That is one helluva rivalry and to this day remains a lot like the PS sPittoon rivalry. Rabid.
New coach
- Thread starter NOYDB
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Not Key but I can see Lanning. Sark maybe if he beats A&M and gets to the playoffs.
Operating inside the portal will be vital for next year. Swinney doesn't. 2026 class is wiped out, not unexpected. When this all started, I was all in on Meyer. Still am. He's a 5-year bridge to the next guy. He wouldn't be here for the next 15 years. But, he absolutely gets PSU on the radar of the "big time" recruits and the best of the portal. Whether or not they come will depend on NIL.
If DeBoer goes anywhere, Kiffin will be sprint to Tuscaloosa.
If Lanning and Sark say no that's when I think Key would come into play. I think they regret DeBoer already--fair or not.
Sitake is a BYU alum. Don't see him leaving. Leaning toward believing the mystery man is a smokescreen to deflect attention from whatever the plan is.
We may be down Tony Rojas as well. He has reportedly been scrubbing some of his PSU references from social media.
Chesney has 20. Plus he is a big portal guy brought in 31 through it last year.
Not a big loss if true. Linebacker is a position in dire need of a talent upgrade across the board. Penn State needs more size, speed, athleticism, and depth. The new coach will have an opportunity to bring in and recruit his own players.
Under Terry we are losing almost every recruit and now the star player on defense. Praying it is Deboer next week.
Rojas was literally the best player on the defense.
Exactly. I know Smith is in a tough spot and I like him, but his inability to keep more of these recruits on board is a major red flag to me. Not saying he was involved but it sounds like some subversion happened from within right under his nose.
That’s not saying much for a team near the bottom of the B1G conference. I expect the roster will look radically different starting next season.
Talked to a former commit this past weekend who hasn’t committed anywhere else yet. Said he’s committing wherever “Coach ****** is at next year”, and it wasn’t Smith but rather his position coach.
He visited Tech Saturday and he considers himself still open to commit again dependent on retention of that specific coach.
Always enjoyed coaching searches but I am glad this one is winding down. Rumors on the other board now that the so called mystery guy is Sark. Parting ways with Texas. Highly doubtful but in the crazy era that is today’s college football nothing would surprise me. Also said one of Krafts first contacts was Swinney to “consult”.
It seems like we have quite the division. Recruits decommitting, Rojas seemingly quitting on us, but some current players advocating for Smith.
Rojas is going to the enter the draft--not sure why that's him quitting on usIt seems like we have quite the division. Recruits decommitting, Rojas seemingly quitting on us, but some current players advocating for Smith.
Sark is a direct replacement for JF.........re: big games
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He is in a tough spot but it is also quite telling that most other big schools have their classes pretty intact and ours has been decimated. I don’t think it is all his fault given some of the shady stuff it seems those 2 Franklin lackeys were doing, but still not a good look. And shame on many of these parents for not telling their sons to hold fast for right now.
He loses to A&M and they will help pack his bags down there, just like they will if Bama loses to Auburn.
Nah--some mocks have him as high as 2nd round. At worst, he's probably Day 3 but it doesn't matter where you get drafted any more--the key is getting into the league asap--see Parker Washington. See Drew Allar being foolish and staying.
One example of a mock draft
#57 Los Angeles Chargers: Tony Rojas, LB, Penn State
The Chargers are rather weak at linebacker. They need to get better against outside runs.
Tony Rojas excels in pass coverage.
2026 NFL Mock Draft: Round 2 – WalterFootball
It seems like we have quite the division. Recruits decommitting, Rojas seemingly quitting on us, but some current players advocating for Smith.
Franklin and his staff have been telling the high school kids they have a spot in Blacksburg but might not forever, and also the new guy may not want them (or they may not want him).
Other schools have no one other than coaches they’ve already turned down once telling them this, if at all.
The commits Chesney has at JMU are most likely not B1G level recruits. Again, Cignetti caught lightning in a bottle. That isn’t likely to happen again. The level of recruit Chesney gets to commit to play for JMU in the Sun Belt conference is far different than the level of recruit it takes to compete at a high level in the B1G.
2026 James Madison Dukes Football Commits
2026 James Madison Dukes football team commit list.
Agree, although there are certainly some that are able to start in the B10.The commits Chesney has at JMU are most likely not B1G level recruits. Again, Cignetti caught lightning in a bottle. That isn’t likely to happen again. The level of recruit Chesney gets to commit to play for JMU in the Sun Belt conference is far different than the level of recruit it takes to compete at a high level in the B1G.
2026 James Madison Dukes Football Commits
2026 James Madison Dukes football team commit list.www.on3.com
He only took 4 with him from Holy Cross to JMU and that’s probably pretty illustrative of what he’d bring. Assuming Grunk is gone the QB can certainly play in the B10.
Anything is possible but I don't think Grunk leaves unless we have a coach that "encourages" him to do so
Is he fully recovered from his surgery. He is very athletic and would probably test well if recovered. If I was a GM I might draft him very late or try to sign him as an UDFA. Maybe break in as a special teams guy and maybe make per chance show something in camp/preseason at LBer.
Interesting view.Nah--some mocks have him as high as 2nd round. At worst, he's probably Day 3 but it doesn't matter where you get drafted any more--the key is getting into the league asap--see Parker Washington. See Drew Allar being foolish and staying.
One example of a mock draft
The Chargers are rather weak at linebacker. They need to get better against outside runs.
Tony Rojas excels in pass coverage.
2026 NFL Mock Draft: Round 2 – WalterFootball
I'm not a huge fan of Rojas. I think he struggles in space and misses too many tackles but, if healthy, someone will fall in love with his athleticism and take him. But I'm 100% of the view--everyone should enter the draft asap. If there's a likelihood of you being drafted go. The people that should hang around college forever are guys like Diego Pavia