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Penn State assistant among 33 coaches who 'could be next in line for big jobs': Newsstand

Greg Pickelby:Greg Pickelabout 19 hours

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The Penn State Nittany Lion mascot jams out during the first half of an NCAA football game against Kent State, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in State College, Pa. (Dan Rainville/USA Today Sports Network)
The Penn State Nittany Lion mascot jams out during the first half of an NCAA football game against Kent State, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in State College, Pa. (Dan Rainville/USA Today Sports Network)

Penn State news, notes, and updates for Sept. 27 include ESPN’s list of assistants primed for bigger jobs, headlines of the day, and more. It’s time to dive into Friday’s top tweets and stories about the Nittany Lions and college athletics.

Penn State tweets of the day

Longtime ESPN college football reporter Adam Rittenberg is getting ahead of next year’s coaches carousel with an early look at the 33 current college football assistants who could be ready for a promotion sooner rather than later. First-year Penn State offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki made the cut. He joined the Lions this year. He has been an offensive coordinator at six different schools dating back to 2006.

“The impact he has had on programs is profound and soon could vault him into leading his own team. Kotelnicki, 44, helped transform Kansas under coach Lance Leipold, as the Jayhawks ranked fifth nationally in yards per play and 18th in scoring during Kotelnicki’s final two seasons as coordinator. Kansas seemingly misses him, too, as the team is 1-3 this fall,” Rittenberg writes.

“Penn State, which struggled mightily to generate explosive plays last season, is fifth nationally in yards per play and seventh in yards per game, after setting a team total offense record with 718 yards Saturday against Kent State. “He’s going to be a hot name, with what he did at Buffalo and Kansas,” an industry source said. Kotelnicki is a Minnesota native who has spent the bulk of his career in the Midwest and could be an interesting fit for Big Ten, ACC or certain Big 12 jobs.”

Former Nittany Lion D’Anton Lynn, the current defensive coordinator at USC, also made the list. Former Nittany Lion Al Golden, the defensive coordinator at Notre Dame, and former PSU assistant Tim Banks, who calls the defense at Tennessee, did as well.

Top 10

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    Georgia vs. Alabama

    Greg McElroy: Evaluating Carson Beck &. Jalen Milroe ahead of marquee matchup

  2. 2

    Just Means More

    UGA fan attempts to save friend from hurricane flood to attend game at Bama

  3. 3

    Desmond Howard mocks Ohio State

    Former Michigan star says Buckeyes 'took the whole month off'

    Trending
  4. 4

    Thorne returning as starter

    Auburn turning back to Payton Thorne vs. Oklahoma

  5. 5

    Hurricane Floods HSFB Field

    Atlanta Westminster School football field flooded due to Hurricane Helene

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Headlines of the day

Penn State’s Terry Smith on slowing the Illinois pass game: ‘We want to make these guys earn it’: Flounders, PennLive

Important target headed back to Penn State this weekend: Fitz, BWI

How Penn State Is Preparing to Face Unbeaten Illinois: Mader, SI

Penn State vs. Illinois Predictions: Lions open up Big Ten play with Top 20 clash: Snyder, BWI

Penn State Looks to Uphold ‘Standard’ in Front of 1994 Team That Set It: Engle, Statecollege.com

Junior college prospect among handful of new additions to Penn State-Illinois visitor list: Snyder, BWI

Former Penn State WR Allen Robinson II activated to Detroit Lions official roster: Alenstein, Daily Collegian

Quote of the day

“He’s been lights out this year. I think I read a stat somewhere, he’s the only quarterback in the country that’s thrown for 10 touchdowns with no turnovers. So he’s done a great job taking care of the football. He’s given his team a chance to win. And, we just got to try to challenge the routes that are coming at us. Take the access throws away. He’s done a great job of just taking clear access throws. And we want to make these guys earn it.

“If they can throw the ball down the field or run the football down the field; just not make it easy on those guys. So make those guys earn and give them some hard pictures to look at and, obviously we want to get after him up front and challenge him and make him move to pocket. And he hasn’t been much of a runner this year, but he has run in the past, so we’re going to be ready for his scramble and his legs and just try to create some havoc for him.”

–PSU corners coach Terry Smith on Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer.

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