STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — After a change-filled winter at Penn State, completing three new coordinators and a ton of transfer portal additions, the Nittany Lions finally have a look at what their 2024 roster will look like on the practice field. You can start checking.
Penn State begins spring football practice on Tuesday, but in the 15 sessions, we can learn a lot about young players who are ready to take on bigger roles and veterans who are taking on new positions. right. There is no position battle that will be completely settled in the spring, but early impressions are important.
We'll hear from James Franklin on Tuesday and get a glimpse of practice later in the day. Penn State's annual Blue-White Game concludes Spring Ball on April 13 at Beaver Stadium. Here are the things I'm most interested in learning this spring:
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1. How will Drew Allard develop in the new offense?
Although it's now Andy Kotelnicki's offense, Penn State is trying to maintain the same verbiage as much as possible, amalgamating and simplifying what has worked in the past, especially to help with the transition at quarterback.
How comfortable will Allah be? While we won't see much of the offense in public at Beaver Stadium, his ability to work with his new coordinator and the feedback and coordination between the two will be important. What Kotelnicki is known for is his creativity and tailoring his offense to the team's strengths.
And while Franklin and Kotelnicki will both be floating around the conference room, graduate assistant Danny O'Brien is now the quarterbacks coach.
“You're just trying to establish the offensive identity of this team,” O'Brien said. “Throughout the spring, we want to establish the core of what Penn State's offense will look like in 2024. Of course, that's just the beginning heading into fall camp, but we hope to establish the core of what we want to be next season.” It is important to build.”
This year marks the beginning of a competitive year for Allah. This season is his third year and second year as a starting pitcher, so it's no exaggeration to say that the spotlight is on him. His comfort this spring will be very important. Of course, what role does backup quarterback Beau Pribula play in all of this? Penn State has four scholarship quarterbacks on campus this spring, and Pribula's progress as a passer will also be a topic of study after being limited to running mostly snaps last season.
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Penn State isn't about to slow down Fleming's hype. The Ohio State transfer wide receiver from Catawissa, Pennsylvania, joined in January and has already established himself as a leader in anyone's eyes. So what are the realistic on-field expectations for Fleming in his final season of eligibility? After four uneven years in Columbus, it's hard to see how he'll do in a new offense, but the former five-star recruit could be the best receiver on the roster. There is sex. It's about getting the timing and chemistry right with Aller and keeping him healthy after battling injuries in a crowded Buckeyes receiving corps.
Returning wide receiver Harrison Wallace III was plagued by multiple injuries last year, and many in the room had high expectations after catching seven passes in the season opener against West Virginia due to those setbacks. I couldn't have had a season like that. The offense could look different with a healthy Wallace involved. Fleming, Wallace and Ke'Andre Lambert-Smith seem to be the best three options right now, while Omari Evans, Kaden Saunders and Liam Clifford will seek additional roles.
Marquez Hagans is in need of a job again, and this spring could determine whether Penn State looks for a new wide receiver in the next transfer portal window in late April.
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3. How will the offensive line break through?
The O-line will look much different this fall, with Olu Fashanu, Kaydan Wallace and Hunter Nurzad training for the NFL.
Drew Shelton is considered to be the left tackle of the future. He has played both left and right tackle during his two seasons here. Penn State added Nolan Lucci, a former five-star recruit who transferred from Wisconsin after playing in the Badgers' reserves. If that's what's required of him, how comfortable will Lucci be on the right side? Anthony Donko said he transitioned from guard to tackle during preparation for the December bowl and played the second half of the Peach Bowl at right tackle. J.B. Nelson, who was injured late last year, could also be involved at tackle, and redshirt freshman Jaben Williams said he has primarily played left and right tackle this winter since enrolling last winter.
The development of Williams, Donko, and classmate Chimdi Onoh should be of interest to many this spring. There will certainly be plenty of tackle combinations, but nothing will be finalized until the preseason.
Nick Dawkins, who has long been hailed as a leader since his early recruiting days, should replace Nurzad at center. How smooth will that transition be? That's the story for next month.
4. Same face, new place
Abdul-Carter transitioned from linebacker to defensive end this winter. Franklin is expected to answer a number of questions about the Switch on Tuesday. In my opinion, this change makes a lot of sense. Penn State lost soon-to-be NFL draft picks Chop Robinson and Adisa Isaac, but Carter has the size and athleticism to make the move.
Who will start opposite Dani Dennis Sutton will be a question this spring, and now the answer seems clear. Still, what happens to the rest of the rotation is important.
Penn State will end up going deep with four or five players, but the order will be interesting. Jameel Lyons, Zuraiah Fisher and Amine Vanover are expected to be part of that next wave, while Smith-Bilbert, who hasn't played the past two seasons, should return to the team in some capacity. Bill Bart suffered a season-ending injury last spring that caused him to miss the previous season for undisclosed reasons. His breakout performance in the Outback Bowl at the end of the 2021 season feels like forever ago, but it was the last time he made a name for himself. If Wilbert's return leads to a major contribution, it would be quite a story.
Jalen Harvey, who enrolled in January, may be one of the most intriguing players in this freshman class.
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5. What are your plans in the secondary?
Cornerbacks Karen King, Johnny Dixon and Daquan Hardy are gone, as is safety Keaton Ellis. Jalen Reed and Kevin Winston Jr. are likely locks to start the safety job, but the picture at cornerback is interesting.
Through two seasons, Cam Miller has already played a lot of football. However, Penn State made two splashy transfer additions: AJ Harris from Georgia and Jalen Kimber from Florida. They didn't leave these schools without expecting to make an immediate impact. Although the job is not guaranteed, the level of competition has increased considerably thanks to these two. Elliott Washington II and Zion Tracy will also continue to work toward earning national team spots.
With Hardy gone, the slot corner role is also being targeted. Safety king Mack should also be an option. He spent time last season learning Hardy's old role.
(Photo by Drew Aller: Alex Slits/Getty Images)
