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Penn State Thursday 3: A throwback, a take on how the Lions are viewed nationally, and a thought on wrestling

Greg Pickelby:Greg Pickel•05/05/22•

GregPickel

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James Franklin.

Penn State is cruising through the first full week of May. We are, too, at Blue-White Illustrated. Next up on our weekly rundown is the Penn State Thursday three.

Today, we’re picking a throwback, offering a take on how the Lions football team is viewed nationally, and a thought on some wrestling news.

Away we go.

Throwback Thursday: Larry Johnson

Who else should we have picked on May 5?

Before Jahan Dotson rocked No. 5 for Penn State, Larry Johnson did it as few have before in Penn State history.

We’re throwing it back to his 2002 season. Johnson finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting that year and was a unanimous All-American. ‘LJ’ led the NCAA in rushing yards that season with 2,087 and had the Big Ten’s best yards per carry mark at 7.7 yards. He also registered a conference-leading 23 touchdowns.

We can also give a throwback Thursday shoutout to incoming Penn State safety Tyrece Mills. The Lackawanna College safety who arrives soon committed to the LIons on this day a year ago.

“I think the biggest thing is his physicality,” Penn State coach James Franklin said of Mills back in February. “You’re talking about a guy that I think can play any three of the safety spots, which is the two deep safeties, but also that field backer-slash-safety player that we like to play with.

“I think his biggest strength is coming downhill and supporting the run like Marcus Allen did, but he also has the athleticism and ball skills to make some plays in those areas as well.”

Thursday take: Penn State is just right in the final third of post-spring top-25s

Two post-spring top-25 lists are out from the national media. One has the Lions at No. 20 and the other places them at No. 24.

While we won’t blame anyone for possibly leaving Penn State on the outside looking in after back-to-back disappointing seasons, it’s this writer’s stance that slotting them somewhere between Nos. 20 and 25 is the right call.

Penn State certainly has plenty of promise and just as many questions coming out of spring practice. They could surprise in any number of positive or negative ways come the fall. Perhaps placing them inside the top-25 is too much for some. Again, that’s a fair stance. But, looking across the entire national landscape, the Lions fit inside the top-25, but just in the back third of it.

Final thought for Thursday: Beard finds the right home at Lehigh

Michael Beard was a tremendous wrestler and teammate at Penn State. He could have easily left last season when Max Dean won the 197-pound job he was an All-American in the year before. But, Beard stuck it out, helped Dean prepare, and saw the team win a national title.

Beard certainly wanted to get back on the mat, however. And, with Dean coming back, Beard made the decision best for him and transferred to Lehigh. He will again be able to chase the national medal podium as a Mountain Hawk and have a chance at returning to the All-American ranks.

There is no question that Penn State fans will both wish him well and continue rooting for the Pottstown, Pa., native because of how he handled the situation.

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