UPDATED: Saturday AM - I reached out to all the prospects again this morning to ask about last night's Zoom Call to meet Coach Yurcich. Every response I get will be added to the top post in this thread. Just scroll down.
Friday Afternoon
My Question: Can you share your thoughts on Ciarrocca leaving and Yurcich being hired? Did you know anything about this? What do you think about the move? Appreciate as much feedback as possible?
OL Landon Tengwall: I don't know much about Coach Yurcich, but I have all the faith in the world that Coach Franklin would only bring in the best of the best, and I can't wait to work with him.
TE Jerry Cross: I feel great about it. Coach Yurcich has a great background known at Texas and Ohio State. I feel like it was a great hire that could help our tight end room show our full potential, and really, just expand our offensive attack as a whole. Yes, I knew about the move before it was announced.
Ath. Mehki Flowers: No problems over here. I think it was a great move. I actually went back and seen the offense he put together at Texas and its pretty dope, so I think that it's a great addition to the staff. It came as a surprise to me today, but a good one.
QB Beau Pribula: It was a surprise to me. When I found out, I was pretty shocked. I found out via Twitter and it was the first I'd heard about it. After all, college football is a business, so I understand there will have to be business decisions. I had a very good relationship with Coach Ciarrocca and was very comfortable with him. However, Coach Yurcich has recruited me in the past, so I do know him.
- Pribula easily had the best relationship with Ciarrocca, so I do think that this impacts him the most. With that said, he's also a Penn State kid through and through. I think once the shock of this drops a bit, everything will be OK.
OL Drew Shelton: I really liked Coach Ciarrocca as a person. He was always a cool guy to talk to. He knew a ton about my area and a couple of guys I grew up with because he recruited them as well, so I'm gonna miss talking to him over the phone and on Zoom. I don't know much about Coach Yurcich, but I'm excited to get to know him and keep this thing rolling. We were informed this was coming and we are going to have a Zoom meeting tonight to meet him.
ADDED: 2:00 p.m.
OL Nate Bruce - We just found out Yurcich is great at his job, and I feel he will be the reason for a lot of points and W's coming up. I have all the faith in Coach Franklin and anybody he brings onto the staff. I can't wait to learn and get to work.
ADDED: 6:20 p.m.
TE Holden Staes: I'm definitely excited about the move. We found out this morning and were informed about the change. Seeing what Coach Yurcich has done at his previous schools with the offensive production is very impressive. I'm excited to get to know him and see what's in store.
Saturday Updates
Added: Sat. - 9:30 AM
Kaden Saunders on Yurcich and Friday night's Zoom Call
- General Thoughts on Yurcich
Saunders: I like the Coach Yurcich hire. He's gonna bring something to this offense that hasn't been there before. We are gonna be fun to watch. Coach Franklin wanted to share it with us before the public, but some of us are in school, so we had to wait until last night to do the Zoom call.
- On Friday night's Zoom Call
Saunders: Coach Franklin explained why he made the move and Coach Yurcich just introduced himself and gave a little bit of information about himself and what he plans to do to make our offense better overall and more explosive. He said we will be one of the most fun teams to watch in the country and he plans on helping us achieve the goals we want to achieve. I really liked him.
Added: Sat. - 12:00 p.m.
Liam Clifford on last night's Zoom Call
- When asked about Friday night's Zoom Call
Clifford: I actually wasn't able to make it on the Zoom yesterday. I had a family commitment, but after the Zoom, I actually got a call from our new OC Coach Yurcich. He just wanted to introduce himself and get a chance to talk to me, which was nice of him to do and meant a lot knowing how busy yesterday must have been for him. So, that really went a long way for me. He made a really great first impression.
- When asked what stood out about their talk
Clifford: It really stood out to me that he said he had already watched my film and was super excited about getting me there. But also, just how excited he sounded over the phone, not only talking about me, but just the new job overall. He seemed like a great guy that I can go to at any point if I have questions or whatever it may be. He's also definitely someone who wants to get down to business and obviously win a lot of games
Added: Sat. - 12:15 p.m.
Beau Pribula on last night's Zoom Call
- On what James Franklin said about making this move
Pribula: Coach Franklin explained it was all timing. Coach Yurcich was available, so it was an opportunity he couldn't pass up.
- On Coach Yurcich and what stood out about him as an individual
Pribula: Coach Yurcich explained his journey which is pretty incredible. Starting off at Shippensburrg, a D2 school that my dad actually played football at, to going straight to Oklahoma State and tearing it up there. Then, to OSU and Texas, now Penn State. It's impressive. Coach Yurcich is a very passionate and emotional guy. He's a competitor and that's something I'm really drawn to.
Added: Sat. - 1:30 p.m.
Holden Staes on last night's Zoom Call
- On what James Franklin said about making this move
Staes: The call was good. Coach Franklin just talked to the 21's and 22’s about what went behind the decision to hire Coach Yurcich. We all introduced ourselves to him and then he just talked to us about his coaching philosophy. [Franklin] just felt that in order to get PSU to where we all want it to be, which is the playoff, he needed at change at OC. He said he loves Yurcich's aggressive style of play-calling and his previous success at OK State, Texas and OSU.
- On Coach Yurcich and what stood out about him as an individual
Staes: I definitely like his personality. He was already fired up in the call last night. His past offenses are definitely impressive and I’m excited to see what he does with PSU, especially the tight ends because I feel like this is the best room he’s ever had at the position.
Added: Sat. - 6:35 p.m.
Drew Shelton on last night's Zoom Call
- On what James Franklin said about making this move
Shelton: He didn't really say much other than [Yurcich] is a PA guy and his offense has had a lot of production over the years.
- On Coach Yurcich and what stood out about him as an individual
Shelton: I think he's a cool guy. He's very passionate and wants to bring the best out of everyone.
Christian Veilleux on last night's Zoom Call
- On Coach Yurcich and what stood out about him as an individual
Veilleux: I think his personality is great. You can tell he's a high energy type of guy who's very passionate about what he does. I was able to talk to him 1-on-1, too, and he said he's definitely excited to coach me and he's excited about what I bring to the table. He thinks this offense is a great fit for me and he's excited to coach me.
Friday Afternoon
My Question: Can you share your thoughts on Ciarrocca leaving and Yurcich being hired? Did you know anything about this? What do you think about the move? Appreciate as much feedback as possible?
OL Landon Tengwall: I don't know much about Coach Yurcich, but I have all the faith in the world that Coach Franklin would only bring in the best of the best, and I can't wait to work with him.
TE Jerry Cross: I feel great about it. Coach Yurcich has a great background known at Texas and Ohio State. I feel like it was a great hire that could help our tight end room show our full potential, and really, just expand our offensive attack as a whole. Yes, I knew about the move before it was announced.
Ath. Mehki Flowers: No problems over here. I think it was a great move. I actually went back and seen the offense he put together at Texas and its pretty dope, so I think that it's a great addition to the staff. It came as a surprise to me today, but a good one.
QB Beau Pribula: It was a surprise to me. When I found out, I was pretty shocked. I found out via Twitter and it was the first I'd heard about it. After all, college football is a business, so I understand there will have to be business decisions. I had a very good relationship with Coach Ciarrocca and was very comfortable with him. However, Coach Yurcich has recruited me in the past, so I do know him.
- Pribula easily had the best relationship with Ciarrocca, so I do think that this impacts him the most. With that said, he's also a Penn State kid through and through. I think once the shock of this drops a bit, everything will be OK.
OL Drew Shelton: I really liked Coach Ciarrocca as a person. He was always a cool guy to talk to. He knew a ton about my area and a couple of guys I grew up with because he recruited them as well, so I'm gonna miss talking to him over the phone and on Zoom. I don't know much about Coach Yurcich, but I'm excited to get to know him and keep this thing rolling. We were informed this was coming and we are going to have a Zoom meeting tonight to meet him.
ADDED: 2:00 p.m.
OL Nate Bruce - We just found out Yurcich is great at his job, and I feel he will be the reason for a lot of points and W's coming up. I have all the faith in Coach Franklin and anybody he brings onto the staff. I can't wait to learn and get to work.
ADDED: 6:20 p.m.
TE Holden Staes: I'm definitely excited about the move. We found out this morning and were informed about the change. Seeing what Coach Yurcich has done at his previous schools with the offensive production is very impressive. I'm excited to get to know him and see what's in store.
Saturday Updates
Added: Sat. - 9:30 AM
Kaden Saunders on Yurcich and Friday night's Zoom Call
- General Thoughts on Yurcich
Saunders: I like the Coach Yurcich hire. He's gonna bring something to this offense that hasn't been there before. We are gonna be fun to watch. Coach Franklin wanted to share it with us before the public, but some of us are in school, so we had to wait until last night to do the Zoom call.
- On Friday night's Zoom Call
Saunders: Coach Franklin explained why he made the move and Coach Yurcich just introduced himself and gave a little bit of information about himself and what he plans to do to make our offense better overall and more explosive. He said we will be one of the most fun teams to watch in the country and he plans on helping us achieve the goals we want to achieve. I really liked him.
Added: Sat. - 12:00 p.m.
Liam Clifford on last night's Zoom Call
- When asked about Friday night's Zoom Call
Clifford: I actually wasn't able to make it on the Zoom yesterday. I had a family commitment, but after the Zoom, I actually got a call from our new OC Coach Yurcich. He just wanted to introduce himself and get a chance to talk to me, which was nice of him to do and meant a lot knowing how busy yesterday must have been for him. So, that really went a long way for me. He made a really great first impression.
- When asked what stood out about their talk
Clifford: It really stood out to me that he said he had already watched my film and was super excited about getting me there. But also, just how excited he sounded over the phone, not only talking about me, but just the new job overall. He seemed like a great guy that I can go to at any point if I have questions or whatever it may be. He's also definitely someone who wants to get down to business and obviously win a lot of games
Added: Sat. - 12:15 p.m.
Beau Pribula on last night's Zoom Call
- On what James Franklin said about making this move
Pribula: Coach Franklin explained it was all timing. Coach Yurcich was available, so it was an opportunity he couldn't pass up.
- On Coach Yurcich and what stood out about him as an individual
Pribula: Coach Yurcich explained his journey which is pretty incredible. Starting off at Shippensburrg, a D2 school that my dad actually played football at, to going straight to Oklahoma State and tearing it up there. Then, to OSU and Texas, now Penn State. It's impressive. Coach Yurcich is a very passionate and emotional guy. He's a competitor and that's something I'm really drawn to.
Added: Sat. - 1:30 p.m.
Holden Staes on last night's Zoom Call
- On what James Franklin said about making this move
Staes: The call was good. Coach Franklin just talked to the 21's and 22’s about what went behind the decision to hire Coach Yurcich. We all introduced ourselves to him and then he just talked to us about his coaching philosophy. [Franklin] just felt that in order to get PSU to where we all want it to be, which is the playoff, he needed at change at OC. He said he loves Yurcich's aggressive style of play-calling and his previous success at OK State, Texas and OSU.
- On Coach Yurcich and what stood out about him as an individual
Staes: I definitely like his personality. He was already fired up in the call last night. His past offenses are definitely impressive and I’m excited to see what he does with PSU, especially the tight ends because I feel like this is the best room he’s ever had at the position.
Added: Sat. - 6:35 p.m.
Drew Shelton on last night's Zoom Call
- On what James Franklin said about making this move
Shelton: He didn't really say much other than [Yurcich] is a PA guy and his offense has had a lot of production over the years.
- On Coach Yurcich and what stood out about him as an individual
Shelton: I think he's a cool guy. He's very passionate and wants to bring the best out of everyone.
Christian Veilleux on last night's Zoom Call
- On Coach Yurcich and what stood out about him as an individual
Veilleux: I think his personality is great. You can tell he's a high energy type of guy who's very passionate about what he does. I was able to talk to him 1-on-1, too, and he said he's definitely excited to coach me and he's excited about what I bring to the table. He thinks this offense is a great fit for me and he's excited to coach me.
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