Penn State picks Iron Lions of the Week; Florida four-star puts Lions in top nine: Newsstand
Penn State news, notes, and updates for Feb. 15 include a look at the Iron Lions of the Week, plus a recruiting nugget and more.
It’s time to dive into Wednesday’s top tweets and headlines about the Nittany Lions and college athletics.
Penn State tweets of the day
We start with the Iron Lions of the Week. The Penn State strength staff picked reigning Big Ten freshman of the year and running back Nicholas Singleton, second-year punter Alex Bacchetta, and transfer cornerback Storm Duck as the players who impressed them most last week.
Singleton is not a surprising pick. He has won two competitor of the day honors from position coach Ja’Juan Seider so far this month. Bacchetta, meanwhile, is battling incoming transfer Riley Thompson and others for the starting punting job. Duck, who was a second-team All-ACC pick at North Carolina last season, has drawn praise since arriving in January from both position coach Terry Smith and head coach James Franklin.
“Storm is very business-like,” Franklin said last week.
“We’ve been fortunate that the guys that we have gotten from the transfer portal have been really good fits culturally.”
In other news, Tampa, Fla., Class of 2024 four-star edge Booker Pickett has put Penn State in his top nine. Florida State, Georgia, Louisville, Miami, Ohio State, South Carolina, Tennessee, and USC also made the cut. The 6-foot-4, 201-pound junior has not yet visited State College. The Hurricanes currently lead in the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine. But, by making his first cut, the Lions could get him to campus later this year.
“I like the culture at Penn State, how they wear all white, how their fans always support them and their culture stands out,” Pickett told On3’s Chad Simmons.
“I see how they develop defensive ends too. They develop guys at my position and that stands out. The coaches are impressive too.”
Headlines of the day
Why Marques Hagans Left Virginia for Penn State: Wogenrich, SI
Virginia RB Peyton Lewis talks Penn State, future visits: Fitz, BWI
Penn State to host women’s football clinic in May, featuring James Franklin and coaching staff: Allen, Daily Collegian
Penn State set to welcome back rising linebacker prospect this spring: Snyder, BWI
Akron coach Joe Moorhead agrees to contract extension amid interest from Power Five, NFL teams, per report: Jeyarajah, CBS Sports
PSU winter workouts: Who were the top competitors on day three?: Pickel, BWI
Central York QB Beau Pribula preparing for increased role at Penn State as spring camp approaches: McGonigal, PennLive
Penn State football: Lasch and Holuba Hall practice field renovations up for Board of Trustees approval this week: Pickel, BWI
Quote of the day
“I was expecting to come in and make an impact. But, not everybody lives up to their own expectations. I wasn’t mad about having to redshirt. I was taking it day by day, focusing on getting better. Everybody’s journey is different. Coach [James] Franklin says it all the time. My dad told me not to get caught up in any of that. Be happy for your brothers on the field and your time will come. That was my mindset.”
—PSU receiver Kaden Saunders to BWI about his first season on campus.
