Penn State coach James Franklin updates position battles at kicker, punter, guard, and middle linebacker
Penn State coach James Franklin kicked off the first game week of the year with a news conference on Monday at Beaver Stadium.
The leader of the Nittany Lions covered plenty of ground during his nearly hourlong chat with reporters just days before his team takes on Purdue.
“Kind of strange opening on a Thursday. We catch ourselves talking on different days of the week, but it’s been our normal routine. I like opening on a Thursday.”
One of the top topics of the conversation focused on position battles. Franklin updated many of them on Monday.
Penn State has a kickoff, field goal, and punting plan
Special teams is the one area that features the most change for Penn State in 2022. With Jordan Stout gone, the Lions are in need of a field goal kicker, punter, and kickoff specialist.
Barney Amor has won the punting job. That was fairly clear after he was awarded a scholarship last week. But, it’s now confirmed.
When it comes to field goals, that job is now back to Jake Pinegar.
“He’s earned that throughout camp,” Franklin said. “He’s had a really strong camp. I’m really proud of him. I used him as an example with the team the other day. You’re talking about a guy in today’s day and age, you know with the transfer portal, here he is as a guy who was a two-year starter for us and then ends up losing his starting role and doesn’t just run the transfer portal at the first sign of adversity.
“He stays and sticks it out, and here he is. One of our leaders on our team, and has had a really good camp. I think he’s going to have a big big year for us. I’m really proud of him for a lot of reasons.”
Finally, Penn State will alternate kickoffs between Sander Sahaydak and Gabe Nwosu.
An update on the guars situation
Penn State plans to play all three of its top guards, Sal Wormley, Hunter Nourzad, and Landon Tengwall, in the opener. That trio has been battling for the left and right interior offensive line jobs. The Lions feel like all three deserve starter-like reps.
“We really see all three of those guys as starters in Landon, Sal, and Hunter, and try to play all three of those guys with starter reps,” Franklin said.
Freshman lineman JB Nelson also received a shoutout. Franklin said he was progressing well before an injury kept him off the field for some of camp. The program still feels very good about his trajectory, however, in year one after he transferred in from Lackawanna College.
Penn State situation is status quo at middle linebacker
Franklin revealed last week that Tyler Elsdon was ahead of Kobe King for the starting middle linebacker job. That continues to be the case. However, expect to see both on the field at Purdue on Thursday night.
“Both of those guys will play, but Elsdon will be the starter,” Franklin said. “But both of those guys will play significant reps in the game, him and Kobe.”
