Impressed this spring

[hotepare]

The 2025 Penn State football roster will feature at least 35 new players, and many of them enrolled months ago. Which Nittany Lions freshmen and transfers impressed during spring practices?

 

[GregInPitt]

From what I remember the coaches have said:

• WR transfer Ross has speed, catches the ball well, and will be a weopon all over the field.
• DT transfer Wafle is competing with the rest of the redshirt freshmen for the 4-6 spots on the DT rotation.
• G/C transfer Shanahan will be a backup this season but is a likely competitor for a starting spot in 2026 on the OL
• S/slotCB transfer Mack is competing for the slot CB starting spot as well as at Safety
• DE transfer White hasn't gotten much press and may still be recovering from his past injuries
• Arrington is very athletic but needs to get bigger/stronger
• Adirika, freshman DT, was further along towards being in the competition to play than Franklin had expected.
• Dixon, freshman CB from CA, plays physical and will likely contribute this coming season.
• Hayes, freshman RB, is more physically ready than most freshman and could contribute this season if the need arises (but with all the RB depth he most likely redshirts)
• Howard, freshman WR, is probably the most likely true freshman WR with a chance to contribute this season due to both his physical maturity and route running skills.
• Kemajou, freshman DE, has impressed with his physicality and is a candidate to get green lighted. Possibly already on the DE depth chart.
• Samuel, freshman WR, has great skills, has made lots of plays in practice including a good many deep ball catches, but probably won't play this season as he is real thin and needs to put on muscle.
• Tatsch, freshman LB, looks like a future starting LB but likely redshirt this season. Seems he is pretty well recovered from the injury he had as a H.S. senior but likely won't play this season.

Regarding the freshmen, it seems likely that Dixon and Kamajou probably get "green lighted" from the start.
Maybe Howard, but definitely just a maybe at this point.
Maybe Arrington if the staff believes he's a difference maker on special teams and Arrington expresses a big desire to do it.
Injuries may lead to some others.

 

[Delcolion915]

Max Granville. That's all.