Important behind-the-scenes work begins now for Penn State football.
The Nittany Lions won't practice together again until early August in preparation for their opener against West Virginia and the long-awaited 2024 season (expanded Big Ten, College Football Playoff).
There is an NCAA transfer portal. Currently recruiting. and long stretches of signature player-driven workouts and strength-building and conditioning sessions.
“I like the foundation we laid this spring,” head coach James Franklin said, something fans are hoping will point to an improved ability to win the league and make the playoffs for the first time. .
What will he, his three new coordinators and an ever-changing roster have to do to improve on last year's lackluster 10-2 season and loss in a bowl game?
How to take that always elusive “next step” in college football history?
Here are five things the Nittany Lions must accomplish to finally make that happen.
Penn State football: Receivers become the best versions of themselves.
Franklin continued to inspire that a crowded receiver room has plenty of talent to transform this offense. And hiring profiles would agree. This isn't the stock of Ohio State's supernova pass catcher, but it does mean there are plenty of highly-touted three-star and four-star prospects.
The key seems to be maturity and confidence under second-year position coach Marquez Hagans and increased success in new coordinator Andy Kotelnicki's system.
This much-maligned group should be strengthened by the experienced and physical approach of Julian Fleming, a transfer from the Buckeyes, and resilient junior Tre Wallace, who finally appears to be healthy.
The key is from Liam Clifford (mid-field possession target) to Kayden Sanders (slippery in the slot) to Omari Evans (downfield burner) to Malik McClain (big body on route crossings, red zone). , Carmelo Taylor (speed along the sideline, agility)
“We need to take the next step, and we saw them take a step this spring, and we're going to take another step this summer,” Franklin said after the Blue-White game. “The positive thing is we can really grow offensively in the passing game over the summer.”
Drew Allard takes the next step as a generational QB
The second-year starter still has the natural ability and physical skills to be one of the best players in Penn State history.
He will be the first pick in the NFL Draft in the spring of 2025.
He is also bound to blossom with increased confidence, poise and overall performance in the most important moments.
With his 6-foot-5, 240-pound frame and huge arms continuing to improve, it's no wonder he's expected to improve this season after being a starter for a full year. Again, Kotelnicki's freewheeling offense, which uses a lot of shifts, motion, and alignment to confuse defenses, should help. Mainly because it helps receivers get open faster and start the game.
Free Nick Singleton and Caitron Allen: Running Back Renaissance
Super talents Nick Singleton and Caitron Allen appeared to be operating in a different football world in 2023.
They just kept running to the line of scrimmage, hoping to move defenders and break through to run the offense, almost like a lively electric football game.
That never really happened and seemed especially strange considering Singleton's home run drive and acceleration on the outside.
In the regular season finale and the Peach Bowl, the pair looked loose in the passing game and in space.
They can be dramatic game-changing runners as well as receivers. For them to be successful, they need to get the ball more often and in better positions.
His sack number is good.But the defense has to apply pressure when it's needed most.
Penn State's defense led the Big Ten in sacks the past two years.
But that would only mean a lot if there was no game-changing pressure in most of the three big games, meaning they were all losers.
Penn State's long-respected pass rush may be well set up to mount a bigger offense when it matters most in 2024. Meanwhile, junior Dani Dennis Sutton is gearing up for a breakout season nationally and will be key in 2023 as he skyrockets his numbers (3.5 sacks, 6.0 tackles for loss, 6.0 points allowed). is his counterpart.
The Lions should actually be deeper here, if not more explosive overall.
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New edge rusher Abdul Carter has lethal speed and is just as talented as NFL-bound Chopp Robinson, senior Amine Vanover and sophomore Jamial Lyons, whose development was recently praised by Franklin. It may prove your dominance.
He has a lot of experience in the middle of the line and should be able to show his strength here as well. So is breakout linebacker Tony Rojas.
Win when you don't have everything in place
Penn State appeared to have enough talent to put up a much better effort in the last three times, when they were considered a relatively even contender.
However, all of them were huge failures.
This was a continuing problem for the Franklin administration. Despite the show's remarkable consistency, it's not known for its handling of season-defining days.
This season means trips to the University of Southern California and Wisconsin, as well as a home game against Ohio State. (The opener at West Virginia will be difficult, but the Lions still have the physical advantage and will be expected to win).
Certainly, there will be some who have doubts about all three games. It will probably take at least two sharp, winning efforts to get where they want to go.
Frank Bodani covers Penn State football for the York Daily Record and USA Today Network. To contact him, fbodan@ydr.com Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @YDRPennState.
