Everything Penn State coach James Franklin said following the Lions' 12th spring practice
STATE COLLEGE — Penn State coach James Franklin met with reporters for the fifth time this spring on Tuesday night. He did so after practice No. 12 of the 15 the team will have. The last one, of course, is Saturday’s Blue-White game at Beaver Stadium. It starts at 2 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network. Two of the earliest questions the 11th year leader of the Lions fielded during this particular news conference centered on how the scrimmage would work and how the rosters for it would be created.
“We got some bumps and bruises,” Franklin said. “We’ve had a very physical spring ball. But we expect to have more of a traditional spring game. That’s where we’re at right now and what we plan on doing.”
He added on the makeup of the Blue and White teams:
“I’m just kind of breaking it up, trying to make it as competitive as possible. So strategically, putting guys on both teams, [so that] game has a chance to be competitive. Guys that we would probably consider starters. Say, like the way we rotate D-tackles. There are usually at least four D-tackles that are, in our mind, starters. Those guys are broken up [on opposite teams]. Same thing with the corners and so on an so forth. So, trying to kind of divvy it up so that you got guys that you feel like you can play in Big Ten games on either side of the ball and on either sideline [for the scrimmage].”
Find a look at everything else Franklin had to say below. You can also watch his full question and answer session above.
On the progress Abdul Carter has made at defensive end this spring
“As you guys all know, Abdul is very, very talented,” Franklin said. “The transition has probably gone better and faster than I thought it would. It’s a different world up there [at defensive end]. Sounds good. But it’s a major difference. And he’s really transitioned very, very well. He’s been physical. He’s been explosive off of the edge. There are still some things he’s learning, but his transition has probably gone better and faster than anticipated.”
On another Penn State defensive end, Dani Dennis-Sutton
“Dani, he’s just he’s gotten better,” Franklin said. “Every single year, every single spring. His intensity every single day at practice [stands out]. He is 270 pounds. He’s physical, extremely physical. I think he’s going to have a really big year for us. He just understands how to play the position. He’s played a ton of football for us already. We need him to take a step this year and from everything we’ve seen so far, I think he will. There’s just such a physical aspect to his game in everything: In pass rush, and run defense, in block destruction. And then, he’s got such a motor. You guys have seen him chase plays down.
“He just plays the game the way you want to play. He’s had a really nice spring. I don’t think from most of this group that covers us closely, that would surprise you, because really, he came in not like a freshman, and he’s continued to do that kind of along his journey.”
On injured quarterback Jaxon Smolik
“He’s got a significant injury,” Franklin said. BWI first reported late last month. “He will be out for a period of time, but it is significant. That’s correct. And again, I’ve talked to Jaxon first. I won’t address those or answer those questions until I’ve gotten permission from the kids and their families.”
On transfer cornerback AJ Harris
“He’s been really good,” Franklin said. “I think you guys, AJ was a highly recruited kid out of high school. So he’s come in here. He’s a year older. He understands what it takes to be competitive at this level. I think he’s really enjoying Penn State, the coaching staff, his teammates, the locker room. All of those things, I think, have been a real positive. I think he’s comfortable here and is showing real consistent signs that he’s going to be able to help us this year. He’s kind of unusual, as physical as he is as a corner. We’ve been a little bit unusual at the corner position.
“We’ve had a ton of physical corners, which isn’t always the case. And I think he has a chance to expand on that even more. He’s also a guy, because of how big he is, and how physical he is, I think he could play multiple positions for us. But I’m really excited to watch him. And a lot of these guys, this is their first semester on campus. What will they be like in training camp after going through all this? So we’re pretty excited about him. And the feedback that I’ve gotten from him is he’s very happy to be here.”
On Penn State freshman center Cooper Cousins
“I think his transition has been like a lot of guys in terms of, he probably came in further ahead than most guys,” Franklin said. “And kind of skyrocketed up, and I think was getting a lot of attention and a lot of people noticing him, coaches, teammates, all that kind of stuff. Then kind of as the playbook started to kind of build up on him, and the blitzes, and the different fronts, and games started, like most of these guys, they kind of have a lull that they got to work through, and now he’s starting to kind of pick it back up again.
“The other thing is, when he first got here, we were playing him just at center, which I think is where he’s most comfortable and most experienced. But we’re also now playing him a little bit of guard as well. But he’s, again, another guy that has done a ton of really good things during spring, and I think that come fall camp, he’s going to put himself in a position to compete.”
On veteran tight end Tyler Warren
“He’s really done a nice job,” Franklin said. “He decided to come back, and there were lengthy discussions with him and his family. Obviously, we have a different kind of plan for him. The guys that had a legitimate draft grades that decided to come back, obviously have a little bit different plan for them during the spring. Very similar, like what we did with Olu [Fashanu] last year. So that factors into it. But really, Ty’s a very well-rounded player, and specifically tight end, in the run game, in the pass game on special teams, he’s played a little Wildcat quarterback in the past, he’s done a ton of different things. So really, it’s just continuing to improve all those things.
“The other thing that’s important is that feedback we do get from the NFL clubs, when we’re giving them their draft grades and where they’re at, we also get strengths and weaknesses. So it’s valuable information for us and for the player to see what the NFL teams think, or their opinions are, of what their weaknesses are and then really come up with a plan to attack those things all offseason. So I think he’s got a chance to be a big-time player for us this year. And obviously, it’s our job to help him help himself and help our team.”
On injured Penn State defensive tackle Alonzo Ford
“He’s not back yet,” Franklin said. “He’s close to being back. I think this summer, he will be full go. I’m not talking about summer camp. I’m talking about summer training. Besides that, he’s been great. We just haven’t really seen a whole lot. His attitude has been great. He’s done really well in the classroom. He’s obviously lived in the treatment room.
“The strength staff has been able to work with him, the trainers that have been working with him, everybody loves him. There’s just not a whole lot that we’ve been able to see up to this point, other than the stuff that we saw when we recruited him.”
On the upcoming spring transfer portal window and getting to 85 scholarships when it currently looks over that threshold
“We’re in great shape,” Franklin said. “Don’t feel like any of those things will be an issue, and our math is different than yours.”
On what Andy Kotelnicki and Tom Allen have brought to practices
“I think their energy, with our team’s energy, has been really good,” Franklin said. “Specifically on the offensive side of the ball, those guys have been drawn to Andy’s personality, and his confidence, I think, has been big. I think Tom is continuing a tradition here of playing hard, physical defense and running to the football. But I think so far so good with both them.
“I know they’ve been impressed with our guys and kind of the culture of how we practice and how we compete. And I think they’ve enjoyed the staff and I think they’ve enjoyed the players. And obviously this spring has been important, but we’ll have a better idea probably two weeks in the training camp.”
On the idea of using NIL collectives to augment or replace scholarships
“I understand the question,” Franklin said. “I appreciate the question. I’m not going to get into the details of our strategy on offense, on defense, on special teams. I’m definitely not going to talk about a collective that we don’t really, obviously, control or work with in that type of way. But I understand the question.”
