. But Penn State’s final spring practice of the year had some positive developments and some reminders that help is on the way over the summer.

And now the grades are in for Penn State’s performance during the Blue-White Game. Here’s how each position group was graded for the spring game in Beaver Stadium on Saturday.

Quarterback: C

Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports

A recurring theme when it comes to the offensive grades following Penn State’s game is probably chalked up to a simple “Eh, it could have been better.” That was the basic takeaway from the performance of the quarterbacks overall, but any expectation of any passer just lighting up the spring game may have been unreasonable.

We were never likely to see a whole lot out of [autotag]Sean Clifford[/autotag], the sixth-year senior who really has little more to prove at this point. We know pretty much exactly what Clifford is, and if given time to process the field, he can make plays. But he had some overthrown passes at times. He did, however, throw the game’s only touchdown of the game.

The backup competition behind Clifford is the real storyline here, and the future of [autotag]Drew Allar[/autotag] is what fans are eager to witness. But a rough spring debut for the true freshman shows there is still work to be done in the big picture. If based solely on one afternoon, [autotag]Christian Veilleux[/autotag] proved he should be the team’s primary backup option heading into the season, although Allar should improve quickly.

[lawrence-related id=18562]

Next: Grading the running backs

Penn State announces spring football award winners

Ji’Ayir Brown and Olu Fashanu are among Penn State’s spring football ward winners

After one half of spring football action in Beaver Stadium, Penn State took some time during halftime to honor their spring football award winners. While these award winners may or may not ultimately have the greatest impact on the team’s success in the 2022 football season, the awards show who some of the team’s most respected leaders continue to be after going through the spring football practices.

One of the players honored by Penn State at halftime was safety [autotag]Ji’Ayir Brown[/autotag], who followed up. stellar fall season as the team’s interceptions leader by performing well as a fixture in the defensive secondary.

On offense, it was a rising offensive lineman who was honored for his commitment to the success of the team this spring. Offensive lineman [autotag]Olu Fashanu[/autotag] was named the recipient of the team’s Red Worrell award.

Here are this year’s Penn State spring football award winners.

  • Red Worrell (offense): Olu Fashanu
  • Jim O’Hora Award (defense): Ji’Ayir Brown
  • Coaches Special Teams: [autotag]Barney Amore[/autotag]
  • Frank Patrick Total Commitment: [autotag]Tyler Warren[/autotag] and [autotag]Nick Tarburton[/autotag]

[mm-video type=video id=01fsdjmvkbqtq16mf3bv playlist_id=01ey902ehrs6e9bvhw player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fsdjmvkbqtq16mf3bv/01fsdjmvkbqtq16mf3bv-5a1f8cf3679d7ec39d53a0890364af04.jpg]

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.

Who stood out at Penn State’s first winter football workout?

Penn State coaches named their standout players from the first day of winter workouts.

[mm-video type=video id=01fvd9shg5xyttx9sahh playlist_id=01ey902ehrs6e9bvhw player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fvd9shg5xyttx9sahh/01fvd9shg5xyttx9sahh-b28e0a44bc2b26d56316bcc4eba3bb2b.jpg]

It was just over a month ago that the final game of Penn State’s 2021 season was played, and spring football is still a little more than a month away. But winter workouts are underway in Happy Valley as the Nittany Lions begin preparing for what they hope will be a big rebound season, and some new faces are starting to get to the grind with their new teammates.

Winter workouts officially got underway bright and early Tuesday morning and assistant coaches made sure to spread some encouraging news about who showed up to compete in the practice sessions.

Both coordinators took to their Twitter accounts to share who their unit’s best player was. Offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich named starting quarterback and team captain Sean Clifford as the offensive competitor of the day. Clifford announced his return for a rare sixth year of eligibility prior to Penn State’s appearance in the Outback Bowl. It will be the first offseason in which Clifford has had the same offensive coordinator to work with leading into a new season, and Clifford would like to make up for a few down moments in 2021 in his final year of eligibility.

Penn State’s new defensive coordinator, Manny Diaz, also went with a team captain for his defensive competitor of the day, with Jonathan Sutherland getting the props of the day from the new defensive playcaller. Sutherland has been a standout on special teams during his time at Penn State, with some defense mixed in. But Sutherland is expected to be a top candidate to take on a larger role in the defense in 2022.

Other notable players from Penn State’s first winter workout included cornerback Kalen King, defensive end Nick Tarburton, cornerback Ji’Ayir Brown, running back Keyvone Lee, wide receiver Jaden Dottin, tight end Tyler Warren, offensive lineman Juice Scruggs, and punter Barney Amor.

These winter workouts are the first that have been opened to early enrollees in Penn State’s Class of 2022, so we will be keeping an eye out for possible shoutouts from the coaching staff for any of the new faces in the crowd. Penn State will eventually be adding to its roster with other recruits in the Class of 2022 that have not enrolled early and any possible additions from the transfer portal, including recent commit from Cornell, Hunter Nourzad.

Penn State’s spring game, the Blue-White Game, is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, April 23 in Beaver Stadium.

[listicle id=10557]

[lawrence-related id=16028,16020,16018,16011]

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.

 

5 takeaways from Penn State’s 21-17 loss to Michigan

5 takeaways from Penn State’s loss to Michigan: A coaching blunder, a defensive lapse, and a battered QB almost still found a way to beat Michigan

Penn State fell to 6-4 for the 2021 season after losing at home to the Michigan Wolverines in Week 11, 21-17. It was a game that looked poised to be a win that would have been an amazing gutsy effort, but a late lapse on defense changed the tune of the postgame mood in a hurry.

There will be a lot to digest from this one as Michigan continues to keep in the playoff hunt and Big Ten East race and Penn State is scrambling just to get to the bowl season with a winning record. Penn State’s loss to Michigan was a pretty decent summary of everything Penn State has concerns with.

Here are five takeaways from Penn State’s performance against Michigan.

WATCH: Penn State scores game-tying TD on 4th down

WATCH: Sean Clifford and Jahan Dotson come up clutch on game-tying touchdown and conversion vs. Michigan

Penn State’s Week 11 matchup with Michigan has not been a pretty one, but it looks to be going down to the wire after Penn State scored a game-tying touchdown and two-point conversion midway through the fourth quarter. A short touchdown pass by Sean Clifford and a successful two-point conversion attempt courtesy of Jahan Dotson, Penn State tied things up with the Wolverines in the fourth quarter of a defensive battle.

On 4th-and-Goal from the two-yard line, Penn State likely needed to go for a touchdown. So James Franklin kept the offense on the field and let Clifford make the play. Clifford dropped back and then took a shot to tight end Tyler Warren, who got some air to come down with the football in the end zone.

Still down two points, Penn State made the only choice they could in this situation and went for the two-point conversion. And who else to rely on making a play than Jahan Dotson? Dotson came down with a terrific catch in the end zone to things up at 14-14.

Dotson made some big plays on the game-tying possessions s well, as he has been doing all season for Penn State. Will it lead to a big win? We’ll soon find out.

[lawrence-related id=9953,9951,9946,9944]

Follow Nittany Lions Wire on Twitter and like us on Facebook for continuing Penn State coverage and discussion.

WATCH: Penn State’s third-string TE scores TD on wildcat play

WATCH: Penn State third-string TE Tyler Warren scores on a wildcat play

Penn State took a 14-10 lead into halftime in Beaver Stadium on the Auburn Tigers on Saturday night, but the Tigers got the ball to start the second half. Fortunately for Penn State, the Tigers coughed the ball up while trying to get a little tricky at the start of the half, and Penn State capitalized in a big way.

Literally.

Penn State tacked on to its lead early in the second half moments after the Auburn fumble when Tyler Warren, a third-string tight end, lined up in the wildcat formation with Sean Clifford lining up on the right side of the field at a receiver’s position. Warren took the direct snap and lept over the scrum on the line of scrimmage to fall into the end zone for a big touchdown.

The touchdown gave Penn State a 21-10 lead on the visiting Tigers, but this one is far from over at this point.

2021 Penn State depth chart projection: Tight end

Penn State has two high-quality options at tight end in 2021 to replace Pat Freiermuth. Projecting the depth chart at TE

Penn State has had a pretty good run of tight ends over the years. With Pat Freirmuth off to the NFL this season, there is a starting job left to be won in Penn State’s fall camp heading into the 2021 season.

Penn State’s depth at the tight end position may not be the deepest, but the position looks to be in pretty stable condition with Brenton Strange and Theo Johnson at the top of the depth chart. Both got playing time last season as freshmen, especially after Freiermuth was sidelined in the back half of the season due to injury.

Here’s what Penn State’s depth chart at the tight end position appears to look like for the upcoming 2021 season.

44 days until Penn State football 2021 season opener

Get to know Penn State tight end Tyler Warren.

Good morning! We are 44 days away from Penn State football!

Today, we are going to get to know one of the current underclassmen who wears the number 44. His name is Tyler Warren and he plays tight end for the Nittany Lions.

Warren was a three star recruit coming out of high school with five different power five offers. He was the 22nd ranked tight end in the country and the 16th ranked player in the state of Virginia. 

He was a true freshman last year, playing in just two games. He currently sits at the bottom of the projected depth chart for the 2021 season, listed as Penn State’s third tight end. However, all of the Nittany Lions’ current tight ends are freshman. So, we very well could see some more action from Warren this season, whether it be on offense or making a name for himself on special teams.

In high school, Warren was a three-time team captain, two-time state honors player and earned the MVP award for his team during the 2017 and 2019 season.

Warren was also a three-sport athlete coming out of high school, playing both basketball and baseball. Going into the season, Warren is currently listed at 6-foot-6 and 249 pounds. 

The battle for the starting tight end position is certainly up for grabs these next few seasons. After the departure of Pat Freiermuth to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Nittany Lions have some big shoes to fill on offense.

On September 4th, 2021, Penn State will travel to Madison to take on the Badgers, who currently have a tight end in Jake Ferguson who has the potential to be drafted in the first three rounds of the 2022 draft come April.

Can the Nittany Lions find another playmaker at their tight end position and renew their identity? They certainly have three talented underclassmen to work with, including Tyler Warren.

Follow Nittany Lions Wire on Twitter and like us on Facebook for continuing Penn State coverage and discussion.

[vertical-gallery id=2770]

[listicle id=4576]

[lawrence-related id=4445]

2021 Penn State Nittany Lions Profile Card: Tyler Warren

Penn State TE Tyler Warren will continue to be molded at the position in 2021

Name: Tyler Warren

Number: 44

Position: Tight end

Class: Redshirt freshman

Height: 6’6”

Weight: 249 lbs

Hometown: Mechanicsville, VA

High School: Atlee

Overview

Tyler Warren arrived at Penn State having shown the ability to play multiple positions in high school, including quarterback. But at Penn State, Warren fits the mold of what the Nittany Lions are looking for in a tight end.

At 6′-6″ and nearly 250 pounds, Warren has the potential to be a solid target in the passing game, but it may take a little time before he gets any major opportunities in the Penn State offense. Warren did appear in two games for Penn State during the 2020 season, and he has earned recognition as one of the coaching staff’s developmental squad offensive players of the week during his true freshman season.

Apr 17, 2021; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions tight end Tyler Warren (44) is tackled by Penn State Nittany Lions safety Dylan Farronato (32) during the Penn State spring practice at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Alberti-USA TODAY Sports

Warren played mostly quarterback in high school, so he is still learning to thrive at his new primary position at Penn State. One thing to potentially keep an eye out for in the future could be a well-designed trick play that will eventually have Warren throwing a pass down the field or across it to an open man for a big gain. It has to happen, right?

Warren originally was a commitment of Virginia Tech during his recruiting process. But in the summer of 2019, Warren made the decision to commit to Penn State’s Class of 2020.

Follow Nittany Lions Wire on Twitter and like us on Facebook for continuing Penn State coverage and discussion.

[vertical-gallery id=4407]

[listicle id=4332]

[lawrence-related id=4434,4428,4411,4392,3957]

Penn State announces 2021 spring football awards

Freshman Kalen King and veterans Sean Clifford and Tariq Castro-Fields were among the spring winners for Penn State football practices.

Penn State brought their spring football practices to a close on Friday evening in Beaver Stadium in front of a limited number of fans. Before James Franklin and his staff get too deep into their next stages of the offseason schedule, Penn State coaches handed out their post-spring awards to players who stood out this spring.

Freshman Kalen King certainly left a big impact on the coaching staff with an impressive spring, and veteran leaders like Sean Clifford and Tariq Castro-Fields have continued to display their leadership skills on and off the practice field.

Here is a look at the Penn State spring football award winners, as announced by the program on Monday.