Penn State category, Page 25

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Penn State coach James Franklin was fine without scoring a bunch of style points on its first road trip of the season. Cam Miller, Abdul Carter, Daequan Dixon and Johnny Hardy had interceptions, and No. 7 Penn State took advantage of five turnovers by Illinois to beat...

Sean Clifford introduced himself as Penn State’s starting quarterback time and time again over the last four years. His face and voice became a constant during pregame introductions on the Beaver Stadium video board. But a couple weekends ago offered a twist. Clifford was sitting in the stands ahead of...

No, Olu Fashanu didn’t get injured. It was by design that Penn State’s star left tackle didn’t play much in the Nittany Lions’ 63-7 win over Delaware. Fashanu, a projected first-round NFL talent, logged only 32 offensive snaps Saturday — ranking eighth among the Nittany Lions offensive linemen. James Franklin...

STATE COLLEGE — Kaytron Allen flexed both arms after trucksticking a defender into the end zone. Then, he turned to the Beaver Stadium student section, motioned to the crowd to get loud and slapped his own helmet not once but twice. It was only Delaware; Allen has had bigger touchdowns...

STATE COLLEGE — Drew Allar’s first start went well, but he knows he can be better. Penn State’s quarterback got away with a few risky throws in the No. 7 Nittany Lions’ opening win against West Virginia, and he is determined to not make the same mistakes against FCS opponent...

Dani Dennis-Sutton thought he played only three or four snaps in last year’s opener at Purdue. Turns out, it was nine reps at defensive end, according to Pro Football Focus, though it might have felt like only a few. Dennis-Sutton was a five-star freshman. He was the highest-rated recruit in...

Those who wagered on Penn State to cover the 21-point spread on Saturday night were thrilled with how the final few seconds shook out. But apparently West Virginia head coach Neal Brown was not too pleased. The Nittany Lions, with their backups on the field, scored a touchdown with six...

Former Penn State defensive end Carl Nassib, who in 2021 became the first active NFL player to announce he is gay, is hanging up his cleats. Nassib announced Wednesday that he is retiring from football. “It really feels like yesterday starting out as a walk-on at Penn State,” Nassib wrote...

STATE COLLEGE — Penn State’s offense put on a show in the Nittany Lions’ season-opening 38-15 victory over West Virginia Saturday at Beaver Stadium. Sophomore quarterback Drew Allar was in the middle of all that success, throwing for 325 yards and three touchdowns in his first career start. Seventh-ranked Penn...

STATE COLLEGE — It’s not difficult to find things to complain about in a season opener, especially when it’s against a competitive program. This one likely is no different for Penn State fans. West Virginia found a little bit too much success running the football against a defense that, in...

STATE COLLEGE — TV reporters hustled stride for stride beside him on the Beaver Stadium turf. Photographers stayed in front, snapping away with their cameras. One by one, teammates and coaches approached him, hugged him and offered their congratulations. Drew Allar drew a crowd Saturday night. And it was well...

STATE COLLEGE — With a mere flick of his wrist, rocket-armed Drew Allar began a new era in Happy Valley. This is what the 6-foot-5, 242-pound quarterback’s teammates and coaches gushed about all summer. The sophomore signal caller can make it look easy. Allar, who sat behind five-year starter Sean...

Olu Fashanu joined a crowded Zoom call with reporters on Tuesday, days before Penn State’s 2023 season opener against West Virginia. And interestingly enough, he didn’t talk about himself during the opening 10 minutes of the interview session. The first eight questions to Fashanu were about his teammates. He was...

Days before Penn State’s season opener against West Virginia, the big question — the one most people know the answer to — has yet to be answered formally. Despite all signs pointing to Drew Allar leading the Nittany Lions on Saturday night, James Franklin didn’t name a starting quarterback at...

Microphones were out. Cameras were on, their lights shining bright. A narrow hallway in the depths of the Rose Bowl echoed with questions flying from every which way. Nick Singleton was the main attraction. Penn State’s star freshman stole the show at “The Granddaddy of Them All.” His 87-yard touchdown...

This time last year, Abdul Carter was a relative unknown. Everyone at La Salle College High School outside Philly knew what kind of prospect he was. There was buzz around the freshman linebacker inheriting the No. 11 jersey. But few could predict the kind of season Carter would go on...

STATE COLLEGE — James Franklin has plenty of reasons to be optimistic entering his 10th season at Penn State. He knows the Nittany Lions have depth across the board, experience to match and a certain swagger that follows an 11-win season capped by a Rose Bowl win. Nearly everyone is...

The expectations for Drew Allar are even bigger than the Penn State quarterback himself — which is saying something about a guy who sees eye-to-eye with the star offensive tackle who protects his blindside. Allar’s pregame warm-ups have made grown men swoon. He played one series in a competitive game...

This story first appeared in Talk of the Town, a weekly newsletter by Spotlight PA’s State College regional bureau featuring the most important news and happenings in north-central Pennsylvania. STATE COLLEGE — Penn State’s football team’s academic rating plummeted to its lowest point in more than a decade, placing the...

The first thing Penn State football’s Adisa Isaac does when he takes the field at Beaver Stadium is look around. Isaac is one of the best defensive ends in college football, a nightmare for Big Ten quarterbacks when the ball is snapped. But before the game is underway — before...

Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams of USC, Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michigan running back Blake Corum are among the returning first-team players who were selected to the Associated Press preseason All-America team announced Monday. Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt and Miami safety Kam Kinchens also followed...

The accolades have piled up for Kalen King. Penn State’s star cornerback, who ranked second in the FBS with 18 pass breakups in 2022, was named an ESPN preseason All-American and has been a staple on preseason awards watch lists. He will play a major role on a defense expected...