Good evening -
News and notes from Penn State's midweek practice session as the Nittany Lions inch closer to the first game of the season when they host Appalachian State on Sept. 1 at Beaver Stadium. Practice No. 11 tonight.
Obviously, and this may come as something of a disappointment given the excitement of preseason practice, but the news today surrounding Ryan Buchholz and Jordan Miner made the post-practice press conference with James Franklin something of a one-note event. Given the impact and expectation for Buchholz this season in particular, that attention makes sense, it just limited somewhat the other topics on the agenda.
That said, some news and notes, photos and videos are on the way.
1) Let's start with some action. We arrived to red zone work, music blasting. From the 8-yard line, Sean Clifford connected with Daniel George in the end zone for a touchdown. George beat Trent Gordon in one-on-one coverage for the score. On the field:
DE - Kevin Givens
DT - PJ Mustipher
DT - Aeneas Hawkins
DE - Daniel Joseph
Will LB - Micah Parsons
Mike LB - Ellis Brooks
Sam LB - Jarvis Miller
CB - Trent Gordon
CB - Jabari Butler
S - Jon Sutherland
S - Ayron Monroe
QB - Sean Clifford
RB - Jon Thomas
RT - Will Fries
RG - CJ Thorpe
C - Zach Simpson
LG - Mike Miranda
LT - Des Holmes
TE - Danny Dalton
TE - Pat Freiermuth
WR - Daniel George
WR - Mac Hippenhammer
Two plays later, Clifford went back to George in the end zone, but that time it was batted away. In the meantime, C.J. Thorpe and Ellis Brooks earned 50 up-downs for themselves. Didn't see the jawing, but that's what I suspect.
2) Shortly thereafter, Will Levis took the helm at quarterback.
QB - Will Levis
RB - Journey Brown
TE - Danny Dalton
TE - Pat Freiermuth
RT - Alex Gellerstedt
RG - Charlie Shuman
C - Juice Scruggs
LG - Bryce Effner
LT - Rasheed Walker
WR - Isaac Lutz
WR - Jahan Dotson
DE - Nick Tarburton
DT - Judge Culpepper
DT - Evan Presta
DE - Jayson Oweh
Sam LB - Dae'lun Darien
Mike LB - Jesse Luketa
Will LB - Manny Bowen
CB - DJ Brown
CB - Jabari Butler
S - Jon Sutherland
S - Ayron Monroe
I am reading not a single thing into these lineups, only the possibility of positions. Certainly, Givens at end catches my eye considering the Buchholz news. Bowen at *Will. Other than that, probably not a ton to be gleaned from the combinations on the field.
3) Moving on.
John Reid, K.J. Hamler, DeAndre Thompkins, Mac Hippenhammer, Jahan Dotson, Mark Allen all back there for punt returns. Thompkins dropped one at some point in the practice and got an ear full from Phil Galiano after the practice session. Seems pretty clear they want him to be the guy, but stuff like that doesn't fly if he's going to win the job.
4) Maybe the most newsworthy item from Franklin's session with the media after practice came when he was asked whether or not Bowen would be a starter at linebacker for the first game of the season.
His answer, though hesitant to give it before talking to the players individually, was somewhat predictable given the circumstances of Bowen's return to the program following his dismissal before the end of the 2017 season.
"No," said Franklin. "No he will not."
But, later, he said that he knows who Manny is and he knows that he can play.
He did say that they're closer to making decisions at linebacker. Cam Brown looks good. Jan Johnson looks good. Koa Farmer looks good. Jesse Luketa is making a move. Jarvis is finally getting comfortable and playing to his strengths. And obviously Micah is doing some pretty impressive things.
5) As for Buchholz, Franklin obviously spoke glowingly of his contributions to the program, but maybe the most pressing side of this is what happens now that he's not going to be available.
"We’d love to have Buch. He’s been a very productive player and all those types of things and a great teammate. He's been an unbelievable teammates, but again it’s not like this just kinda came out of nowhere. So it’s not like it was a shock for us. We knew it was kind of a challenge for the last couple years," said Franklin. "So I think Shareef and Yetur are doing a really good job. Shane is... I think we have a lot of depth there. Yetur, Shane, Shareef, obviously. Shaka, as you know, brings an element to our package. Daniel Joseph has had a really good camp. We’d love to have Buch."
Later, both Matt Limegrover and Shareef Miller were made available to the media, and they both spoke glowingly of Gross-Matos. All signs are pointing toward huge expectations for him this season.
And, as could probably be deduced at times this summer and through the winter, Limegrover made a statement that suggests Toney might not be 100 percent, or hasn't been previously:
"You can't ask for better game simulated reps than going against Shane and Yetur, and I'll tell you what, when Shaka Toney is healthy and feeling good, I mean it's like a blur coming off that edge. I love it, it's a challenge every day."
That said, as it relates to the ends, Miller made overwhelmingly clear how challenging it is for a true freshman to learn the system and step in as an end. He compared it to being a linebacker within this system.
That's all from me for tonight's practice. Photos coming.
News and notes from Penn State's midweek practice session as the Nittany Lions inch closer to the first game of the season when they host Appalachian State on Sept. 1 at Beaver Stadium. Practice No. 11 tonight.
Obviously, and this may come as something of a disappointment given the excitement of preseason practice, but the news today surrounding Ryan Buchholz and Jordan Miner made the post-practice press conference with James Franklin something of a one-note event. Given the impact and expectation for Buchholz this season in particular, that attention makes sense, it just limited somewhat the other topics on the agenda.
That said, some news and notes, photos and videos are on the way.
1) Let's start with some action. We arrived to red zone work, music blasting. From the 8-yard line, Sean Clifford connected with Daniel George in the end zone for a touchdown. George beat Trent Gordon in one-on-one coverage for the score. On the field:
DE - Kevin Givens
DT - PJ Mustipher
DT - Aeneas Hawkins
DE - Daniel Joseph
Will LB - Micah Parsons
Mike LB - Ellis Brooks
Sam LB - Jarvis Miller
CB - Trent Gordon
CB - Jabari Butler
S - Jon Sutherland
S - Ayron Monroe
QB - Sean Clifford
RB - Jon Thomas
RT - Will Fries
RG - CJ Thorpe
C - Zach Simpson
LG - Mike Miranda
LT - Des Holmes
TE - Danny Dalton
TE - Pat Freiermuth
WR - Daniel George
WR - Mac Hippenhammer
Two plays later, Clifford went back to George in the end zone, but that time it was batted away. In the meantime, C.J. Thorpe and Ellis Brooks earned 50 up-downs for themselves. Didn't see the jawing, but that's what I suspect.
2) Shortly thereafter, Will Levis took the helm at quarterback.
QB - Will Levis
RB - Journey Brown
TE - Danny Dalton
TE - Pat Freiermuth
RT - Alex Gellerstedt
RG - Charlie Shuman
C - Juice Scruggs
LG - Bryce Effner
LT - Rasheed Walker
WR - Isaac Lutz
WR - Jahan Dotson
DE - Nick Tarburton
DT - Judge Culpepper
DT - Evan Presta
DE - Jayson Oweh
Sam LB - Dae'lun Darien
Mike LB - Jesse Luketa
Will LB - Manny Bowen
CB - DJ Brown
CB - Jabari Butler
S - Jon Sutherland
S - Ayron Monroe
I am reading not a single thing into these lineups, only the possibility of positions. Certainly, Givens at end catches my eye considering the Buchholz news. Bowen at *Will. Other than that, probably not a ton to be gleaned from the combinations on the field.
3) Moving on.
John Reid, K.J. Hamler, DeAndre Thompkins, Mac Hippenhammer, Jahan Dotson, Mark Allen all back there for punt returns. Thompkins dropped one at some point in the practice and got an ear full from Phil Galiano after the practice session. Seems pretty clear they want him to be the guy, but stuff like that doesn't fly if he's going to win the job.
4) Maybe the most newsworthy item from Franklin's session with the media after practice came when he was asked whether or not Bowen would be a starter at linebacker for the first game of the season.
His answer, though hesitant to give it before talking to the players individually, was somewhat predictable given the circumstances of Bowen's return to the program following his dismissal before the end of the 2017 season.
"No," said Franklin. "No he will not."
But, later, he said that he knows who Manny is and he knows that he can play.
He did say that they're closer to making decisions at linebacker. Cam Brown looks good. Jan Johnson looks good. Koa Farmer looks good. Jesse Luketa is making a move. Jarvis is finally getting comfortable and playing to his strengths. And obviously Micah is doing some pretty impressive things.
5) As for Buchholz, Franklin obviously spoke glowingly of his contributions to the program, but maybe the most pressing side of this is what happens now that he's not going to be available.
"We’d love to have Buch. He’s been a very productive player and all those types of things and a great teammate. He's been an unbelievable teammates, but again it’s not like this just kinda came out of nowhere. So it’s not like it was a shock for us. We knew it was kind of a challenge for the last couple years," said Franklin. "So I think Shareef and Yetur are doing a really good job. Shane is... I think we have a lot of depth there. Yetur, Shane, Shareef, obviously. Shaka, as you know, brings an element to our package. Daniel Joseph has had a really good camp. We’d love to have Buch."
Later, both Matt Limegrover and Shareef Miller were made available to the media, and they both spoke glowingly of Gross-Matos. All signs are pointing toward huge expectations for him this season.
And, as could probably be deduced at times this summer and through the winter, Limegrover made a statement that suggests Toney might not be 100 percent, or hasn't been previously:
"You can't ask for better game simulated reps than going against Shane and Yetur, and I'll tell you what, when Shaka Toney is healthy and feeling good, I mean it's like a blur coming off that edge. I love it, it's a challenge every day."
That said, as it relates to the ends, Miller made overwhelmingly clear how challenging it is for a true freshman to learn the system and step in as an end. He compared it to being a linebacker within this system.
That's all from me for tonight's practice. Photos coming.
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