Penn State head coach James Franklin meets with media after practice

We’re just three days out from Penn State’s final home game of the 2021 season, as Rutgers is set to comes to town for Senior Day.

James Franklin and Penn State have now lost four of its of its past five games, but at 6-4 overall, still have the opportunity to make a New Year’s Day bowl. Rutgers is 5-5 overall, 2-5 in Big Ten play. Greg Schiano’s team hasn’t made a bowl game since 2014, so they’ll be expected to play hard.

Nittany Lion fans can watch Franklin’s complete Wednesday night media scrum below. A transcript has also been provided.

– On Caedan Wallace, Rasheed Walker, Mike Miranda not spotted at practice

“Flu going around on campus. I think we had about six guys that are non-COVID-related, but had fevers, really over the last couple days. So, that’s what we’re dealing with.”

– Is Christian Veilleux the No. 2 quarterback now for Penn State?

“Yeah, that’s fair at this stage right now. It’s still a weekly competition. But yeah, that’s fair.”

– On competing for 365 days a year and if the way the team is playing is represents that

“I understand the question. I would need some time to kind of answer that question. This is something I’ve been talking about for eight years. Hopefully we’ll be able to get into specifics here soon.”

– Paterno documentary coming out. Would James be willing to comment Joe Paterno’s legacy and where it stands today

“I’m happy to talk about Rutgers. This week, this game, so if you have any questions about that, I’d be more than happy to discuss them.”

– Does Mike Miranda have an illness?

“Yes, sir.”

– On backups being ready along the O-line

“Bryce Effner’s played a decent amount. Landon [Tengwall] got a bunch of reps this week. We’ll just kind of see, but yeah, Landon and Effner are the two guys that I think are the closest to being able to contribute and help. But, we’ll see how kind of the week plays out. Effner obviously played multiple positions and has done a bunch of things for us, but we may need more. We may need more. So, Landon’s also a guy who’s a swing guy who’s taking reps this week at guard and tackle. We’ll see how that plays out.”

– On Kalen King and his progression at Penn State

“Very pleased with him. A lot of guys, you can tell the first time they get out there. They’re maybe a little nervous, or the moments kind of big for them. I never feel that way with Kalen. He’s got tremendous confidence in himself. He’s played a decent amount already this year. So, I could see his rep count continue to go up as the season goes on.”

– Was Tariq Castro-Fields banged up down the stretch. Is that why Kalen was on at the end?

“Yes”

– How does King bounce back from that Michigan game-winning play?

“I would say it probably is a little bit different if you’re in a one-on-one situation. In that situation, obviously they ran a pick play, and two of our guys ran into each other trying to weave their way through the traffic. Still frustrating, still disappointing, all those types of things, but I don’t think it’s gonna affect his his confidence. He’s a very confident guy.”

– On CFP goals and how it changes things

“I don’t know if that is the goal and the focus across the country. I think at a handful of institutions, that is. I think at probably another group of institutions, that’s the expectation. I think that’s what’s changed with with the College Football Playoff. It’s made it very different. The regular regular season in college football has always been very, very important. I think this has magnified that even more so. So yeah, it does. It creates some challenges.

You see over the last number of years, you see a lot of programs and schools where guys are opting out of bowl games and things like that. We’ve been pretty fortunate with those types of things. These guys got a lot of people in their ears, with the change in policy from the NFL and from the NCAA. The agents can talk to our guys from the time they’re a freshman and make recommendations on what they should and shouldn’t do. It’s complicated. It’s much more complicated than it’s ever been. There’s no doubt about that.”

– What’s the goal at Penn State?

“I think we’re a part of those institutions, right? Where, we’ve done it before, at a very different time in college football, but we’ve done it before. That is the expectation and that is the mentality. I think that is more than fair. So, for us, I think you guys know I try to keep our players and our program focused on being the best we possibly can be today, and trying to be 1-0 each week to try to keep our preparation and our approach consistent from week to week no matter the outcome. That’s easier said than done, as you know.

I think that helps that helps manage some of those things. I think that’s the biggest challenge, I think right now, in college football. The discussions that we’ve been having, and you guys have been asking me a lot of questions about the competition 365 days a year. This isn’t the first time I’ve been talking about those things. I remember standing out on that turf, a long time ago when I first got here, talking to you guys about that, using in the We are Penn State as the backdrop, talking about the things that we’re going to have to do year round to make that that a reasonable option, a reasonable expectation. So keep chopping wood and keep doing the things we got to do to be successful.”

– Paterno question II

“What we’re talking about right now is the current program and what’s going on. The game against Rutgers this week, and the things that are affecting our program right now.”

– On Jaquan Brisker

“I’m super proud of him. He’s done a great job in every aspect that we’ve asked him to do, academically, athletically, socially. His family’s been a big part of it being from Pittsburgh. Obviously, the success we’ve had had out of Lackawanna has factored into it as well. So you know, I’m really proud. I’m really proud of him, and I think he’s doing great. I think he’s putting himself in position to have a very bright future after leaving Penn State.”

– On Penn State’s relationship with Lackawanna 

“It’s really been, really since we we’ve got here. There wasn’t a great history of Penn State recruiting it. We looked at it as a significant advantage having a junior college in the state of Pennsylvania. The number of junior colleges had declined. nationally. So it was an opportunity for us to keep some kids in a region that maybe had to take a different path to still come to Penn State. It’s worked out really well, I think, for both institutions, and the guys are doing extremely well. So obviously, you know, whenever you get a kid from a certain school or certain region and he has success, it obviously opens up opportunities for future guys.”

– On Jesse Luketa and his versatility

“I don’t think it really complicates it. I think it’s probably no different than any other industry right. The more things that you can do and the more value you can bring, you know, to the institution or the team you’re playing for, the better. No different than your guys’ field as well. So I think the the fact that Jesse can play Mike linebacker and thrive as an inside linebacker, and then play defensive end. I think that helps people project him whether it’s a 3-5 outside linebacker, or whether it’s an inside linebacker maybe even in a 3-4 system as well. So, I think it helps him, and I know it helps us.”