Top takeaways, things we learned from Tuesday's Penn State football practice
STATE COLLEGE — Wednesday’s newsstand is headlined by news and notes from the fourth Penn State football practice of the spring. Below, we review the top stories and takeaways from Holuba Hall and look at headlines from around ‘Nittany Nation.’
Penn State tweets of the day
It was a busy Tuesday for the Penn State football program. Head coach James Franklin and his staff led the team through its fourth practice of the spring. Reporters were on hand for the start of it. After the usual fundamental work that includes but is not limited to work on tackling, ball security, creating turnovers, and other program tenants, the practice shifted into one-on-one drills between receivers and defensive backs. Lyrick Samuel’s one-handed catch was the highlight for the offense. Cornerback Audvaion Collins’ pass breakup on a ball intended for transfer receiver Kyron Hudson led the defense’s efforts.
Later in the day, James Franklin spoke with reporters. He said that defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton and right tackle Nolan Rucci are currently not available for practices, which puts them among a list of veteran players who are working their way back to being 100 percent. The 12th-year leader of the Lions also shared some insight on new Penn State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles.
“He’s a man of few words,” Franklin said. “That’s in the staff meetings in the morning, that’s out here on the field,” Franklin said. “He’s a believer that he’s going to spend a ton of time in the meeting room and taking notes down, kind of like I do, and then make the points he needs to make to the coaches.
“He is detailed to the point where, I think he’s very, very comfortable, on the field, letting the coaches coach. But from a big picture perspective, he sees it all.”
Top 10
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Chris Beard
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Under NCAA investigation
- 3
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5 QBs come off the board
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Headlines of the day
Penn State injury updates; notes on Jim Knowles’ fit, and more from James Franklin: Pickel, BWI
Comparing Penn State elite edge rushers: Brian Baldinger on Abdul Carter vs. Micah Parsons: Flounders, PennLive
Penn State practice notes and observations from open session number two: Carr, BWI
How Penn State Hockey Went From Winless in the Big Ten to the Frozen Four: Mader, SI
4 thoughts from Penn State spring practice No. 4: Play of the day, top observations, and more: Pickel, BWI
Julian Fleming’s trials, tribulations of college football journey prepare him for next chapter: Alenstein, Daily Collegian
Penn State basketball set for staff changes; Nittany Lions welcoming back program legend Talor Battle: Bauer, BWI
Quote of the day
“Both of them are big, physical guys. I mean, [Matthew] Outten’s like 212, pounds already. When we watched him in high school, he was a wide receiver, he was a Wildcat quarterback, he was a running back. He kind of did it all. Punt return, kick return, powerful guy, fast guy, explosive guy. We’ve seen the same things, but for those very same reasons, he’s a little raw as a wide receiver. So, it’s great that we got him in here early. He’s doing really well. We’re excited about his future.
“Koby [Howard], another guy more developed. He’s already 190 something pounds, strong in the weight room, explosive. Been playing wide out pretty much his whole life. So he’s a little bit more refined in those areas. But both have done a really nice job already for guys that should still be in high school.”
PSU coach James Franklin on his two early enrollee receivers.
