Live updates: James Franklin Feb. 11 press conference
Penn State head coach James Franklin is meeting with reporters on Tuesday afternoon for the first time since his Nittany Lions’ season ended at the Orange Bowl in Miami. How has the program bounced back and moved forward into 2025? Franklin will tackle questions, with a live play-by-play, here.
Press conference is scheduled to start at noon.
James Franklin press conference updates
(Updates will appear in reverse chronological order. Page does not automatically refresh. Provided updates will be paraphrased topics and responses from Franklin. Press conference ended at 12:40 p.m.)
Drew Allar after the Orange Bowl
02/11/2025 11:40:25 AMWhen the season ends the way it does, everyone is disappointed. Typically no one more disappointed than the players themselves and coaches because of how much time and effort you put into it. Only one program happy at the end of the season at this level. Most important thing is to learn and grow from it. That’s what they’re all doing. This experience this year will be helpful, similar to other programs. Know what it’s like. Have a routine. Have an after action evaluation. Then you attack it. Everyone is as disappointed as you can be when it ends. But there is also a ton to be proud of and appreciative of. But the most important thing is using every experience they have, positive and negative, to grow. That’s what he sees all guys doing, including Drew.
Spring ball modifications/transfer portal open during it
02/11/2025 11:38:12 AMDoesn’t see modifications like they’ve done in the past. Does see modification to spring game. Still having it because of what it means to the community. Working on it now. Might do some more events they’re still working through. But biggest modification they will make is similar to what they did with Warren and Olu two years ago. Will modify specific guys rather than the whole program. That’s the challenge. Kind of like teaching a class and all this different ability within class. Some people that need to be challenged at a high level. And some who just showed up and are entry level, and it’s challenging. If they modify spring ball, then all these guys fighting for jobs that need to be evaluated and developed, they’re losing it and need it. So will modify specific players based on age, experience, reps they had last year, reps they’ve had over their career. Very similar to what they did late in the season in practice. Some guys need a ton of reps. Some guys still need to get better but you limit them. Will look at his, position coaches, sports science recommendations. With Coach Knowles here, that becomes challenging too because need to make sure vets get jog through reps. That will be the approach.
The spring game, will wait to talk about that in more detail so coaches and administration is on same page. At a place like Penn State, locked date on calendar a long time ago because so many events revolve around it. Don’t have a lot of flexibility there.
Nick and Kaytron
02/11/2025 11:34:27 AMThe way they handled it with all the guys with decisions to come back or leave, didn’t do it during a game week. Tried during bye weeks, when regular season ended. Used first three days before first round CFP to work through it. But it was a scramble. Who do you meet with and when? Worked through the roster. Older guys with legit NFL decisions to make. Wasn’t sure how it would play out because it’s not just Penn State talking to them. Agents as well. So wasn’t really sure. Thought there was a good chance early on to getting one back, similar to Tyler and Theo last year. Then started to look like they may be able to get both back.
With Nick, a little like Olu situation, where getting degree, finishing what he started, taking next steps was a factor. Exciting thing with Kaytron is he’s never really had an off season. Always an injury limiting development. For him to have first offseason healthy, he’s really excited about what he can do and Penn State is. But didn’t know how it would go with either guy.
They also are now at a point in career, where early on they struggled splitting time, and now understand the value. Helps they both rushed for 1,000 yards.
With the hiring process, just like hiring a DC, everyone is anxious about that. At this point for the program, makes no sense to hire anyone that is going to start over. Continue to build. Same with RB coach. Would argue with Nick and Fat and rest of the room coming back and who is committed, it’s arguably the most attractive RB job in the country. Those things help with that. Not hiring anybody that Nick and Fat won’t feel great about. Also doesn’t include them in the process, just like didn’t include Drew in process of hiring OC. Doesn’t want them going through the emotional rollercoaster of wanting someone before it’s done. But with the guys coming back, you just don’t know. Some should and don’t. Some you don’t think, and they go. For a while, didn’t know about Zane. Zane came in and in his fashion, said “I’m back.” Southern Florida, Zane. He was with Deion, who seemed as shocked by it as James was. But that’s also telling when guys like Olu and guys that came back this year came back. Speaks to development and excitement of what they can do this year.
Thoughts on true freshman class, players to be excited about, redshirt guys with a chance to help next year
02/11/2025 11:28:39 AMThe first thing, is really strategic about playing those guys because there have been too many times where assistant wants to play someone early in the season, agree to green light them, and halfway through the season they haven’t played a whole lot. Wants to make sure to be strategic about it so coaches, players, and parents feel it was worth burning a year for. Hard part with that is it’s sometimes hard to predict with injuries what’s going to happen. Sometimes you play them and go full throttle, like with Dejuan Lane. And others you have to manage them. It’s hard to predict.
But with four regular season games plus postseason, you can play a ton of football and preserve redshirt. Also wants to make sure that year two, they have the chance for a bigger role. What can be frustrating is burning a guy’s redshirt and next year, their role doesn’t grow, which becomes problematic too. Are there seniors in front moving on? Guys moving to NFL? Those factor in as well. One thing to not play a lot your first year, but if role stays the same in year two, can create frustration.
Would prefer to wait to answer on specific players until spring ball and have evidence to speak on it. So many guys to talk about and if he misses someone, mom gets mad about it. Saw guys that actually got to play in games and preserve redshirts. But would prefer to wait until having a little more evidence.
Andy Kotelnicki input on RB coach
02/11/2025 11:24:44 AMUltimately tied to Franklin, but Kotelnicki and whole staff plays a huge part. Fortunate to hire, not necessarily anyone they want, but can get a strong list together that most of the candidates they would be happy with hiring. It’s a matter of finding the best one. Wouldn’t have a situation where someone isn’t comfortable with it. Will narrow it down with Andy, but will interview with staff. Everyone has a vote. It’s just like in recruiting or hiring, wants these coaches to come to Penn State and have a great experience and retire at Penn State, but that’s not always the case. He’s the guy that’s going to be here and needs to be comfortable with everyone coming into the building.
Marques Hagans, WR room, additions:
02/11/2025 11:22:46 AMGot better this year. When the season ends the way it did, that probably taints the perspective. Overall, got better this year. That’s the first thing to evaluate. Then when you talk about moving forward, were able to bring in a couple guys that graduated early from HS, which is helpful. Those guys have been impressive so far at a position where freshmen can play. Then went into transfer portal and got guys who have also been impressive. Will have better idea after winter workouts, spring ball, talking to strength coaches, testing. Then will have to make decisions once spring portal opens, and who is available. One of those things with the portal you have to be careful getting intoxicated by the portal and its possibilities. But, have not lived in the portal for any position. Want to be very strategic about who and what they bring in because they work so hard on the locker room culturally. Also why you see a lot of guys Penn State recruits from the portal are guys they had previous relationships with. Tells guys to not get intoxicated by talent alone, and that’s hard to do in the portal that opens and closes quickly, and more times than not, best players already know where they’re going before they enter the portal. That’s what makes it so challenging because that’s illegal. But that’s what’s happening.
Filling RB coach, needs:
02/11/2025 11:19:35 AMThe NFL hiring process has really changed schools like Penn State. What happens is, you lose a coach to the NFL late in the process and now you have to hire someone who has probably already signed a contract, which becomes pricy. The best guys are typically tied up at that point. Or, an NFL team hires someone else, and they take your guy to fill their spot. In the old days, people didn’t put buy outs in for NFL positions because you didn’t want to act like you were prohibiting people to move professionally for upward mobility. But the timing of it now makes those things even more challenging. Very detrimental to lose people in the organization this late in the process. The timing is problematic.
The requirements to fill it are the same for every position. There is a list not as deep as people think of candidates that can come to Penn State. In hiring, it’s about how you get return on his investment. Can hire young guys on upward trajectory, but might not get return on investment until year two. But other guys are much more seasoned, but are they on the downslope of their career? Need high level at recruiting and development. Need return quickly. Not at a point as a program where they can wait a year or two on it. Enough experience where they’re still trending from a recruiting perspective, but not too much where they’re on downward trend of their career. Balancing those things. Then, are they a fit? Fit for university, community, recruiting? Probably changed a little bit with Big Ten expansion. More national recruiting than ever. But majority of team and class comes from footprint. That factors in. But someone from Big Ten footprint or northeast, that’s important, too.
Commitment from the administration, getting the list re: Knowles:
02/11/2025 11:16:52 AMIn 12 years, the last two years have matched expectations. Not sure he would say that before. Pat has been at Penn State three years, and why he doesn’t say three years is because then, you’re figuring everything out. But to passionate and hungry fan base, it speaks volumes.
Always has a list ahead of time. Will Ryman does a good job with that. Brings names. Asks for staff feedback for a hire. Constantly working on lists. But the thing that’s interesting is, when they lose someone in any position, it’s a painstaking process to fill the position. Not as many qualified people out there as people may think. So going through that process and getting the right person. What’s great at Penn State, has been places where the dream list isn’t realistic. It is at Penn State, specifically now with the support. But it was a twisting and turning process. Got a call at 5:40 in the morning two days after national championship, and that’s when he thought it may be real. Before that hadn’t had any communication. There was none. Had been talking to a ton of other guys and vetting and going through the process. But, it’s kind of a twisting and winding deal. Guys you think you can get and can’t. Looked at NFL guys, college guys, kept narrowing list. Hadn’t made any offers. This became a possibility.
Then getting to figure out both sides’ interest level took time. Then actually being able to get it done. And knew other really good jobs were open, which played a factor into it as well. He was on an initial list. But there’s a lot of people on that list.
Time and commitment to bring in Jim Knowles
02/11/2025 11:11:13 AMIt happened pretty quickly. Had already spoken a few years ago when position opened. Had familiarity with each other. Able to start conversations after the national championship game, and it went quickly. Will say, in defense to Jim because he took some grief for it, Jim had all intentions of going to their national champion celebration. Did not have a deal yet. Even the day the deal being announced by everyone as done, it was not done. Was concerned that it being announced might screw up the deal getting done. Was being reported everywhere as done but didn’t have a signed contract. The high-profile jobs open for DC positions, you never know until the deal is done.
In terms of the commitment, it has been phenomenal and all you can ask for. In the last two years, the commitment level has matched the expectations. Very few places in the country that can say that. Very appreciative of that. Pat Kraft has been phenomenal and supportive. Neeli Bendapudi the same. Have unique flexibility because they are self-sufficient where a lot of universities are using university or student body resources, and Penn State isn’t. But still takes support to get those things done. When you can go out and compete with who they competed with to get arguably the best DC in college football, appreciative of that. Ton of excitement from fans, supporters, alumni, lettermen.
Opening statement
02/11/2025 11:07:16 AMTo see Saquon Barkley, Jahan Dotson, and Tariq Castro-Fields having that success on that stage is really cool.
This time of year, they’re busy. Back in the weight room. Players had two weeks off after a long season. Getting back into workouts now. Starting with winter workouts with morning mat workouts. Have between 8-10. Depending on the schedule, will have six this year. Have to modify due to the length of their season.
Have a ton of work to do with Coach Jim Knowles. Going over what Penn State has done. What he has done. Side by side. Penn State five-man pressures. His. What Penn State did. What Ohio State did. How Penn State has called it. What Ohio State called it. Painstaking, but valuable. Doing that right now, which takes a ton of time.
Have two positions they need to fill. Ja’Juan Seider being here seven year. Appreciative of him and family. Son played for Penn State. Moved on and wish him nothing but thebest. Seven years, in some ways it’s a shame that in college football that’s a long time, but gave program and community that time.
And also Khalil moved on to Temple for an advancement in his career in title and responsibility. That creates a ton of work as well. Being as thorough as they can in interview process while also understanding the timing of it is really important. Uneasiness from current players and recruits, so have to be sensitive to that, but also need to be thorough with the process.
