Live updates: James Franklin press conference updates
Penn State head coach James Franklin is meeting with the media Monday for his weekly press conference. His Nittany Lions, coming off a 26-25 win at Minnesota on Saturday, will next face Maryland to finish the regular season at Beaver Stadium this weekend.
Follow our updates from Franklin’s press conference, here:
Live updates: James Franklin press conference updates
(Press conference ended at 12:53 p.m.)
Nick Singleton operating at higher level
11/25/2024 11:52:28 AM
The reality is, he’s healthy again. You know what a healthy Nick Singleton looks like, and he wasn’t that. But that’s a credit to Nick and part of the maturation process of a football player. When you play in the Big Ten and play in one that’s playing 12 games, with possibility of 17, reality in major college football and NFL, there are very few people that are 100 percent all year. That’s not the reality of college football. Play when you can manage, doctors and trainers manage when you can’t. Nick went out and played as best as he could when he wasn’t 100 percent. But he’s back to as close to 100 percent as he has been in a while. Dani is in a similar situation. He’s played a few weeks not being 100 percent. That’s the nature of college football. Guys understand and embrace that. Those decisions have allowed them to get where they are right now. Medical staff with Wayne, Dr. Billy, Andy Mutnam have done a great job keeping guys healthy. And guys have been in training room trying to be in position to be as healthy as they can throughout the season
Nick is looking closer to full speed and 100 percent than he’s been in a few weeks. Need that. He’s an explosive player. When DCs see that, it changes how they defend Penn State. Because he can go for 80.
Zakee Wheatley
11/25/2024 11:47:13 AMHave two of the better safeties in college football. With KJ, that is as impressive of a group of guys as you could have. Created a lot of diversity in what they did and how they did it. But Zakee is playing great right now. His tackle radius is really impressive. His ability to make plays. Causing fumbles or interceptions. Hasn’t made as many as he’s anticipated. But has ability to do it. One of the more natural playmakers they have. His football IQ, and his relationship with Dex, and how they work together, he’s playing at a high level. Really bright future. The kid came in here ready and prepared to compete. Gotten better every year. This past year made the biggest jump in terms of all the different ways to use him, his confidence, understanding his strengths and weaknesses, playing to those strengths. One of the better pure tacklers they have on the team. Have length and athleticism. Huge fan of his. His maturity. He’s really grown and very proud of him. Very bright future for rest of his career and beyond.
Interaction with Drew
11/25/2024 11:42:22 AMThat play he’s talking about, the fourth-and-1, he felt strongly about that call, so went with it, and him and a bunch of guys in that unit made it work in a play that didn’t work out exactly as they’d drawn it up. A little misinterpreted. People thought the frustration was with the quick kick. Frustration was he was offset and Dawkins couldn’t hear him, and he’s trying to get the ball snapped, but saw they were going to get a delay, but it’s no big deal because of punting. His frustration was with the ball not getting snapped to Tyler so he could quick kick it. Then obviously it did, while it looked like he was walking off the field, which is part of the whole play.
Either way, it was an opportunity to have a discussion, and then another, and another. And to him, that’s exactly how he wants it to be. Wants him to be fiery. Like anything, you don’t want to live in the extremes. But wants him to play with passion and emotion. That was an opportunity for him to do that. Had a conversation, and gave each other good feedback. Then went out and played really well. Then had another conversation of things that were important for him to hear. To James, it was perfect. Expects fire and emotion and totally OK with that. Encourages it.
Work too hard, sacrifice too much, Drew is an example of that, and glad he’s showing that side of himself. It was great.
Rucci elevating and new opportunities
11/25/2024 11:37:33 AMGuy they have a ton of respect for is JB Nelson. His role will increase. He has earned that. He’s had lingering issues this year that have impacted how much they’ve used him. But his role will increase. Cooper Cousins’ role will increase. Eagan Boyer’s role could increase. J’Ven Williams’ role will increase. All of those guys will take on reps and roles. And part of it is how they practice this week. But all of those guys have played this year already. So that group will make up those opportunities, but haven’t had a game plan practice yet.
Team Thanksgiving plans/Warren punt:
11/25/2024 11:33:28 AMWhen you’re not the fulltime punter, your punt is always sky kick. The whole plan is that no one is back there so that’s why you do it. Go 25 yards and let it roll for another 10.
Thanksgiving plans, changed this year. Will have Thanksgiving meal as a team on Wednesday night. Will have team practice on Thursday morning. So have light lunch after practice, but allows the guys to have more time on Thanksgiving to either go to James’ house, their position coach house, or go home. A lot of time, families comes in early for the week and just stay for the week
Alonzo Ford/Zane Durant impact:
11/25/2024 11:28:39 AMAlonzo Ford is longterm. Talking about adversity at Minnesota, there were a lot of reasons for that. He is longterm as well.
Zane is playing really well. Made a big deal Sunday out of it with the team. He is the same guy every single day. Mentally tough. Physically tough. Loves – not likes – LOVES football. Understands and willing to do the sacrifices that football takes. Same way in weight room, practice, on game day. To James, he is what you want in terms of the whole package. Complimentary of parents and way he was raised. High school did good job with him. Showed up here with mentality he would play as freshman at DT. For young guys in the program, good guy to model behaviors after. Big fan of Zane. Also a guy who will speak truth from leadership standpoint to teammates. Big fan. A lot of guys want to be leaders by example and not verbal, and he is.
Thinking of critics during fake punt
11/25/2024 11:23:54 AMIn the moment, no. Afterward with all the congratulations, why. Wouldn’t be having fun today if it didn’t work. Totally gets it. But when you got Dom Rulli as your quarterback and you have Luke Reynolds carrying the ball. And you have DaKaari Nelson and Elsdon and Cooper Cousins, who have repped it 1,000 times, and have called it six times and checked out of it because it wasn’t the right look, it gives you a ton of confidence because of the young men running it, and the trust they have with him, not running it into a bad look. So at the time, did not think like that because No. 1, trying to win the game and gave best chance to win the game. And No. 2, because of how guys have repped it and handled it all year long. Dom Rulli has earned that right for James to call that play because of how he has conducted himself. Watch DaKaari Nelson block. Give the belt for BMF for best offensive block of the week, and made argument that DaKaari should have been part of that award because of how good it was.
When they don’t go on fourth and people think they should have. When go for it and don’t get it, everyone has opinion. When you go for it and get it, everyone thinks you’re smart. Would love for commentators to have an opinion before the play.
Has trust in staff and players to execute what they call.
Pros and cons of Big Ten title game
11/25/2024 11:23:59 AMHaven’t spent a whole lot of time thinking about that. Literally completely focused on the Terps and Maryland. After that game, there are a lot of other things that have to happen. That is a possibility. For them, want an opportunity to compete as many times as they possibly can this year. If that includes a conference championship game, would be very excited about that opportunity. But they have to focus on Maryland this week, and if they’re not focused on that, a lot of things other people are talking about become questionable, challenging, different. Have not talked about B1G championship in the Lasch Building once. Have a ton of respect for Maryland and talent on their team every year. But anything that happens after Saturday, will be excited about those opportunities that they have earned.
Anthony Donkoh
11/25/2024 11:13:11 AMHe is a longterm injury. Felt like Rucci played well. Offensive line, as well as Rucci, you could watch 20 plays and be impressed, and watch a couple of plays and be frustrated. That’s not just coming from him. That’s from line coaches, players themselves. Have to take responsibility for that and give Minnesota credit for that. Their extra week of prep showed up. But overall, pleased with Rucci and sure are he’s on their team. Felt like that all year long, and will need him to have a really good week in prep for Saturday and have a lot of confidence that he will.
Senior day
11/25/2024 11:12:22 AMSenior day remains challenging. With COVID years, it has gotten wacky. Have fourth, fifth, sixth year guys, so that has been different. Looking forward to celebrating seniors and what they have done for the program. Need to be 1-0 to be in best position to continue playing as a family.
Opening statement:
11/25/2024 11:07:53 AMPositives: Found a way on the road to overcome adversity and get a Big Ten win. That’s hard to do. THought the guys did a really good job of maximizing one moment opportunities. You prepare all year for certain opportunities to come up. Fake punt a perfect example. Dom Rulli did a phenomenal job of being the quarterback on that and getting into the right call or checking out, has done that all year. But there are also things that, if you watched the play, DaKaari Nelson’s block was a clinic block. Tyler Elsdon on the front side. Just really cool that you work all year for something and when time presents itself, guys take advantage and maximize it.
Not a whole lot of people talking about Barker, but he’s 10 of 11 since he started and is doing a nice job.
Situational football stuff has really shown up this year. Favorite play of the game was surrender. Call surrender, signal it, and once you call it in, you go down before scoring. Perfect example of who they are and who Tyler Warren is. Can become all-time leading scorer with that catch and he falls down at 1 yard line. Best thing to do to manage that situation and win the game, not having to kick off, ending on their terms. Not surprising that Tyler Warren puts the team first. The more you pour into others, the more it comes back to you.
Opportunities for growth: Blocked punt wasn’t a scheme issue. Three guys to block three guys. Punt kicked a little wider than normal. Guy got his hand on it. Big play. Field goal was a fluke. Haven’t done that in 11 years. Have to get that cleaned up. Start was disappointing. Not how you want to start.
Two last points. Need to be better creating after the catch YAC yards and after contact carries. Scheme and other 10 players are responsible to get ball carrier in position to be 1 on 1, then ballcarrier needs to win that. And then the quick kick with Tyler Warren, don’t want to shenk punt. But bigger picture thing with team is, whenever in a sky punt situation, where they were on the field, quick kick or sky kick, never would call timeout there. Good opportunity to talk. Talked about it as a team. Sometimes QBs are not in that situation but you’d never call timeout there. Five yard penalty for delay is no big deal. Good opportunity to talk through that.
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