Who were the final Penn State winter workout competitors of the day for 2024?
Penn State football winter workouts are officially in the books for 2024. The Nittany Lions opened the doors of Holuba Hall before 7 a.m. for one final conditioning competition period before spring break begins on Saturday while spring practice starts Tues., March 12.
“It’s been a good seven weeks,” head strength coach Chuck Losey said Thursday. “This team, from a maturity and a focus standpoint, I think we’re where we need to be. We’ve set a good foundation going into spring ball. So, I’m really happy with it. From a leadership standpoint, a couple guys that have put their best foot forward and really stepped up with this football team: [Linebacker] Dom DeLuca, [center] Nick Dawkins, and for a guy who’s new to the program, [receiver] Julian Fleming has come in as an older transfer. He’s put his head down, he’s worked and done everything the right way, which is what you want out of a transfer.”
Who were the winter workout No. 8 competitors of the day?
Penn State position coaches pick a competitor of the day after each session. Graduate assistant Danny O’Brien handles the quarterbacks. Otherwise, the rest of the picks come from the on-field staff assigned to each position group.
Quarterback: Drew Allar
Running back: Nick Singleton
Wide receiver: Kaden Saunders
Tight end: Andrew Rappleyea
Offensive line: Anthony Donkoh
Defensive line: Jameial Lyons
Linebacker: Tyler Elsdon
Cornerback: AJ Harris
Safety: Lamont Payne Jr.
Special teams: Tyler Duzansky
Takeaways
Friday’s group was full of mostly repeat winners. But, in the tight ends room, Rappleyea received his first and only winter workout shoutout. On Thursday, during a portion of the Penn State max-out event open to the media, the second-year Nittany Lion looked thicker in his upper body as he aims to carve out a role in a crowded and talented position group this fall. Similarly, in the receivers room, Saunders won for the first time to become the sixth different pass catcher to earn a head nod from Marques Hagans.
Among the repeat winners, second-year Nittany Lion Lamont Payne Jr., earning three of eight competitor of the day honors from position coach Anthony Poindexter, is interesting as he is set to battle with others for the backup roles behind Kevin Winston Jr. and Jaylen Reed.
Past Penn State winter workout winners
Quarterback: Beau Pribula (2/5, 2/7, 2/13, 2/20), Ethan Grunkemeyer (2/15), Drew Allar (2/22, 3/1), Jaxon Smolik (2/27)
Running back: Cameron Wallace (2/5), Nick Singleton (2/7, 2/13, 2/27, 3/1), Quinton Martin (2/17, 2/20), Amiel Davis (2/22)
Wide receiver: Liam Clifford (2/5), Malick Meiga (2/7, 2/27), Anthony Ivey (2/13), Julian Fleming (2/15), Omari Evans (2/20, 2/22), Kaden Saunders (3/1)
Tight end: Joey Schlaffer (2/5, 2/13, 2/15), Tyler Warren (2/7, 2/20), Jerry Cross (2/22), Luke Reynolds (2/27), Andrew Rappleyea (3/1)
Offensive line: Nick Dawkins (2/5, 2/7, 2/22), Addison Penn (2/13), Anthony Donkoh (2/15, 3/1), J’ven Williams (2/20), Vega Ioane (2/27)
Defensive line: Zuriah Fisher (2/5, 2/15, 2/20, 2/27), Zane Durant (2/7, 2/13), Jameial Lyons (2/22, 3/1)
Linebackers: Tyler Elsdon (2/5, 2/20, 3/1), Dom DeLuca (2/7, 2/22), Tony Rojas (2/13, 2/15), Kobe King (2/27)
Cornerback: Cam Miller (2/5, 2/20, 2/22), AJ Harris (2/7, 3/1), Elliot Washington (2/13, 2/15), Antoine Belgrave-Shorter (2/27)
Safety: Jaylen Reed (2/5), Zakee Wheatley (2/7, 2/20), KJ Winston (2/13, 2/27), Lamont Payne (2/15, 2/22, 3/1)
Special teams: Punter Riley Thompson (2/5), kicker Sander Sahaydak (2/7), long snapper Tyler Duzansky (2/13, 2/15, 2/22, 3/1), long snapper Blaise Sokach-Minick (2/20, 2/27)
