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Where is Penn State assistant Andy Kotelnicki on On3's list of college football's top offensive coordinators?

Greg Pickelby:Greg Pickel•21 hours ago•

GregPickel

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Offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki. (Credit: USA Today Network/Hanover Evening Sun)

Penn State news, notes, and updates for July 31 include a ranking of the best offensive coordinators, headlines of the day, and more. On3 national college football writer Andy Staples put hands to keyboard to list out the sport’s best play callers. Second-year Nittany Lion assistant Andy Kotelnicki checks in at No. 6.

“Penn State didn’t have great receivers last year,” Staples writes. “So what did Kotelnicki do in his first season in State College? He moved tight end Tyler Warren all over the field and fed him to the tune of 104 catches. At Kansas, Kotelnicki had two capable QBs in Jalon Daniels and Jason Bean. So what did he do? Sometimes, he used both simultaneously.

“If Penn State hit big in the transfer portal with receivers Kyron Hudson (USC), Devonte Ross (Troy) and Trebor Pena (Syracuse), then expect Kotelnicki to have a lot of fun getting that group the ball via QB Drew Allar while also pounding opponents with backs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen.”

Kotelnicki’s national rankings puts him at No. 3 in the Big Ten. He is behind Oregon’s Will Stein, who leads the list, and Indiana’s Mike Shanahan, who checks in at No. 4.

“Stein, who could be on a lot of head-coaching short lists after this season, isn’t the product of one tree,” Staples writes. “He played for then-OC Jeff Brohm at Louisville. Worked for Bobby Petrino. He experienced a variety of offenses working on Charlie Strong’s Texas staff. Then he became a playcaller under Jeff Traylor at UTSA. Stein took all these influences and cobbled together an offense that bewilders defenses. Stein understands exactly how to get the most out of his personnel.”

Read the full story here.

Penn State headlines of the day

Penn State football announces 2025 game themes: When is the Stripe Out, Senior Day, and more?: Pickel, BWI

Inside Lasch: Breaking down Penn State’s top 2027 in-state targets and who can join that list with strong junior seasons: Snyder, BWI

10 Penn State players who are in the spotlight this preseason: Lions returning from injury, a freshman, and more: Pickel, BWI

Four-star TE Colt Lumpris has five visits in the works, including Penn State: Snyder, BWI

Why is one Penn State assistant feeling ‘really good’ about the Lions’ backup quarterbacks entering camp?: Pickel, BWI

Quote of the day

“Am I going somewhere that, yes, has the players? But, is it set up to compete in an ever-changing world? I don’t think there are many teams that are at this level with all the various professionals and the jobs that they do that allow me to just coach defense. Penn State is one of them.”

PSU defensive coordinator Jim Knowles on his decision to join the Lions after winning last season’s national title with Ohio State.

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