Penn State keys in on developmental work in bowl prep
The process has already started for Penn State.
Still grinding out the final weeks of recruiting work, Penn State’s bowl prep is in full swing. And as head coach James Franklin indicated Sunday night, the program is determined to make the most of its practice opportunities.
“I think there’s value in it. I think whenever you’re able to get practices, there’s value,” Franklin said. “It’s pretty interesting when you line up last year’s teams, and the records that they had, if they had spring ball or not.
“There’s a pretty strong correlation between those two things. So I think you could make the same argument with bowl practices and opportunities that you get this year.”
No longer an issue, the Nittany Lions practiced Sunday morning before the staff dispersed for recruiting in-home visits.
And while the team’s GAs have since turned their attention to game-prep for No. 23 Arkansas, Penn State has so far used its workouts geared toward player development on the front end of its bowl prep.
“We have practices that are more suited towards the young players that you’re trying to develop and get reps early on. You’re (also) trying to get some of the older players to be able to rest and recover,” Franklin said. “And then we have practices on the weekends when we’re all off the road together, getting ready for the bowl. The closer the game gets… allows us to spend more time back in State College focusing on that.”
On a Penn State team with nearly three dozen veterans, that has opened the door to younger players.
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According to Penn State’s roster, there are 28 scholarship players with true freshman or redshirt freshman eligibility. And this season, 10 on offense, seven on defense, appeared in games.
Already having weathered a regular-season marked by key injuries in addition to normal wear and tear, the secondary benefit has also been that of much-needed rest for Penn State’s experienced players.
“It’s how you use them,” Franklin said. “(We’re) taking care of the vets and making sure that they continue to get better and stay sharp, but still have a good experience. And (we also have) an opportunity to get more reps to the young players.
“It’s very similar to what you would do in spring ball and… training camp.”
NCAA rules for bowl game participants permit up to four hours per day of team activities, up to 20 hours per week, between the end of the regular season and the bowl game. No limit of 15 official practices exists.
Classes at Penn State end on Friday, Dec. 10, with finals for the fall semester set to run between Monday, Dec. 13, and Friday, Dec. 17, likely impacting the Nittany Lions’ practice schedule that week as a result.
