BWI Live: Can Penn State climb the Big Ten rankings thanks to opponent offseason issues?
Penn State football is gearing up for another spring football season with winter conditioning. But outside the walls of Lasch, the Big Ten is changing around them. Two major names joined Ohio State and Michigan recently, and today, on the BWI Live Show, we’re talking about those additions. Chip Kelly left UCLA late into the offseason to be the offensive coordinator at Ohio State, while NFL defensive coordinator Wink Martindale left the pros to join Michigan.
How will those changes late in the cycle affect Penn State? We’re discussing that, plus former Penn State players Ji’Ayire “Tig” Brown and Donovan Smith’s play in the Super Bowl. Stay tuned for the end, where we take questions from the BWI Mailbag! If you haven’t yet, subscribe to Blue White Illustrated on YouTube so you don’t miss any live shows or breaking news videos. But as always, you can find the replay here embedded in the article.
Penn State offensive tackle succession discussion
Former Penn State left tackle Donovan Smith won his second Super Bowl on Sunday with the Kansas City Chiefs. He’s had a long career as a starting left tackle in the NFL, but not every Nittany Lions fan celebrates him like they do other successful players from the program. We discuss the lineage of left tackles under head coach James Franklin and how his time in Happy Valley colors the way fans feel about him.
That conversation then spins to include Rasheed Walker, who had a similar story arc at Penn State before leaving for the NFL. Both players were ultra-talented but never fully realized their potential before leaving for the pros. Now, Walker is the presumed starting left tackle for the Green Bay Packers.
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Does Penn State have the depth and talent to push its top players at the position to be their best selves? We discuss that history and how Olu Fashanu, Drew Shelton, Nolan Rucci and Anthony Donkoh fit into the picture.
Ohio State and Michigan disruption – Does it change anything?
Penn State’s place in the Big Ten rankings may be in upheaval this coming year. Where will the team fall in the rankings with the influx of former Pac-12 schools? But it’s not just Franklin and the Nittany Lions that experienced attrition this offseason. Ohio State just named Kelly its new offensive coordinator. Michigan has lost talent on and off the field after Jim Harbaugh took some of the staff to the LA Chargers. So, does any of that change Penn State’s chances of finishing at the top of the conference? We discuss that and the team’s chances of making the 12-team playoff if they finish fourth.
BWI Mailbag
As always, the last segment on our show is for you. Check out the message board each week for the Mailbag submission thread, or join live and ask your question in the chat. This week, we’re discussing Alex Birchmere’s development and the origins of Penn State’s receiver issues.
