Live updates: Penn State coach James Franklin press conference
Penn State head coach James Franklin is back at Beaver Stadium for the first time since his Nittany Lions’ season-opening, 46-11 win over Nevada on Saturday. Joining reporters on Monday afternoon for his weekly press conference from the media room, he’ll review the performance, look ahead to next weekend’s clash with Florida International, and take questions both on Zoom and in the room.
Follow our live updates from the press conference here.
James Franklin press conference updates
(Press conference begins at noon. Updates will appear in reverse chronological order. Page does not automatically refresh. Press conference has ended at 12:44 p.m.)
Using tempo offensively
09/01/2025 11:44:08 AMIt’s always going to be part of what they do because it’s a weapon they want to use. Personnel, formation, tempo, shifts, motion. In that game saw maybe a little more and that was him on the headset and halftime talking about using tempo because Nevada was making sure on offense that they were snapping late in clock. So wanted to get as many reps as possible on offense. And wants to be good getting tempo. Opportunity to work on both.
Thought they did a good job on it except for bad snap in red zone that Drew should have caught, and would probably walk in on the play called. But overall, good. Heavy in it for the reason stated.
SEC nine game schedule and 10th mandatory game
09/01/2025 11:42:24 AMDoesn’t really want to talk about this in a game week when not focused on this. But can give response he’s given in the past that is consistent. Has said for the past 10 years that everyone should play same number of games, same rules in terms of types of opponents, same conference championship games. Should be consistency. If you want to try to put together best 12 teams for a playoff, hard to do that with committee getting together comparing different standards. One team loses conference championship, another doesn’t have to play one. People think he’s attacking other conferences or schools and isn’t. If you’re in power football, want committee to be able to compare apples to apples as best as you can. That’s where power conference commissioners, B1G and SEC, need to get together and come up with best interest of sport, student-athletes, and fans. Then you won’t have to worry about all these scheduling things because everyone will have the same parameters. Right thing to do for all the parties they’ve talked about.
Converting FG into TD
09/01/2025 11:39:47 AMGotta be more consistent. Have 7 OL they view as starters and those guys all have to play like that. Need to be a little more consistent with everything you do. Best offenses don’t even get to third down. Pick up firsts on first and second. Staying out of negative yardage plays is so important. When you talk about sloppy football, looking at drops, TFL, or zero yardage plays, just had too many of those in the game to allow them to play the way they want to play. That’s what they need to do to be more efficient when it comes to scoring touchdowns and not field goals.
Wiley and Rapp
09/01/2025 11:38:01 AMKeon is super strong and among the more explosive athletes they have. Just wants Keon to let it rip. Shows up in practice and games where he’s trying to be right more than just playing. But he has all the ability in the world and will have that moment where it clicks for him. Need that from him.
Rapp – everyone deservedly talks about Reynolds, but probably wouldn’t have seen him last year if Rapp hadn’t been hurt. So here they are again with three really good TEs. Could argue Khalil is most complete TE in the country. Three really good TEs they can win with and will be a problem for people. Rapp plays in passing game, but physical as well. Excited about that room again. Great job by that room. Ty. Andy loves the creativity they can use with that position. Can use as FB, in the hip, traditional TE, slot receivers. Penn State guys can do all those things. Becomes difficult for defenses to figure out how to defend them.
RB3 – Cam Wallace and Corey Smith
09/01/2025 11:35:18 AMOnly reason didn’t see Quinton is tweaked something and out two weeks of training camp, just got cleared game week. Still a battle with those guys, whether that is Cam, Corey, Quinton. Could put Tikey and Jabree in there as well. Jabree just got here in the summer so his situation a little different. Ongoing battle, but sure was nice to see Cam first time he touches the ball makes a big time play. Proud of him because coming back from that injury. Talking about his run and how excited everyone was for him. He was feeling good about himself, so told him to relax because he wouldn’t be a hall of famer based on that one play.
It’s about consistency. In pass protecting and QBs, knowing assignments.
Grunk in game
09/01/2025 11:32:30 AMHe’s practiced well. So has Smolik. But there are times he questions QB reps as real reps because they know they can’t get hit. So how much do you put them live but not too much so they don’t get hurt. Hard to evaluate QB more than others because they get less of that. So to show in game making progressions, decisions, accuracy, protect the ball, make plays with feet, and extending plays. Likes the most how quickly they found outlets and got rid of the ball. Big thing for young QBs is do you know where outlets are like the back of your hand. If outlet is covered, take off and run. Did a phenomenal job with that.
The biggest value of this is that it’s not make believe football where you’re patting the ball because at practice, DL gets head ripped off if they get anywhere near you. It’s fairy tale world. That’s where game reps are so important because they’re truly playing and managing the game and get a true evaluation. Really valuable. Hopefully can get them more time this week and all season.
Late game standouts
09/01/2025 11:29:37 AMGrunk, Cam Wallace specifically coming off injury, Rappleyea. Some of the young DL flashed. And have a number of guys they’ll need to step up into more significant roles. Dixson flashed on the kickoff return where he had a knife tackle, which was a thing of beauty.
Run game
09/01/2025 11:28:29 AMGet an extra man in the box, five man front, more people to stop the run or create more one on ones in pass protection. But if you’re the Nevada DC and coming into Penn State, the proven commodity is Nick, Fat, and the run game. So everyone’s model will be to not allow the obvious choice to beat them and force the WR that no one has seen yet and passing game to beat you. It’s a combination of philosophically what most people will do until they show consistently they can beat you doing both. And then also Penn State’s emphasis and improvement in it. Have to be balanced enough to run or pass by the time they get to midpoint of the season to win games because best teams will try to take one of them away. Figure out what that is early in the game and take what D gives. They can’t take away everything. That’s where those wide field outs, most college teams will give you that because most college QBs can’t make those throws.
Two point conversion
09/01/2025 11:24:57 AMIt was not well executed whatsoever. How they coached it, how it was run. They didn’t have enough numbers to cover OL eligible to the field which is why when they snap it and don’t throw it over there, tough situation over there. Not coached or executed well. But would like to get some of these things on film that people will have to spend time working on. Amazing how much time you have to spend getting ready for stuff like that as an opponent. Didn’t do good enough job coaching or executing it. But rationale is getting it on tape so future opponents have to be prepared for it and take time out of ST or D to work on it.
Starting punter
09/01/2025 11:23:10 AMThe fact that we didn’t get to see a punter is awesome. Speaks to how well the O played. Unusual to not have a punt in the game. But question about Gabe is a good one. Gabe is the starter. Good example of competition similar to safety. Doesn’t think many people were talking about Belgrave Shorter before the start of the season outside of Lasch, and Gabe did the same at punter. Happy with Riley and a ton of respect for him. He will play and play well. But Gabe is special. Closest thing they’ve had to Jordan Stout. His A ball as good as they’ve ever had. But like a lot of guys just wasn’t consistent enough. But had a phenomenal camp. Not only in punting, but also in FG. Made a 62 yarder in practice in stadium with whole team around him. Would have been good from 65. Has always had a big strong leg and put it all together this summer. Pretty obvious to everyone. Riley had a really good camp, Gabe was just more consistent with A ball and that’s as good as anyone in the country.
Developing depth, on the DL, evaluation of them inside and out and what they gain from those extended reps
09/01/2025 11:20:37 AMNot having Zuriah. Hopeful to have him. Got to the game and Zuriah was excited and wanted to play. Held him because at that point he hadn’t practiced enough and wasn’t right for him or them. But he’s close to being back. Feel highly about him. Chaz Coleman played over 20 reps and flashed. Bright future. Walking with him in the tunnel. Glad he got that over with because he was nervous and doesn’t have to be anymore. Kemajou some good things as well. Hopefully will get Mason Robinson back. Older player they’re excited to get into the rotation. Ty Blanding showed up a couple of times with athleticism and explosiveness. Really excited about him. 295 pounds and fast, athletic. He’ll continue to get better as the year goes on. Found a home for Enai White. Athletic at DE and so is he, but he’s 276 pounds right now and really not trying to gain weight, just naturally where he is. If up to 285 midseason, will be really good add to that rotation. High on Gilliam and he played as expected. Wafle a decent amount. And then Harvey and Malachi at DE.
Young, but these first games are critical to get them reps. Once you get into game 4/5, they’re no longer young players. They will have played significant reps and need to act like it.
Watching other big games
09/01/2025 11:16:44 AMBy the time out of here, shower, get to office, then get home, a little later than most. Then goes in and makes small talk with friends and family in the kitchen for about 13 minutes, then going to the basement. Not trying to be antisocial, but he’s gonna watch games. They know not to come down and pepper him with questions. Sits in boxers and T-shirt and watches game.
Doesn’t watch game like normal people. Players sending texts about situational football. Two minute, four minute. Constantly shooting those things to Jevin. Sometimes people on the schedule and depending on who they’re playing, those games can be attractive to watch as well. That’s the process. But tries to get to bed at a reasonable hour because he’s a morning guy and gets into the office early on Sunday to grade the last film before watching with O, D, and ST and separate units. Then onto the next opponent.
Evaluation of Allar and Grunk, and passing game in general
09/01/2025 11:14:11 AMDrew played how expected. He was consistent. Made some bigtime throws. Made some outbreaking throws that very few college players and handful of NFL QBs can make. Wide fields, on time, into some contested coverage as well. Made plays with feet. Extended plays. Had one run should have gotten down faster. Took too many shots. But overall played very clean. Missed the first TD throw to Hudson he would have loved to hit.
Grunk came in and played well. Very impressed with his performance. Actually thought he played better in game than he has practiced at times. Wasn’t holding onto the ball. Was decisive. When pressured, stepped up in pocket and got ball to outlets quickly. One to Cam Wallace with the hurdle. The outlet to Rapp was a big play. Pleased with how he played and managed the game. Then to go down on drive and score TD with the feet.
Passing game in general, that was an emphasis going into the season and in game one. Want to get Ross a little more involved. He had missed some time this summer but want to get him involved. Hudson and Pena played really well. TE committee did some really good things. Then getting RBs involved in passing game too.
Overall, good. Combining Drew and Grunk numbers, pretty good. Completion percentage, TD/INT, yardage. Would just like to get a few more chunk plays.
Florida International
09/01/2025 11:08:05 AMStill getting to know FIU. They have five returners starting. 25 transfer portal guys on the roster. 12 offense, 10 defense, 3 special teams. Should be a good game and looking forward to the opportunity.
QB 1 is preseason player of the year in the conference. RB 5 is a big kid out of Miami. Big things from him.
Opening statement
09/01/2025 10:36:54 AMPleased with an early season game and how clean things were and organized. Had no issues that you usually see early season for college football programs. Burning timeouts, substitution issues. Didn’t have delay of game except for the last one, which was frustrating. Openingg drive went 13 plays. Special teams were excellent. Kick return for King Mack. Field goal.
And cool to see guys with season ending injuries last year play well. Ford, Rapp, Wylie, Wallace. Played 73 guys, and a lot played 20 or more reps.
Growth opportunities:
– The standard is the standard. Had only given up a field goal and hate to give up a TD late. Those reps will be really important and valuable.
– Finishing drives on offense – kicked too many FGs. More than anything, the first play of one drive running outside zone and didn’t block 3-tech and had a TFL. Gotta get that cleaned up. Missed assignments making game more difficult than needed. But that’s what happened. Got off schedule, blown assignment, zero gain play and now behind the sticks.
– Situational football, mostly really good. Four minute situation on offense to end game on their terms. Opposite of that is now putting D in tough spot with a short field. Not able to finish that the way they wanted and should have.
Penalties:
– Really focus on pre-snap and post-whistle penalties. Focus penalties. Selfish penalties. Had two of those pre-snap penalties.
Overall, pretty good.