Penn State March to-do list: Hire a new assistant, start spring practice, and more

A busy month of March starts today for the Penn State football program. Head coach James Franklin has an unexpected task on his plate. But, it’s just one of many things on the Nittany Lions’ to-do list over the next 31 days. What lies ahead? We break it all down below.

1. Hire a new assistant coach

This is the most obvious place to start. Penn State lost defensive line coach John Scott Jr., to the Detroit Lions back on Monday. He spent three seasons in State College and now makes his second stop in the NFL.

It leaves the Lions in an unfavorable spot, seeing that recruiting visits are back underway while spring ball is right around the corner (more on those two items in a minute).

Franklin does not need to rush this hire, of course. But, it goes without saying that he will want a full on-field staff when drills begin in a week and a half. Thus, expect this process to move quickly.

The leader of the Lions has rarely needed more than two weeks to fill a void on his staff. Finding a new coach now is not as easy as it is at other times of the year, of course. But, it will get done, and it will likely be accomplished sooner rather than later.

2. Let the visits begin (again)

After a much-needed February dead period for coaches and recruits, visits are back on the table again. While staff members are currently not allowed out on the road, a quiet period starts today, March 1, and it allows prospects to visit campuses across the country. Penn State will be busy bringing underclassmen to campus with hopes of adding to the Class of 2024 or setting the foundation for future commitments, at the very least.

In the past, the Lions have eventually earned pledges from many players who saw them for an unofficial visit in March. It makes the next four weeks very important for this cycle.

3. Start spring practice

Penn State wraps up winter workouts this week. Then, spring break occupies next week. After that, it’s immediately time for spring practice.

“The way the calendar fell this year, we usually will try to come back from spring break and have one or two sessions to get the sinning out of them and then get into spring ball, but the way the calendar falls this year and when the spring game is, we’re not really able to do that, so we’ll come back from spring break and get going right away,” Franklin said in February.

“Sometimes people break up spring ball into a few days before spring break and finish it afterward. We have always tried to do it after spring break but still give us enough time to get out on the road recruiting.”

Drills begin on March 14. Thirteen more will follow before the Blue-White game wraps things up on April 15. Here is the full schedule:

Tuesday – March 14

Thursday – March 16

Saturday – March 18

Tuesday – March 21

Thursday – March 23

Saturday – March 25

Tuesday – March 28

Thursday – March 30

Saturday – April 1

Tuesday – April 4

Friday – April 7

Tuesday – April 11

Thursday – April 13

Friday – April 14

Saturday – April 15 (Blue-White Game)

4. Help former Lions continue NFL Draft prep

So much of the program’s focus will be on the current and future versions of itself in March. But, the Lions won’t neglect their pro prospects.

The NFL Combine on-field drills start Thursday. Seven former Penn State players are there. They and others will later participate in Pro Day later this month in State College. Head strength coach Chuck Losey and his staff will do what they can to ensure each player hoping to make it in the NFL is in the best physical shape possible to impress scouts and pro personnel.