Penn State picks Iron Lions of the Week; Lions get more Playoff hype: Newsstand
Penn State news, notes, and updates for July 7 include Nittany Lions standing out in the weight room as summer workouts continue, plus more College Football Playoff hype for the program and more.
It’s time to dive into Friday’s top tweets and headlines about the Nittany Lions and college athletics.
Penn State tweets of the day
We start with a look at what is going on inside the recently-renovated Lasch Building weight room. As summer workouts continue in State College, the program’s strength staff pick their Iron Lions of the Week every seven days. It is a way to give a public shout-out to players catching the staff’s eye during the grueling grind leading into preseason camp. This week’s selections are defensive tackle Jordan van den Berg, receiver Liam Clifford, and tight end Khalil Dinkins.
Penn State head coach James Franklin made it a point to point out that, while that trio is standing out, they aren’t the only ones.
“Love these awards, I wish everyone could see how hard the guys are working,” Franklin wrote on Twitter. “#WeAre very proud”
In other news, James Parks of Sports Illustrated became the latest reporter to pick Penn State as a team who could make its first College Football Playoff appearance in 2023.
“After a sluggish effort against top 10 teams under James Franklin, the Nittany Lions looked elite against Utah in Pasadena. And it returns the bulk of a roster that should take an important step forward in Big Ten play in 2023,” Parks writes.
Top 10
- 1
Danny Stutsman Jersey Theft
OU star's Senior Day jersey stolen
- 2
SEC fines OU twice
Sooners get double punishment
- 3
Big 12 title game
Scenarios illustrate complexity
- 4Hot
AP Poll Shakeup
New Top 25 shows Saturday carnage
- 5
Auburn punished
SEC fines Tigers for field storming
“It has one of the nation’s premier running back groups, an offensive line with potential and Olu Fashanu back at tackle, a skilled defensive rotation that returns three proven linebackers, and a could-be phenom in transfer receiver Dante Cephas. Drew Allar, a 5-star recruit a year ago, steps in at quarterback with plenty of help around him, but this program needs to show it belongs on the same field as Ohio State and Michigan.”
Headlines of the day
College football playoffology: Predicting surprise CFP teams in 2023: Parks, SI
Penn State bigs bring new dynamic: Bauer, BWI
James Franklin explains what a ‘healthy’ football program can do for Penn State: Weber, On3
What does the Danny O’Brien move mean for Penn State?: Fitz, BWI
Six players who must take big step forward for Lions to reach potential: Giger, DKPittsburghSports
Penn State puts 3 on ESPN’s ‘too early’ 2024 NFL Draft first round mock: Pickel, BWI
Quote of the day
“Well, I think a healthy Penn State football team is not just good for for the athletic department. It’s good for this community. It’s good for this state, hotels, the restaurants, the bars. We’re all in this thing together in this community. I think we know a lot of business comes from a healthy Penn State football program. I think it’s good for the Big Ten. There’s a lot of reasons why it’s important.”
–PSU coach James Franklin on why a healthy Lions football team is good for many in 2023.
