Live updates: Penn State coach Terry Smith press conference
Penn State interim head coach Terry Smith is addressing reporters on Monday afternoon from the Beaver Stadium media room. His Nittany Lions will face Nebraska on Saturday night following a win at Michigan State last weekend.
Follow our live updates from the press conference, here:
Penn State coach Terry Smith press conference updates
Keeping guys still in
11/17/2025 11:28:41 AMChanneling that energy to the guys on the team when agents are telling them to be selfish. Saw a video that everybody has own agenda. You have to make your agenda work with the team. OK to have dreams and aspirations, but need it in team aspect to get where they want to go.
Drew Allar and James Franklin
11/17/2025 11:27:19 AMDrew means everything to them. Won a lot of games with him. Tremendous leader, part of locker room and culture. Back to the opt out subject, and walking away, he’s injured and could have detached from this team. He’s at every meeting, practice, and travels on the road. Great role model and resource to Grunk. Leaving mark on them in a different way. Thankful he’s still with them.
Grunkemeyer first half vs. second half
11/17/2025 11:26:01 AMEthan continues to progress. The long touchdown pass was one of the longest in multiple years. Big in that it opened the run game. Those guys realized they can’t crowd the box. Situation where they had to pick their poison. On third and fourth down, has to stand in pocket a little more. That’s continuing to grow and develop and he’ll get that with experience. Is managing the game well each game. Used his legs, which they need. Most important thing is when he’s running, can’t take a hit. Has to stay healthy so he can play the next snap.
What stood out about OL
11/17/2025 11:23:16 AMDidn’t run the ball they wanted the first half of the season. Starts up front. Football hasn’t changed. You have to win in the trenches. Gotta run it and stop the run. Did it this weekend. Those guys are embracing the challenge, because he’s challenged them. Is the guy putting the bad stuff on film in front of peers, and they don’t want that. But they’ve embraced their identity. It makes them better as a team.
Buy in from the team
11/17/2025 11:21:45 AMThe buy in has been awesome. Speaks volumes to the locker room. One of older guys has something going on first weekend in December. Asking him, when they win these two games, will they have practice that weekend because they have a family event that weekend. In a time of opt out, speaks volumes that he’s planning to play in a bowl. These guys are dialed in, playing hearts out, no dissention, no guys looking the other way. And they got their first taste of victory in a long time, enjoyed it, and want to experience it again.
Zakee Wheatley
11/17/2025 11:20:05 AMHe can do everything. Sound football player. An amazing kid. Very humble himself. Family guy. But his stability on the back end has helped the past few games. Outstanding on Saturday. Continue to look to his guidance and leadership.
Why Penn State means so much
11/17/2025 11:19:01 AMDad graduated from here. Moved them from Aliquippa, not a nice place, to the other side of Pittsburgh because of this education. Taught them about possibilities in his life. Have nine or 10 people that have been part of this place now. Wants to hold up his end of the bargain and give back to it.
Hearing from people after Michigan State, and was James one of them
11/17/2025 11:17:38 AMHas two phones. Each had about 500 texts on it. Plus DMs, another 500-600. Really busy. Has been reached out to by every person he’s ever known in his life. People super proud of him. Very humbling for him. Humbling to sit in this seat. There are so many people in his life that speak life into him. They all reach out. So blessed. God has been so good to him through everything in his life, to have the opportunity to be the head coach at Penn State. Doesn’t think anything has made him or family happier than this opportunity. Thankful for friends, family, supporters. Saturday, can’t even tell you how it felt. Never been lifted off the field in his career. Just a great moment.
Daryus Dixson
11/17/2025 11:14:38 AMPlayed most snaps of any corner on the team. Talented kid. Coming into his own. Important to their future. Makes big play after big play. Moment not too big for him. Policy to talk to media, it’s case by case. He is a mature kid and can handle it. Did a nice job with it.
Growing into the role
11/17/2025 11:13:42 AMEach day, learning more. Learning what each department handles, how they go about it, how it affects them. Most important thing is keeping main thing the main thing. That’s what they do on the field. Tries to portray that message to locker room. Recruit a certain type of kid here. In the last few weeks have seen a different approach or style of play and these guys have embraced it. After the game, OL came to the presser. That’s their identity now. They’re embracing that. It’s a mentality he’s looking forward to establishing the line of scrimmage again this week.
Kaytron as a player and person
11/17/2025 11:11:41 AMAs a person, he has transformed himself. As a freshman and sophomore, he wasn’t a very friendly guy in the building. You had to pull words out of him. He has matured tremendously. He’s always been a hard worker, super talented, but now you see more personality out of him. He’s a leader. Bunch of young running backs in the room he leads. And stepping into a role a little different for him this year. Since Terry took over, he’s the focal point. Before then, he shared that role. He’s embraced it. Just looking to get better and making improvements each week.
Working with Matt Rhule at Temple
11/17/2025 11:10:04 AMThat was an unplanned hiring. Was the head coach at Gateway and AD. Matt Rhule came in to recruit one of his players and long story short, had a past player that went to Ohio State, he came back to visit, had some life changing decisions and they were talking, and Rhule is listening to the conversation. Matt appreciated care for his player and they talked and a day later, offered him the job. Was a tremendous opportunity for him to grow from high school to college. Appreciated Matt for taking a chance on him. Grateful for their relationship.
Kaytron chasing rushing record
11/17/2025 11:08:21 AMObviously the most important goal is to win. But they do know in their keys to victory every week is for Kaytron and Nick to touch the ball. And if they are, they’ll get closer to that goal. Want nothing more than for him to break the goal, but paramount to get him the ball. They work hand in hand and hopefully he can get it.
Terry as candidate
11/17/2025 11:07:03 AMHas not had any talks in regards to the HC position. His interview is every day he’s operating this seat. His support from community has ben amazing. Every avenue from alumni, lettermen, family, friends, community. The support has been amazing.
Class of 2022
11/17/2025 11:06:10 AMThey’ve been incredible. Most victories in three-year stretch in PSU history. Have transformed expectations for Penn State football. Set the standard. Tremendous young men. Super proud to go out on Saturday night and pay tribute to them and hopefully get them a win.
Opening statement
11/17/2025 10:57:12 AMProud of the effort on Saturday. Played with Penn State football identity. Complementary football at its best. Will build off of it.
Gave team four key points. Delivered on all four.
1) Dominate line
2) Play with passion and pride
3) 30+ touches for Nick and Kaytron
4) Pressure the quarterback
Did all four.
Offensively: No turnovers. Physical and explosive in run game. Explosive pass touchdown. Back to back fourth quarter drives – 9:05 without throwing it. Can grow on third down. Need to stay on the field.
Defensively: Have a goal of five or less explosives. Hit that. Only four against them. Pressured the QB. Had five sacks. Then dominated third and fourth down. 1/12. Can grow first play long TD run. Take those explosives off theboard. Roughing the QB penalties need cleaned up.
Special Teams: Lustig does a great job. Blocked a kick. Sky punt pinned inside five. Can grow with one penalty. Can clean that up.
Allen, DDS, DDS players of the game.
Excited to be hosting Nebraska on Saturday night at Beaver Stadium. Fans were incredible last game. Primetime event. Hoping for same passion they had at last home game. Will recognize 30+ seniors. Group that has done so much for Penn State football and community. Chance for fans to celebrate these guys. Excited to celebrate them.