Penn State linebacker Tony Rojas makes Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award watch list: Newsstand
Penn State news, notes, and updates for Aug. 31 include early recognition for a Nittany Lions linebacker, plus info from practice and more.
It’s time to dive into Thursday’s top tweets and headlines about the Nittany Lions and college athletics.
Penn State tweets of the day
We start with Tony Rojas. The former four-star recruit and first-year Penn State linebacker is one of 37 players on the initial watch list for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year award. Given annually since 2018, it is named after the former Alabama and Seattle Seahawks star running back and given out by the Maxwell Football Club. Second-year Lions linebacker Abdul Carter was a semifinalist for the honor a year ago. Rojas aims to follow in his footsteps and have initial success at the same position in 2023. He has drawn rave reviews during spring practice and preseason camp and is green-lit to burn his redshirt this fall.
“I’m proud of the way he played the spring game,” Penn State defensive coordinator Manny Diaz said earlier this year.
“I think he’s picked up the defense pretty well. He’s a bright kid. And he loves to play. I thought he was as good as anybody in the country (on his high school tape). We’re very blessed to have him.”
In other news, Penn State coach James Franklin held his final news conference before Saturday’s opener on Wednesday night. He addressed offensive lineman Landon Tengwall’s retirement due to an undisclosed injury. No starting quarterback was named. No winners of any of the special teams battles were revealed, either.
“Going out and getting some veteran guys to come in here [at kicker and punter] and compete with our current guys, I think that’s been a real positive,” Franklin said.
Top 10
- 1Breaking
Oklahoma nabs OC
Sooners tab Ben Arbuckle as OC
- 2
Sam Pittman
Will return to Arkansas as head coach
- 3New
CBB Top 25
AP Poll shake up after Feast Week
- 4Hot
Harsin wears Bama gear
Former Auburn HC sports LANK shirt
- 5
BCS formula predicts CFP
Predicting the College Football Playoff Top 25
“Whether those guys ended up being the starters from inside the program, the internal guys, or the guys that came in from outside, I’m not sure yet. But, I think it’s elevated the whole group. We try as much as we can to create as much competition with the specialists. No different than any other position.
Headlines of the day
Penn State Football fans will find more food choices, including Chickie’s & Pete’s, Caliente Pizza: Gleiter, PennLive
James Franklin: Expectations for Drew Allar, receiving improvements, more: Bauer, BWI
The View From Morgantown: Scouting the West Virginia Mountaineers: Wogenrich, SI
Impact: Penn State’s OL depth tested with Landon Tengwall forced away from football: Fitz, BWI
Penn State DE Adisa Isaac primed for big 2023: Haas, Daily Collegian
Penn State vs. West Virginia Predictions: Lions look to make a statement in home opener: Snyder, BWI
Expanded CFP format decisions in holding pattern until realignment ‘dust settles’: Prisbell, On3
Quote of the day
“You’re going to learn a lot. He’s played, so we have an understanding of that. But. there’s a difference being the starter and playing starter-type reps. At the end of the day, I want him to continue to play like he did last year with poise and a really good understanding of how to manage the game. I also want him to let the plays come to him. Because, with our running game, and with the weapons that we have at tight end and wide receiver, he doesn’t need to force anything.”
“He doesn’t have to feel like he’s got too much on his shoulders. Between our defense, our special teams, and our running game, I feel like we can go out there and just call the game the way we want to call it. But I want him to feel like ‘Hey, I got enough weapons around me. I just got to manage the game and allow my experience and confidence to grow as the season goes on.’”
–PSU coach James Franklin when asked Wednesday night what he hopes to learn about expected but not yet announced starting QB Drew Allar in the season opener.
