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Video Breakdown: Penn State lands its next offensive coordinator

Headshot 5x7 reduced qualityby:Thomas Frank Carr•11/30/23•

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Andy Kotelnicki Penn State Football
Kansas offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki works with players during a practice in 2021 at the University of Kansas.

The Penn State Nittany Lions have a new offensive coordinator. Head coach James Franklin has tabbed Kansas OC Andy Kotelnicki to be the next man in charge of the Nittany Lions offense. BWI Insider Sean Fitz sits down to talk about the hire. Check out the video here, or on the Blue White Illustrated YouTube Channel. 

Penn State gets an OC that puts up points

When asked about what he wants in the next Penn State offensive coordinator, Franklin said that the criteria don’t change. 

“I think it’s really still the same factors,” Franklin said about the Penn State coordiantor search. “It’s who’s going to be great on third down? Who’s got the data to back up explosive plays and explosive offense? Because, in college football nowadays, to just be able to go four yards, is hard to do a play all the way down the field. Opening drives. But, a big one is, data and information based on the people that have been able to score against their best competition. The best competition in whatever leagues they’ve come from. I think that’s an important piece of this as well. Obviously, we got even more competition coming into the league as well.”

According to his official bio on the official Kansas football website, Kotelnicki has done that in the Big 12.

In his second season with the Jayhawks in 2022, Kotelnicki oversaw one of the prolific offensive attacks in school history. Kansas averaged 7.0 yards per play this season, ranking second nationally behind Ohio State (7.60). Kansas’ 7.0 yards per play also broke the program record of 6.40 set in 1950. Kansas had 41 plays of 31+ yards throughout the 2022 season, which ranked seventh nationally.

Koltinicki guided offense through turmoil in 2023

While most are familiar with starter Jalon Daniels, Kansas had three starting quarterbacks last season. Daniels suffered a back injury that lingered through the beginning of the season, finally ending his season after three games. Still, the team put up points in his absence, scoring 32 against Oklahoma State in a loss and 33 against Oklahoma. Putting up points against your best competition is the next step for Penn State, according to Franklin.

In 2019, Kotelnicki’s starting quarterback, Matt Myers, had Buffalo leading Penn State at halftime 10-7 at Beaver Stadium. Myers averaged 7.9 yards per pass on the way to 245 yards; however, he did throw a pick-six that started the decline after halftime. The Bulls rushed for 184 yards that evening as well. 

Be sure to stay tuned to Blue White Illustrated for more updates and insights in the newest Penn State coach.

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