Which four Penn State football freshmen are green-lit to start the 2023 season?
Penn State football signed a 23-man Class of 2023 that ranked in the top 15 nationally in the On3 Industry Team Rankings. Four members of it will be immediately green-lit to burn their redshirt this fall, head coach James Franklin announced on Tuesday.
The list includes linebacker Tony Rojas, cornerbacks Zion Tracy and Elliot Washington II, and safety King Mack. All were four-star prospects, according to On3’s own rankings. Only Tracy was a three-star in the On3 Industry Rankings for the Class of 2023.
“These guys have shown that they’re the closest, not just to play on defense, but also have significant roles on special teams. And, I think that’s one of the big things out there for recruits and players, and whether it’s in college or even in the NFL, there’s so much value in that in terms of ‘Ok, here’s a guy that’s in the two deep on special teams, and here’s a guy that’s in the three deep on offense or defense, who’s going to play enough that it makes sense to green light them and go from game one, [because] he’s going to get enough reps between the combination of his offensive responsibility, and special teams responsibility, or his defensive responsibility and his special teams responsibility, that everybody’s comfortable with it. The coaches are comfortable with it. The players are comfortable with it, and it makes sense.
“So, that’s where those guys have been able to get the green light, is being in what I would consider the three deep on defense, and being within the two deep on enough special teams units that it makes sense.”
Penn State will play more than just those four freshmen in 2023
Other first-year Nittany Lions will play this fall. Some are on the cusp of transitioning out of the yellow group and into the green group. On-field performance, injuries, and other factors will help decide how many more play in at least five regular season games, which would use up a year of eligibility.
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The NCAA did make a rule change in this regard this offseason. Players can now play in up to four regular season games and then in an unlimited number of postseason games and still keep their redshirt.
“There’s another group of yellow guys that you hope by game five, game four, game five, somewhere around there, that they’re going to be ready to be green-lighted as well.”
Penn State opens the 2023 season with West Virginia. Kickoff is set for Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC.
