SIAP Franklin's comments regarding Aaron Donald

[LandoComando]

Penn State coach: ‘Aaron Donald has hurt college football and defensive tackles’

Penn State coach James Franklin is a big fan of Aaron Donald, but he says Donald "has hurt college football and defensive tackles"

www.yahoo.com

I understand what he's trying to say and maybe this comes from him being frustrated about our DTs being undersized (that's by their choice?) but curious to see what, if any, impact these comments will have on elite DL recruits that might want to play at 280-290

 

[lazydave841]

Penn State coach: ‘Aaron Donald has hurt college football and defensive tackles’

Penn State coach James Franklin is a big fan of Aaron Donald, but he says Donald "has hurt college football and defensive tackles"

www.yahoo.com

I understand what he's trying to say and maybe this comes from him being frustrated about our DTs being undersized (that's by their choice?) but curious to see what, if any, impact these comments will have on elite DL recruits that might want to play at 280-290

Off season article reaching for a subject. Would be better if somebody could dig deeper into the subject. Our OL put on some big weight. Why didn't our DTs? Will Artis break into the rotation due to his size?

Our DTs aren't undersized; our DEs are. It was really only noticeable vs Michigan last year.

As for elite DT prospects, who was our last one? Mustipher was a top 125 kid. Highest rated in years. If you aren't getting any, it's hard to do worse. So I say zero impact.

 

[LandoComando]

Off season article reaching for a subject. Would be better if somebody could dig deeper into the subject. Our OL put on some big weight. Why didn't our DTs? Will Artis break into the rotation due to his size?

Our DTs aren't undersized; our DEs are. It was really only noticeable vs Michigan last year.

As for elite DT prospects, who was our last one? Mustipher was a top 125 kid. Highest rated in years. If you aren't getting any, it's hard to do worse. So I say zero impact.

That's fair...maybe this is why we don't get any lol

 

[scrivener]

Off season article reaching for a subject. Would be better if somebody could dig deeper into the subject. Our OL put on some big weight. Why didn't our DTs? Will Artis break into the rotation due to his size?

Our DTs aren't undersized; our DEs are. It was really only noticeable vs Michigan last year.

As for elite DT prospects, who was our last one? Mustipher was a top 125 kid. Highest rated in years. If you aren't getting any, it's hard to do worse. So I say zero impact.

Sans, PJ, our DT's are a bit undersized. And, yes, it showed up against Michigan again -- the best team in the league the last two years. Maybe getting a bit bigger and more rugged up front would help. Look at Mazi Smith and Mike Morris for Michigan on the DL...those guys are large and space eaters....JF prefers smaller, more leverage based mobile guys...pros and cons to either.

 

[LandoComando]

Sans, PJ, our DT's are a bit undersized. And, yes, it showed up against Michigan again -- the best team in the league the last two years. Maybe getting a bit bigger and more rugged up front would help. Look at Mazi Smith and Mike Morris for Michigan on the DL...those guys are large and space eaters....JF prefers smaller, more leverage based mobile guys...pros and cons to either.

This article suggests Franklin doesn't prefer smaller guys though

 

[Wallace Breen]

This article suggests Franklin doesn't prefer smaller guys though

Stated vs. demonstrated preference. While he may not have a preference for smaller linemen, his recruiting strategy and coaching philosophy means we will have smaller linemen in general. We recruit 7 tech and wide linemen well, but don't recruit 0/1, 3 well at all, or in the case of 5 tech ends, not at all.