Penn State football sets start date for 2022 spring practices
Penn State football has a start date for its 2022 spring practice session.
Head coach James Franklin and the Nittany Lions will commence their spring practices on Monday, March 21.
In the ensuing five weeks, Penn State will have 14 practices, capped by the Blue-White Game. In total, they’re permitted to conduct 15 practices in 34 days with 20 hours of team activities each week.
The Blue-White Game is set for April 23 at Beaver Stadium. Kick time has not yet been determined for the annual public scrimmage.
Two tweaks have been implemented to this year’s spring practice format in the form of newly approved rules. They will apply to all Division I football programs as the result of Football Oversight Committee recommendations approved in January.
Under the new rules, full contact cannot exceed 75 minutes for non-scrimmage practices. Practices with full contact also cannot be conducted on consecutive days through the spring practice period.
Both of the new rules were approved by the Division I Council last month in Indianapolis at the NCAA Convention.
Penn State spring practice set-up
The remaining structure of spring practices has not changed as the session quickly approaches for Penn State.
Within that structure, programs have 34 days to use up to 20 hours of unrestricted activities. A caveat is in place that players are given a mandatory one day off per week.
– A total of 15 on-field practices can take place.
– Only 12 of the 15 practices are permitted to involve contact.
– The first two practices cannot be full contact.
– Those full-contact practices, with tackling to the ground, are limited to eight of the 12 contact sessions.
– Programs are limited to three total 11-on-11 scrimmages.
– Headgear can be worn for noncontact practice sessions.
Spring practice approach
Currently conducting winter workouts, the Penn State academic calendar includes a one week spring break. It is set for Sunday, March 6 through Saturday, March 12.
Penn State has a group of seven seniors returning for the NCAA’s bonus year of eligibility, led by quarterback Sean Clifford. Others to take advantage of the extra year include safety Ji’Ayir Brown, defensive tackle P.J. Mustipher, linebacker Jonathan Sutherland, punter Barney Amor, snapper Chris Stoll, and receiver transfer Mitchell Tinsley.
