Penn State's James Franklin listed among coaches with most to prove in 2024: Newsstand
Penn State news, notes, and updates for Feb. 20 include a view on the year ahead for Lions coach James Franklin, headlines of the day, and more.
It’s time to dive into Tuesday’s top tweets and headlines about the Nittany Lions and college athletics.
Penn State news of the day
We start with James Franklin. ESPN’s college football staff picked the college football coaches with the most to prove in 2024. Blake Baumgartner went to the 11th-year leader of the Nittany Lions.
“Franklin’s tenure in State College has featured a lot of winning,” Baumgartner writes. “He picked up where Bill O’Brien left off in compiling four 11-win seasons. However, in the Nittany Lions’ most prominent games under Franklin, there hasn’t been a lot of winning. With the College Football Playoff expanding from four to 12, Penn State has a great opportunity to break through with both Michigan and Oregon not on the schedule and Ohio State coming to Beaver Stadium in 2024. It just needs to find a way to close out against the better teams on the schedule.”
In other news, betting operator FanDuel has set the Lions’ 2024 win total at 9.5 wins. It is the second-highest in the Big Ten after Ohio State and Oregon, who are each sitting at 10.5.
Headlines of the day
Penn State LB Tony Rojas ‘attacking’ his opportunity to start next season: McGonigal, PennLive
3 Penn State wrestling questions with one week to go in the regular season: Pickel, BWI
Penn State’s Tight Ends Ready to Become the ‘Adjusters’: Ralph, SI
The weekly rundown: Penn State winter impressions start to form as spring approaches: Pickel, BWI
Julian Fleming slowly but surely becoming ‘great leader’ for Penn State WRs: Engle, Daily Collegian
4-star RB Alvin Henderson has a No. 1 school on his list heading into spring visits: Simmons, On3
Recruit Rewind: Penn State finds ‘diamond in the rough’ with DL De’Andre Cook: Snyder, BWI
Quote of the day
“We like it a lot. Obviously being able to get another safety out there, all three of us at once, we love that part about it. Diving into the scheme of things, everything we’re seeing, the plays we’re going over in install, we’re loving it all. All different things, the opportunities we get to be put in different positions.
“It sucks to have coach Manny leave, all credit to him, but it is always nice to get a refresh or something new. Do something different, show your skills in different ways. So with Tom Allen coming, I think we’ll have that opportunity.”
–PSU S KJ Winston to BWI on new coordinator Tom Allen.
