Photos by Kathy Reed

By Dom Reed

UNIVERSITY PARK – Penn State Annual Media Day took place at Beaver Stadium at West Shore Stadium  Holuba Hall and Pegula on Saturday morning.

Penn State is coming off an stellar season marking the longest season in Penn State history. The Nittany Lions came up one game short of playing in the big game, the National Championship. Penn State is looking forward to another season with hope depending on who you ask most people have the Nittany Lions as favorites to win it all or close to it.

Camp began for the Blue and White on Wednesday.

“The guys worked hard all summer long, Penn State Football head coach James Franklin said. “I have high praise for our new coaches. In my 12 years of coaching this is the best combo, 19 letterman, dating back in the 1980’s. We’re looking forward to the season. 

Penn State had a downfall beginning the season.

“We were banged up the start camp as some guys are limited,” said Franklin.

Franklin did say that the injury report will change in a few days.

“We won’t know until we put on  the pads that will tell us more on their status. If I asked all those players if they could play of the game was tomorrow they said they would be able to.”

The veteran coach had high praise for the new coming receivers. The  focal point of this team is leadership. Pena, Kyron Hudson and Devonte Ross. He also had high praise for all the newcomers. Franklin said they all make an impact on the team.

For Penn State something major that is different will be in the defensive coordinator position.

Franklin said theres some tweaks in the defense every year.

“It doesn’t matter who is our defensive coordinator there are changes every year,” added Franklin.

Franklin had alot of good things to say about Jim Knowels.

Jim saw things similar to us,” said Franklin. What Jim is good about is installing defenses he has done that everywhere he has coached.”

The Nittany Lions knew what they were getting when they got Knowles from Ohio State.

“Don’t get me wrong I have respect for Tom Allen. I wish him nothing but the best for Allen at Clemson as he looks to guide the Tigers to a championship as Clemson are favorites to be in the same position as the Nittany Lions.

“The first part is maximizing your talent. You know so first part of it is figuring out what the players do best and putting them in the right position,” said Knowles. “I mean that the first step is certainly bringing the experience of the intangible things you need to win a national championship.”

Knowles was asked what the his emotions were when Franklin reached out to him on possibly taking the defensive coordinator job at Penn State.

“It has been a lifelong goal of mine to be at Penn State because you know how I grew up and the coaches I had as a youth were big Penn State guys you know,” said Knowles. “So it was kind of drummed into me that this was the premier place in college football. So you know it was exciting. You know I spoke with Coach Franklin in the past and it never worked out so it just felt like it was a place I was supposed to be changing.”

The new defensive coordinator and former National Championship coach said football needs to be complicated.

“We need to find answers teaching and installing is key,” Knowles added.

Knowles was asked about Tony Rojas and his availability.

“Rojas was injured so he was late to camp.  Just seeing him in just a couple of days he has been great,” said Knowles. “He has picked up things quickly and his knowledge is great in utilizing his talents.

When asked about Zane Durant. “ Durant makes tackles and uses up blocks,” said Knowles. “His production has changed the way you plan defenses. We can build around him and our depth.”

Penn State has been well known for its defense one in particular was rising star Zane Durant.

“I have alot of confidence coming into this season after what I did last season,” Zane Durant said. “Last year was an big step for my career. I think I just had to continue growing and try to find new ways of improving it.

Durant was asked what he’s most looking forward to going into this season, his response was automatic.

“I’m just trying to grow. We have a lot of guys that came back,” said Durant. “The older vets have all bought in and committed to it.We feel like we have some stuff that we left out there last year. So I feel like this year we just need to come back and we just have to improve.”

Durant is coming off a year were he earned All-Big Ten second team honors and was awarded Academic All Big Ten honors last season.

For Penn State it was a big question on how they would handle the receiver room. The Nittany LIons explored the transfer portal.

One of which was newcomer Trebor Pena. He spent last season with Syracuse and he brings with him experience.

“I’m just looking forward to competing and becoming a better player and helping contribute to the team,” Trebor Pena said. “Last year is behind me and it’s time to focus on this year and becoming the best football players we can be individually and as a team I’m looking forward to making bonds with my teammates and grow with them on and off the field.

One of the questions is what does Penn State bring with them on the offensive side of the ball.

Andy Kotelnicki was asked about what hes expecting from quarterback Drew Allar,” said Kotelnicki. “I’m looking for him to extend plays and be more mobile. Communication will be key and would like to communicate with him more than just as a coach.  What we do and how we do it and it helps me evaluate him more.

When it comes to the quarterback position, Franklin said both Jaxon Smolik and Ethan Grunkenmire both look good in camp and there could be a stretch into the season on who could be the backup.

Franklin even said it could go as far into next season and he wouldn’t rule out anything.

Kotelnicki praised the maturity and how he values his players and the new players all the guys are showing what they can do in camp.

“We have a new team and a new program and you have to envolve and identify what that team is and access things,” Kotelnicki said. There is a lot of things that are routine but every year the team is new and you have to evaluate. Our job is to be looking into ways to improve. In different areas there’s new ways we can introduce to them, it could be football or technique.

When asked what Kotelnicki thinks on what it will take to win the big games which he and Penn State have failed to do, the coach has looked inward to look to improve it in the upcoming season.

“It’s part of a self reflection after a full 16 game season right in terms of winning big games,” Kotelnicki said. It really comes down to the same things, it always does guys taking care of the football. You’re being exposed to football team and we need to do that in critical games You know the reality is if we hadn’t turned the ball over which i blame myself for those, if we don’t turn the ball over in those big games we win those big games. We have worked all spring and summer to fix those things and find ways to get better and we have done those things all spring and summer.

Penn State has a lot of competition on special teams.  Second year coach Justin Lustig spoke to the media.

“One thing is I have alot more answers to your questions than last year,” said Lustig. “Zion Tracey has progressed well.  There’s a lot of competition Devonte Ross Pena Tyseer Denmark Josiah Brown Koby Howard all are options in the return game when asked about whether or not the team will use Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen in the return game Lustig said that will be a game week decision week to week we will look at the weakness of other teams to determine that.

Penn State looks to build off a remarkable season last year when they open up at home against a non conference opponent Nevada. The Nittany LIons open the season with three home games before a bye week then Oregon comes to town for the White Out game.

Penn State Opens as a 45.5 point favorite according to CBS.