Skip to main content
penn-state logo

What's the biggest obstacle Penn State football faces this spring?: Newsstand

Greg Pickelby:Greg Pickel•about 17 hours•

GregPickel

drew-allar-penn-state-football-1-on3
Penn State quarterback Drew Allar speaks with offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki during the first day of spring practice in 2024. (Credit: Ryan Snyder | Blue White Illustrated)

Penn State news, notes, and updates for March 20 include more spring practice preview content, headlines of the day, and more.

Penn State tweets of the day

As the Nittany Lions wait to start drills next Tuesday while many other programs across the country are already back on the field, ESPN’s Heather Dinich picked one obstacle facing each of the top 12 College Football Playoff contenders with five months and change left to go until the 2025 season kicks off. Unsurprisingly, the selection for Penn State focuses on a sore subject from the 2024 slate that ended in the College Football Playoff semifinals: Elevating the passing game.

“One of the most dubious distinctions of last year’s CFP remains the fact that Penn State — the No. 4 team in the country — didn’t complete one pass to a wide receiver in its biggest game of the year,” Dinich writes. “Quarterback Drew Allar is back, but with much to prove — and major questions about who he’s going to throw it to. All-America tight end Tyler Warren is gone, and Penn State is hoping the transfer portal additions of former USC receiver Kyron Hudson and former Troy receiver Devonte Ross will help immediately. It helps that offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki is entering his second season with Allar, and the running backs room with Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton could claim to be the best in the country.

“If the Nittany Lions want to go from good to great, though, and beat Oregon and/or Ohio State during the regular season, they’ve got to find some explosive playmakers at wide receiver, starting this spring.”

You can read the full story here.

In other news, former Penn State defensive end Smith Vilbert will play next at North Carolina. He announced that news on Wednesday night.

Headlines of the day

Penn State Football: Where Drew Allar Trained His Focus This Winter: Mader, SI

Lions freshman guard elects to enter NCAA transfer portal: Bauer, BWI

Penn State’s 10 Most Important Players With Something to Prove in Spring Practice: Engle, Statecollege.com

Spring ball the next step on a long road back for Penn State LB Kari Jackson: Fitz, BWI

Where does James Franklin rank among best coaches in college football?: Linderman, Daily Collegian

6 Penn State football thoughts six days before spring ball starts: Players we’re excited to see and more: Pickel, BWI

College Football 26: EA Sports more than doubles payments to every player appearing in game: Samara, On3

Quote of the day

“I had a great conversation with Jahvin this week, and I have nothing but great things to say about him. He’s an awesome young man. A pleasure to coach this year. Awesome family. Love, love, love his family and the way they go about it. We had an open conversation. Really appreciate the honesty and the feedback from Jahvin. And Jahvin was looking for something that he felt was out there. And I’m okay with that.”

PSU men’s basketball coach Mike Rhoades on freshman guard Jahvin Carter deciding to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal.

You may also like