Live updates: James Franklin spring football press conference
Penn State head coach James Franklin is meeting with reporters Tuesday afternoon at Beaver Stadium in advance of the start of his program’s spring practices. The Nittany Lions will be at work in a few hours from the Lasch practice facility.
What should the expectations be out of the gates as Penn State works to return to the College Football Playoff?
Follow our live updates from Franklin during his press conference, here:
James Franklin press conference live updates
(Press conference has ended at 12:43 p.m.)
How 105 changes how they practice
03/25/2025 11:42:36 AMRight now, it doesn’t. But will in the fall. Team is well aware of it. But it’s going to be different. Lost 16 guys during the season last year. Now you have that, who you’re not allowed to replace under the 105 rules right now. So how do you practice? There was a study done and 105 number was done because people talking, commissioners and ADs saying NFL does it with 53, you should do it with 105. Average NFL roster through entire season of signing, cutting, practice, replacing, is 110 through the year. Not being able to replace players, it will get interesting. Might do offense servicing the defense, defense servicing offense. Guys on scout teams who haven’t been on scout teams in two years. Fortunate with roster numbers and walk-ons to have really good practices and good guys taking a ton of pride in roles on scout. So it’ll be challenge. Can’t be stubborn that this is how they’ve always done it. Part of it is getting players to understand this will be a different season than they’ve been used to. A discussion they need to talk about at the end of spring ball that this season will look and feel different. There will be people in the 105 that have challenges and you’re not able to solve it. A few years ago, Maryland lost four quarterbacks and were playing a linebacker. TV contracts factor into this. If you get teams with too many injuries and product being put out isn’t as good because of the 105, does the number change because TV push back? The quality has been really good. This is the first time going through it, so can have plans and ides of how they think it’ll go, but until going through it, will be adjusting on a day to day basis.
NIL and stadium alignment
03/25/2025 11:38:28 AMPat has done a magical job of pushing and being aggressive, a Big Ten linebacker. But also having all the conversations and showing respect for all the parties out there with challenging and difficult decisions. But relationships they’ve developed with people like BJ and West Shore Home has gone a long way. The fact they have alumni who believe in what university, athletics, and football are doing is important. When you have a $700 million project going on at the same time as trying to put a roster together, that could be a challenge of where that fundraising goes. But things have been handled really well. Doesn’t mean it’s always smooth. But things have been handled well and showing everyone respect needed and deserved, while also moving the university and athletic department and program forward. Challenging, but handled very well.
Offensive line, running backs returning – receivers/TE production left – how much do you know of offense vs. where targets will go
03/25/2025 11:36:06 AMThat’s similar to what they talked about on defense. It’s an exciting time. If he’s a receiver or tight end, excited. Tyler Warren’s 102 catches have to go somewhere. Should be excited at those positions because that production has to go somewhere. The interesting thing is the receivers need to understand they’re not just competing with receivers. They’re competing with running backs. With the tight ends for touches. Tight ends, same thing. End of the day, have to make sure they’re getting their best players the ball. Other thing they have to do is make sure they have enough of those people. Two proven commodities in the backfield behind proven OL. Who steps up at TE? Who steps up at WR? That will be important for development of offense, the team, and to take another step this year. Fine line because Tyler Warren showed he should get the ball. But if you have Tyler Warren and wideouts, that’s more difficult to defend. Had some good wideouts, but talking about everyone in the league being scared of. Have to do that through development of receivers, scheme, quarterbacks. Play action pass should be a strength to put defense in conflict. Those things help. They need to be complementary pieces. Had years where KJ Hamler was the guy to get the ball. DaeSean Hamilton. Jahan Dotson. Have had it in years past and need it again. Whether it’s three or two, whatever, need that with the tight ends. Similar conversations with TE. That room has produced consistently but still a question mark when you lose a guy like Warren. That’s what spring ball is about. Installing, then figuring out what identity can and should be going into the fall. Then making sure as coaches not forcing the identity they want to have as coaches on the team.
On the NIL plan for April 7 House approval
03/25/2025 11:30:26 AMThis is the challenge. It’s crazy. Having the transfer portal open during the playoffs doesn’t make a lot of sense. It’s the same thing. Playing the season, having to make plans for NIL and transfer portal like everyone in the country, and had to have those deals done before the portal closed because it affected people’s decisions, but also didn’t completely know or understand all the rules of engagement or how it would work out because of courts. Coaches, ADs, commissioners are talking about this. After year one of rev share, have a structure that you used in previous years and went well or didn’t and tweak. But that’s why this is so challenging is making decisions and move forward before you have all of the information and guidelines. Decisions still being made today in the courts and commissioners, AFCA, all these things. Won’t get into the specifics of those things, but that’s what’s made this so challenging is it’s not like right when they decided going in this direction that rules were mapped out. Guidelines changing as they speak. An interesting year for everyone.
On formula for spring ball with deep offensive line
03/25/2025 11:27:14 AMWhen he got here, there was an NFL philosophy of how to handle sanctions, reduced numbers, and took NFL model of five starters and a couple swing guys, and barely had that. Get scarred by those experiences. Pre-portal so couldn’t solve problems quickly. Big believer that you have to develop and recruit up front on OL and DL, and don’t want to come up short recruiting those positions. They also take time. The closer you are to the ball, it’s a man’s game in there. Age, strength, size is a major factor. Traut has done a phenomenal job. You’re short on OL, how do you schedule practice for QB and RB to get development. That’s true of every position on that side of the ball as well as across the ball. Getting guys enough reps is important. Big two-spot team. Learn best by doing, not watching. But also areas to not go live with ones and twos but might with threes and fours as young guys. Being able to evaluate and develop those guys at every position is important. Heavy or short at a position, need to make sure it doesn’t stunt development. That’s why they spend a ton of time planning out the practices. In a good position. Likes the plan. But it’ll be an important spring ball, specifically on defense.
Format of the Blue-White Game
03/25/2025 11:22:43 AMHave been at Penn State long enough to understand the impact of football on this entire community. And thinks everyone is aware of that. Needs give and take for everyone, bars, restaurants, hotels. So to say not having a spring game, that wouldn’t make sense for a ton of reasons. University schedules a ton of fundraising around it. Like a homecoming for the spring. That will always factor into it. Game will not be televised. And will have a spring game, more similar to what they’ve had in the past, that could change. But could see it being a little shorter. Don’t think they’ll do a halftime. Will condense it, shorter quarters, maybe no halftime. But also know there are real football people in fan base to evaluate the football team and want to get excited and discuss what the team will look like next year. For all those reasons will still do it, but probably a little fewer plays and shorter amount of time. Probably won’t all be live. Some live, some thud. But when trying to modify, with so many players deciding to come back, that impacts it as well. But also wants it to be enough for it to be worth it to media and fans. Also, Jim being in the stadium for the first time, calling from the booth. Those things important to get those reps. Important for him to evaluate staff and roster. They’re like gold.
On WRs Ross and Hudson
03/25/2025 11:16:29 AMWhoever you talk to about Hudson, everyone loves the guy. Tremendous work ethic. Huge catch against LSU. Has done it at this level before. Also an aspect when guys know it’s their last year, motivation comes along with that as well.
With Ross, different scenario, body type, school. But jumps out having respect of Iowa, specifically defense and special teams. And Troy was beating Iowa at Iowa, with Ross leading the way. For him to do it against that type of opponent on that stage gave a lot of confidence that could translate to Penn State. Carried a lot of weight because so much respect for what they do on special teams, defense. Ton of production in that game.
On availability of Rojas, Rapp, Donkoh
03/25/2025 11:14:17 AMDon’t want to speak in terms of length of spring ball, but they will not be fully available in the beginning of spring ball. Hard to say. Everyone heals differently and at different pace, how they attack treatment. Docs have certain guidelines for how to progress back from injury. Some things they will be able to do and some they won’t.
On receivers going into spring
03/25/2025 11:12:46 AMEveryone sees the competition winners on social media, but there aren’t footballs involved. So to judge a receiver before seeing him at practice, running routes, creating separation, making contested catches, catch radius, it’s hard to say. In terms of attitude, demeanor, fit in the locker room, all those things have been really good. Recruiting guys like Ross out of Troy and schools like that, a lot of times those are exciting because, no knock on any other place, but have more resources at Penn State and guys have a chance to develop a little more than getting guys from a similar type program. Interesting to see those guys grow. They’ve been awesome and a hit with teammates in the locker room.
Drew Allar’s next step in development this spring
03/25/2025 11:43:34 AMGets this question a lot about a lot of players. It’s not one thing. That’s the case with Drew. He needs to take another step this year, which he’s done every year he’s been at Penn State. Needs to take a step with mobility, leadership, completion percentage, touchdown/interception. All of it. There are some things he’s had conversations with Drew and Danny O’Brien where they’ll stay between them. But, being transparent, it’s not one thing. It’s all of it. And what’s exciting about him is he’s still got a lot of growth and development. He’s a young kid. He’s taken significant steps every year. Puts in a ton of time and knows how to prepare mentally and physically and Danny does a good job, room challenges him, and two new wideout pieces puts him in a position to coach and get those guys ready. But not one specific area for him to grow in.
How to handle veterans
03/25/2025 11:07:33 AMVery similar to what they’ve done in the past with guys like Olu Fashanu, guys who’ve played a lot, will modify their reps. Fine line because they still need to get better and that’s why they came back. Need to be smart about that. Also creates opportunity for guys behind them competing for roles. Talk about it as staff and each position talks plan for each guy, make sure they’re on same page about how everyone sees it, and then implement in spring ball. Did the same with Tyler Warren last year. One or two guys at every position with some form of modification in spring and really preseason camp as well.
Replacing Kobe King, the position and leader
03/25/2025 11:05:39 AMThe Mike linebacker in a lot of ways is like the quarterback of the defense. When a guy has been doing it for several years and has such a good feel for defeating and slipping blocks, it’s hard. Heckuva competition. DeLuca and Rojas have a lot of experience. And then some guys like Wylie coming off an injury needing evaluated, Ta’Mere Robinson ready to take the next step, Speca expected to take next step. Arrington, Dee, Kari Jackson. A number of guys, but right now not sure how it’ll play out. Probably going to go back to Vanderbilt days and some years here more than others with base out of 4-2-5 more, which helps with that. Doesn’t mean they won’t go sub-package and 4-3 when it makes sense when it puts team and defense in best position to be successful, but always a 4-2-5 when coming to Penn State, and arrived to really good linebackers and LBU and some years it didn’t make sense to do that. This year, it’s a way that fits personnel this year and what Jim has liked to do in the past. These were a lot of their conversations before him coming here.
Opening statement
03/25/2025 11:02:32 AMCongratulate Cael and the wrestling program. Saw a practice and this year didn’t have a conflict and was able to go down to Philly and be a part of it, which was awesome. That program continues to do unbelievable things.
Getting into spring ball, have some new and moving parts they’re working through. These 15 practices will be very important. Had a really good winter workout period. Guys are in a good place. Pleased by how the staff has handled adjustments. It’s been a grind. Just like on offense, the defense getting everyone on the same page – staff first, players second – has been good, but a ton of work to do this spring and summer before opening the season against Nevada.
