Which Penn State football newcomers, transfers, have impressed James Franklin so far?

STATE COLLEGE — Penn State football has completed four spring practices. The Nittany Lions went live for the first time this year on Saturday. Then, they were back on the field Tuesday as the march toward April and the Blue-White game continues.

“I think the young guys aren’t as physical right now as they need to be because they’re thinking,” head coach James Franklin said after practice four on Tuesday night. “But overall, I’ve liked how we’ve practiced. We got some guys that are limited, which I wish we had everybody out here healthy and flying around.

“But overall, it’s been good. Obviously, we scrimmaged a little bit this past Saturday. It’ll be interesting to see the step we take from the first live day to the second live day and see if we can play faster and more aggressive.”

Franklin was asked to address two specific groups of players: The transfers and the early enrollees. Penn State welcomed a handful of played in the first group and 11 members of the Class of 2023 in the latter.

Transfers continue to fit in nicely

Last week, at the start of spring practice, Franklin was complimentary about how two transfers, receiver Malik McClain and cornerback Storm Duck, assimilated into the program quickly. It sounds like that has continued now that the pads are on.

“I think Storm is a guy that’s got tremendous maturity,” Franklin said. “He knows how to practice. He made a play today where we threw the ball to the flat into cloud coverage, and he came up and supported and really could have took a shot [at the ball carrier]. But, he knows how to practice. He showed everybody on the field that he would have made the tackle, and it would have been a big hit, but he didn’t take the unnecessary big hit on his teammate. He’s really earned everybody’s respect by kind of how he’s gone about his business right away.

“So I think he’s a pretty good example of it and I think the other guys will just continue to gain confidence and get more comfortable as time goes on.”

Franklin also shared his initial thoughts on McClain, who is 6-foot-4, 202 pounds.

“Obviously he’s big, he’s strong, he’s fast, he’s competitive,” Franklin said. “He’s been very competitive in winter workouts and has been very competitive out here. Those are the things that have stood out at this stage.

“As I think he gets more comfortable, he’ll have a chance to take the next step. Just his combination of speed, size, and competitiveness is probably the thing that jumps out to me.”

Which Penn State early enrollees are standing out?

Some first-year players are able to jump right into college practices. Others need more time. But some almost always stand out immediately. Who is among that group this go around?

“It’s hard because if I say that, I’m going to miss somebody,” Franklin said. “Obviously the three young offensive linemen [Penn State freshman Alex Birchmeier, JVen Williams, and Anthony Donkoh – have been impressive. They really have. I think the two young linebackers [Tony Rojas and Ta’Mere Robinson] have been impressive. [Cornerback] Elliot Washington had a play yesterday that I showed the entire team, that was really impressive from a competitive standpoint.

“So there’s examples, but it’s still kind of early to tell and we’ll see how this whole thing plays out. But I’ll have a better idea of that come the later part of spring practice.”

New Penn State quarterback Jaxon Smolik also received a shoutout from his coach.

“Jaxon is doing some really good things,” Franklin said.

“He’s still got work to do, but I think we’ll be pleased with him by the time training camp comes if he continues to invest and prepare the way he is.”

Penn State continues spring practice this week.