Despite suffering a knee injury in the opener against Temple, one that ended Nyeem Wartman-White’s junior season just as it was beginning, the linebacker has been a constant presence in and around the Lasch Building since then.
Speaking to reporters on a conference call Thursday morning, position coach Brent Pry praised Wartman-White’s efforts since the setback – not only in the trainers’ room and during rehab, but also in his helpfulness with Penn State’s young group of linebackers. Pry also confirmed that Wartman-White’s injury was to the ACL in his left knee and that the recovery so far has gone smooth.
“I’m very proud of how Nyeem has handed his situation,” Pry said. “He’s alway got a smile on his face. He has an incredibly positive attitude. He’s always around (the facilities). He’s in meetings. Unless he’s getting extra treatment or rehab or something, he’s in position meetings, he’s in team meetings. I mean, he’s very much a part of our group. He’s still a leader and an inspiration to not just the linebackers, but to everybody on the football team. He’s doing tremendous with his rehab. Everything is very positive there. He’s working like crazy in the weight room. I joke with him that he’ll finally be able to bench over 300 coming out of this thing. He’s really put the time in there and doubling up rehab. Just very proud and pleased and he’s certainly very much still a very big part of this football team.”
More than how he’s handled the injury, though, Pry lauded Wartman-White’s overall approach to life in the face of adversity. Recently, the injury isn’t the only adversity Wartman-White has faced either.
“Nyeem is somebody who has always had to deal with some personal things and some family things,” Pry added. “I think that’s where he draws his strength from. He’s been through a lot as young man. He lost his grandmother this year, and then at the same time had an ACL. It was just one blow after another. His mom’s health hasn’t been great. It’s just amazing to me, his positive attitude. It’s something for all of us to learn from and look to. In the face of tough times, he keeps his chin up and he’s bright-eyed and he smiles, and he’s concerned about his fellow linebackers and always coaching those guys up and trying to be inspiring to them. He’s a great example for us right now. Nyeem has been through some tough times and it’s made him tough. (The knee injury) is just one more hurdle, one more obstacle that he’s going to overcome and come out on the other side bigger and better than ever.”
Pry is looking forward to the day Wartman-White returns to Penn State’s lineup as a fifth-year senior. With current starters Brandon Bell, Jason Cabinda and Troy Reeder all with remaining eligibility, and only Ben Kline currently expected to graduate, it’ll provide the assistant coach with multiple combinations with which to work.
“We’re certainly going to be in a great situation,” Pry said. “We’re going to have a lot of depth. We’re going to have a lot of quality guys with experience. It’s obviously too early to say (which position everyone will play) and what we’ll decide to do. The nice thing is that there are several guys with flexibility who have played both Will and Mike. Jason Cabinda has played both. Nyeem has played both. Brandon Bell has played Sam and Will. Troy Reeer was a Mike first before we moved him to Will.
“So there are just a lot of guys who have learned multiple spots, which I think will give us the flexibility to put the best three guys out there and back them up with three experienced guys. I’m excited about the future at my position - I really am.”
Speaking to reporters on a conference call Thursday morning, position coach Brent Pry praised Wartman-White’s efforts since the setback – not only in the trainers’ room and during rehab, but also in his helpfulness with Penn State’s young group of linebackers. Pry also confirmed that Wartman-White’s injury was to the ACL in his left knee and that the recovery so far has gone smooth.
“I’m very proud of how Nyeem has handed his situation,” Pry said. “He’s alway got a smile on his face. He has an incredibly positive attitude. He’s always around (the facilities). He’s in meetings. Unless he’s getting extra treatment or rehab or something, he’s in position meetings, he’s in team meetings. I mean, he’s very much a part of our group. He’s still a leader and an inspiration to not just the linebackers, but to everybody on the football team. He’s doing tremendous with his rehab. Everything is very positive there. He’s working like crazy in the weight room. I joke with him that he’ll finally be able to bench over 300 coming out of this thing. He’s really put the time in there and doubling up rehab. Just very proud and pleased and he’s certainly very much still a very big part of this football team.”
More than how he’s handled the injury, though, Pry lauded Wartman-White’s overall approach to life in the face of adversity. Recently, the injury isn’t the only adversity Wartman-White has faced either.
“Nyeem is somebody who has always had to deal with some personal things and some family things,” Pry added. “I think that’s where he draws his strength from. He’s been through a lot as young man. He lost his grandmother this year, and then at the same time had an ACL. It was just one blow after another. His mom’s health hasn’t been great. It’s just amazing to me, his positive attitude. It’s something for all of us to learn from and look to. In the face of tough times, he keeps his chin up and he’s bright-eyed and he smiles, and he’s concerned about his fellow linebackers and always coaching those guys up and trying to be inspiring to them. He’s a great example for us right now. Nyeem has been through some tough times and it’s made him tough. (The knee injury) is just one more hurdle, one more obstacle that he’s going to overcome and come out on the other side bigger and better than ever.”
Pry is looking forward to the day Wartman-White returns to Penn State’s lineup as a fifth-year senior. With current starters Brandon Bell, Jason Cabinda and Troy Reeder all with remaining eligibility, and only Ben Kline currently expected to graduate, it’ll provide the assistant coach with multiple combinations with which to work.
“We’re certainly going to be in a great situation,” Pry said. “We’re going to have a lot of depth. We’re going to have a lot of quality guys with experience. It’s obviously too early to say (which position everyone will play) and what we’ll decide to do. The nice thing is that there are several guys with flexibility who have played both Will and Mike. Jason Cabinda has played both. Nyeem has played both. Brandon Bell has played Sam and Will. Troy Reeer was a Mike first before we moved him to Will.
“So there are just a lot of guys who have learned multiple spots, which I think will give us the flexibility to put the best three guys out there and back them up with three experienced guys. I’m excited about the future at my position - I really am.”
