As always, paraphrased answers from James Franklin's radio show Thursday evening in State College.
Continuing to improve:
Issues are still there. But no better way to do it than Sunday after a win. People are less defensive and more open. Getting better in all three phases.
Players owning the program:
Still a work in progress. Doesn’t know if it will ever be a normal model because they don’t have a large senior class. Program was built to be senior and junior run. Only have one senior starting on offense, so it’s just different. Definitely players taking ownership of the program, but not what they’re accustomed to.
Biggest surprises to now:
Would probably say some of the freshmen. Carl Nassib. Could not have talked about him more all offseason, that he was going to have a big year, but doesn’t know that he would have predicted he’d lead nation in sacks, TFL, forced fumbles. Got a letter today about the Heisman, and it was about Carl. Then John Reid, who has been good and played a lot of reps and fought through injuries. Saquon Barkley and his impact. There’s a number of guys he could mention, but those are the three that stand out. Carl is an amazing story, to think a guy just got a letter about the Heisman, and didn’t even start in high school. First ever start against Temple this year. An amazing story.
Jan Johnson joining wrestling team:
Doesn’t want to get into specifics of Cael’s program, but they had a guy that’s not going to be able to wrestle for a good period of time or the year, and Cael called about Jan Johnson and they have a spot open. Legitimately, a spot completely open. They were going to have 185 pound wrestle off, and whoever lost was going to be heavyweight. Franklin said he was all for it. Jan is 235 and they talked about it. He was excited about the opportunity, but concerned about how it would set him back from a football standpoint. He handled it extremely well. Told Cael it would be good for them to talk in person, and it was like a recruiting visit. The only negative, Jan is wrestling and will do both and come back to football. Saw him in football study hall and training table, and he had that wrestling look with scuffs and abrasions on forehead. Said it’s going good, but because he’s the heavyweight has to wrestle Cael every day in practice. No one can beat Cael. He just beats the heck out of Jan all practice.
Preparing team not to have a letdown at Northwestern and low energy:
Has been talking about that all week. There’s a lot of advantages and challenges at every venue you go to. For first time in Franklin’s career, a home field advantage. Has coached in front of 100,000 before, but not supporting him. Finally now have that. Going on the road, this is another challenge. Northwestern is used to this environment, and an early game on top of that. Tendency where Northwestern plays well in this environment and opposing team comes in and sleepwalks first quarter. Just not that natural energy. Gotta go on the road, 11 a.m. game, and then the environment. Typically have music for practice, even home games. Against Ohio State, blaring like crazy. This week, no music at all. Guys will have to create own energy for each other. PSU fans will travel well and support them, but all they can do is prepare them to not be caught off guard. Northwestern is a great university and it’s a great town. It’s a great college atmosphere in their situation.
One-year transfer quarterbacks:
There’s a lot of discussion about it right now. Just read this morning that NCAA is being sued again over transfer issue. It’s gotten a little more complicated because if you graduate, you can play anywhere right away. Discussion is that others want to play right away anyway. Can imagine college coaches recruiting current players. Have to be careful there. Transfers in general you have to be careful with. Typically they’re transferring for a reason, you need to know what that is and have conversations about that. QB is a little different because there’s only one on the field. If they lose out to better player, sometimes it makes sense.
New field:
Thought it held up great. You get nervous when they say they’re going to replace a field in two weeks. But Herb Combs and his team is great. You only hear about it if it’s a problem, and he didn’t hear anything about it because they did a great job like always.
Tommy Stevens:
He’s doing really, really well. He’s about 6-foot-4, 219 pounds now. Showed up at 185-190, so he’s getting bigger and stronger. Throws it well, can beat you with mind, arm, feet. Runs really well. When he first came in, looked good running but testing numbers weren’t great. Thinks he and Trace will test 4.6 or better 40 guys. Trace ran 4.5. Tommy will be in that ballpark. In Sunday scrimmages, he’s really impressed. Team is excited about those guys moving forward. And on scout team, Tommy can mimic Sudfield from Indiana, but also Braxton Miller or those types of things with his athleticism. Doing well in school, picking up and learning material well. Fortunate to get involved with him late in the recruiting process and bring him in.
Practice this week:
Have cut back significantly the past two weeks. Have had 13 weeks straight with camp, so felt like it was the right thing to do. Still a little under scholarships, and a young team, so thought it was the right thing to do. Noticed it more this week even more than last. Energy and body language was really good, and they’re mature in getting the most out of walk-throughs and details are exactly right so they get what they need out of it. Feels good. Good plans on offense and defense. Mobile QBs can be a pain, but have a plan for that, and this is a good football team, so going to be a challenge.
Next great LB for LBU:
Have a good group right now. Tries hard not to single individuals out. This is the ultimate team game. But there are really good young guys playing well right now. Nyeem is doing a great job in the training room with a great attitude. Not sure. Great tradition and history, but will leave those discussions for fans and media. Great team football right now, and proud of how they’ve stepped up from start of the season.
Energy on the sideline:
It’s good, but always want it to be better. Addresses those things when he sees them, and doesn’t have to do it often. It’s a privilege to play for Penn State and be on the sideline. When you’re a freshman, you might not have best energy, but it’s a privilege to be there on the sideline. Von Walker has been tremendous as special team captain bringing energy up and down sideline. Coach that all the time, with how guys handle themselves. Sideline to give run and pass calls.
Non-travel group:
Guys that don’t travel come in at 6 a.m. on Friday and Galt tries to kill them because they don’t need to worry about being sore. They get after it. A different workout from the rest of the team. It’s about development and growth because they have weekend to recover. Team gets stronger during season, but freshmen are really able to grow and develop so by the start of spring ball they can compete for a job. Those 6 a.m. workouts are really important. They support each other, dreaming of future. It’s been really important.
Fan impersonating Franklin last weekend:
Always walks around stadium once they get there. It’s his 15 seconds a week to pinch himself. Walks around, thanks people in the stadium. Coming around the back of the stadium, Franklin impersonator was there. Took a picture. Really funny. When he got home last week on Thursday, doorbell rings, 13 year old kid dressed as him. That was cool. Before they played Ohio State, Urban said that the whiteout is the best college environment he’s ever been in, and only thing that comes close is night game at LSU. Great thing going at Penn State. History, traditions, support, culture. Still a lot of work to do, but truly a special place. Coaches, players, admin is so appreciative of way community rallies around him.
Continuing to improve:
Issues are still there. But no better way to do it than Sunday after a win. People are less defensive and more open. Getting better in all three phases.
Players owning the program:
Still a work in progress. Doesn’t know if it will ever be a normal model because they don’t have a large senior class. Program was built to be senior and junior run. Only have one senior starting on offense, so it’s just different. Definitely players taking ownership of the program, but not what they’re accustomed to.
Biggest surprises to now:
Would probably say some of the freshmen. Carl Nassib. Could not have talked about him more all offseason, that he was going to have a big year, but doesn’t know that he would have predicted he’d lead nation in sacks, TFL, forced fumbles. Got a letter today about the Heisman, and it was about Carl. Then John Reid, who has been good and played a lot of reps and fought through injuries. Saquon Barkley and his impact. There’s a number of guys he could mention, but those are the three that stand out. Carl is an amazing story, to think a guy just got a letter about the Heisman, and didn’t even start in high school. First ever start against Temple this year. An amazing story.
Jan Johnson joining wrestling team:
Doesn’t want to get into specifics of Cael’s program, but they had a guy that’s not going to be able to wrestle for a good period of time or the year, and Cael called about Jan Johnson and they have a spot open. Legitimately, a spot completely open. They were going to have 185 pound wrestle off, and whoever lost was going to be heavyweight. Franklin said he was all for it. Jan is 235 and they talked about it. He was excited about the opportunity, but concerned about how it would set him back from a football standpoint. He handled it extremely well. Told Cael it would be good for them to talk in person, and it was like a recruiting visit. The only negative, Jan is wrestling and will do both and come back to football. Saw him in football study hall and training table, and he had that wrestling look with scuffs and abrasions on forehead. Said it’s going good, but because he’s the heavyweight has to wrestle Cael every day in practice. No one can beat Cael. He just beats the heck out of Jan all practice.
Preparing team not to have a letdown at Northwestern and low energy:
Has been talking about that all week. There’s a lot of advantages and challenges at every venue you go to. For first time in Franklin’s career, a home field advantage. Has coached in front of 100,000 before, but not supporting him. Finally now have that. Going on the road, this is another challenge. Northwestern is used to this environment, and an early game on top of that. Tendency where Northwestern plays well in this environment and opposing team comes in and sleepwalks first quarter. Just not that natural energy. Gotta go on the road, 11 a.m. game, and then the environment. Typically have music for practice, even home games. Against Ohio State, blaring like crazy. This week, no music at all. Guys will have to create own energy for each other. PSU fans will travel well and support them, but all they can do is prepare them to not be caught off guard. Northwestern is a great university and it’s a great town. It’s a great college atmosphere in their situation.
One-year transfer quarterbacks:
There’s a lot of discussion about it right now. Just read this morning that NCAA is being sued again over transfer issue. It’s gotten a little more complicated because if you graduate, you can play anywhere right away. Discussion is that others want to play right away anyway. Can imagine college coaches recruiting current players. Have to be careful there. Transfers in general you have to be careful with. Typically they’re transferring for a reason, you need to know what that is and have conversations about that. QB is a little different because there’s only one on the field. If they lose out to better player, sometimes it makes sense.
New field:
Thought it held up great. You get nervous when they say they’re going to replace a field in two weeks. But Herb Combs and his team is great. You only hear about it if it’s a problem, and he didn’t hear anything about it because they did a great job like always.
Tommy Stevens:
He’s doing really, really well. He’s about 6-foot-4, 219 pounds now. Showed up at 185-190, so he’s getting bigger and stronger. Throws it well, can beat you with mind, arm, feet. Runs really well. When he first came in, looked good running but testing numbers weren’t great. Thinks he and Trace will test 4.6 or better 40 guys. Trace ran 4.5. Tommy will be in that ballpark. In Sunday scrimmages, he’s really impressed. Team is excited about those guys moving forward. And on scout team, Tommy can mimic Sudfield from Indiana, but also Braxton Miller or those types of things with his athleticism. Doing well in school, picking up and learning material well. Fortunate to get involved with him late in the recruiting process and bring him in.
Practice this week:
Have cut back significantly the past two weeks. Have had 13 weeks straight with camp, so felt like it was the right thing to do. Still a little under scholarships, and a young team, so thought it was the right thing to do. Noticed it more this week even more than last. Energy and body language was really good, and they’re mature in getting the most out of walk-throughs and details are exactly right so they get what they need out of it. Feels good. Good plans on offense and defense. Mobile QBs can be a pain, but have a plan for that, and this is a good football team, so going to be a challenge.
Next great LB for LBU:
Have a good group right now. Tries hard not to single individuals out. This is the ultimate team game. But there are really good young guys playing well right now. Nyeem is doing a great job in the training room with a great attitude. Not sure. Great tradition and history, but will leave those discussions for fans and media. Great team football right now, and proud of how they’ve stepped up from start of the season.
Energy on the sideline:
It’s good, but always want it to be better. Addresses those things when he sees them, and doesn’t have to do it often. It’s a privilege to play for Penn State and be on the sideline. When you’re a freshman, you might not have best energy, but it’s a privilege to be there on the sideline. Von Walker has been tremendous as special team captain bringing energy up and down sideline. Coach that all the time, with how guys handle themselves. Sideline to give run and pass calls.
Non-travel group:
Guys that don’t travel come in at 6 a.m. on Friday and Galt tries to kill them because they don’t need to worry about being sore. They get after it. A different workout from the rest of the team. It’s about development and growth because they have weekend to recover. Team gets stronger during season, but freshmen are really able to grow and develop so by the start of spring ball they can compete for a job. Those 6 a.m. workouts are really important. They support each other, dreaming of future. It’s been really important.
Fan impersonating Franklin last weekend:
Always walks around stadium once they get there. It’s his 15 seconds a week to pinch himself. Walks around, thanks people in the stadium. Coming around the back of the stadium, Franklin impersonator was there. Took a picture. Really funny. When he got home last week on Thursday, doorbell rings, 13 year old kid dressed as him. That was cool. Before they played Ohio State, Urban said that the whiteout is the best college environment he’s ever been in, and only thing that comes close is night game at LSU. Great thing going at Penn State. History, traditions, support, culture. Still a lot of work to do, but truly a special place. Coaches, players, admin is so appreciative of way community rallies around him.
