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Watch: Penn State head coach James Franklin provides update on preseason camp

Mug-Shot 4x4by:Ryan Snyder•08/14/23•

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Penn State head coach James Franklin. (Credit: Blue White Illustrated)

Penn State head coach James Franklin met with the media Monday evening for the first time since opening up the Lasch Building to fans for a full practice this past Saturday. While the weather didn’t cooperate on Saturday with rain, Franklin told the media Monday evening that practicing in those conditions was a plus for the Nittany Lions as they get ready for the upcoming season.

“I thought we got exactly what we wanted to get out of it in terms of our first scrimmage of the year,” Franklin said. “We got a ton of reps, a ton of situations covered. Today it happened again. We got wet ball work, which is really valuable. We always schedule practice based on the Farmers Almanac. I made that joke with the players and they looked at me like I have five heads, but it is really good work for us.”

Franklin was also asked about the progression of a few players, including incoming transfer Dante Cephas. Franklin said that while he liked what they’ve seen so far, the group of receivers fighting to become Penn State’s third and fourth player this fall haven’t separated themselves yet.

“He’s a proven commodity who has done it in games before against really good competition,” Franklin said. “I would say we got a group of guys that we knew coming into this fall camp – guys who are in the current program who have gotten better and some new guys coming in – I would say there’s a different guy or a different two guys every day that’s flashing. I wouldn’t say anybody has separated themselves from the pack yet, but I do think there’s a large group of guys that can play in games and we can win with, but you’d like for someone to separate themselves from the pack a little bit more.”

Penn State ranks in Top 10 of AP Poll

In other news today, the Nittany Lions were once again ranked among the nation’s top 10 in the two major preseason polls.

Last week, the first preseason poll of the season was released, with the Nittany Lions coming in at No. 7 overall in the Coaches Poll. Now, the Associated Press Poll has also been released with Penn State coming in at the same position, No. 7.

As expected, Penn State’s primary rivals in the Big Ten, Michigan and Ohio State, both rank ahead of the Nittany Lions at No. 2 and No. 3, respectively. You’ll also find Wisconsin at No. 19 and Iowa at No. 25.

The Badgers were also part of the Coaches Poll, albeit slightly lower at No. 21. The Hawkeyes, who come to Beaver Stadium at the end of September, currently only rank in the AP Poll.

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