Penn State touts strong culture as Rose Bowl, offseason draw near

Comparing the landscape of the college football bowl picture, Monday’s Rose Bowl between Penn State and Utah has escaped largely unscathed from the outbreak of player opt-outs. 

A year ago, James Franklin and his staff were preparing for the Outback Bowl against Arkansas down six starters due to opt-outs. This year, just one player — All-America cornerback Joey Porter Jr. — has officially opted out for Penn State. Starting wide receiver Parker Washington, who will head to the NFL early after the game, won’t play due to injury. Others that have elected to move on, namely offensive lineman Juice Scruggs and tight end Brenton Strange, will still suit up for the Nittany Lions. 

“This is who we’ve been. In my 12 years as a head coach, I’ve never had an opt-out until last year,” Franklin said earlier this month. “I think part of it goes back to the leadership of our captains this year. That was a big part of our conversation before the season started with our captains, what their expectations were, what their standards were, what mine were as well.

“Really the way, in my mind, we’ve billed it at Penn State, there’s really no reason to opt out. We will be flexible with all of our guys. I want our guys to be as successful as they possibly can. I want the bowl experience to be a great experience. We’ll work with our guys.”

“If you’re not excited for this one, I don’t know really what else to do for you.”

“I’m proud of it, for sure. I think that it just shows the compassion and the love that this group has for one another,” added quarterback Sean Clifford, a four-time team captain for the Nittany Lions. “I think it shows the magnitude of the Rose Bowl, also. It’s very important that the guys who were here the whole season to finish this thing off in the right way, and I think that we did a really good job of motivating to get to this point. Also It’s the Rose Bowl. It’s the Granddaddy of them all. So realistically, if you’re not excited for this one, I don’t know really what else to do for you.”

Opt-outs on the other side have been light as well, but there’s an argument to be made that Utah has been harder hit with the decisions of cornerback Clark Phillips III and tight end Dalton Kincaid to not play. It is worth noting that, like Washington, Kincaid cited injury as the reason that he will not partake in the game. Running back Tavion Thomas announced in November that he would miss the postseason as well with an eye on his health and his future.

“We feel really good about our culture right now.”

Penn State’s approach to the game has mirrored its action, or lack thereof, in the outgoing wing of the Transfer Portal this month. While other programs have dealt with potentially crippling losses in December, the Nittany Lions’ attrition number is lower than most expected. 

“We feel really good about our culture right now. I think the team is in a really good place. I think I think guys enjoy being in the locker room,” Penn State Director of Player Personnel Andy Frank said on National Signing Day. “When you have that you’re gonna have less attrition than guys that end up leaving, typically, it’s for playing time and not because they’re not happy for another reason. So from that perspective, I’m not overly surprised as the number is fairly small. Will there be more? I’m sure there’ll probably be some. I don’t think we’ll see a major spike but I’m sure we’ll see some.”

Penn State has positive momentum this offseason

In a similar manner, the Nittany Lions have gotten good news from players who could have moved on this offseason but have elected to return. Projected first-round offensive tackle Olu Fashanu put off the NFL for at least another year in a decision that surprised many outsiders. While Fashanu is likely the exception, not the rule, his decision is a positive reflection on the program. 

“I think it’s a great testament to the culture of the team that someone has a great opportunity elsewhere, a really good one — I think he’s a first-round pick and I think that’s pretty clear — and he decided that him and his family thought it was better to come back to school and continue to be a part of this program from a development standpoint, from an education standpoint and from a happiness standpoint. I think that’s something that resonates with people,” said Frank.

“It says something. There will be years when our Portal number gets a little bit higher because there’s going to be guys that aren’t getting the playing time they want. But as long as they’re hearing from the players on the team that this is a place you want to be, I think it’s a good testament to what we’re doing here and what we’ve got going.”