Penn State’s football players have already voted on their team captains for 2016.
In fact, they did so in early April, with more than a week remaining in spring drills.
But, if James Franklin’s SOP holds true, the public won’t find out who the Nittany Lions’ official leaders are until mid-August.
(Not to say that Penn State’s players won’t know before then, but as of Saturday’s Blue-White Game, they hadn’t been told, either.)
In Franklin’s first season at Penn State in 2014, he announced his seven captains on Aug. 13. Last year, he announced his five captains on Aug. 10. At Vanderbilt, Franklin waited as late as Aug. 29 to name his captains.
Maybe that’s because in Nashville, there were so many of them.
In his three seasons at Vandy, Franklin had 20 team captains. James likes a lot of leaders. In his five seasons as a college football head coach, Franklin has had 32 team captains – an average of 6.4 per campaign. In his 45 years as head coach, Joe Paterno had 144 team captains – an average of 3.2 per season, or half that of Franklin.
By his very nature, Franklin the college psychology major favors inclusion. He likes to involve people and make them – as well as himself – feel needed. So it is no surprise, given his propensity for large groups of player leaders, that his 2016 Leadership Council consists of 24 players – 12 seniors, six juniors, four sophomores and two freshmen.
Council members, announced in late March, are: seniors Brandon Bell, Derek Dowrey, Brian Gaia, Gregg Garrity, Malik Golden, Wendy Laurent, Paris Palmer, Evan Schwan, Jordan Smith, Von Walker, Nyeem Wartman-White and Tyler Yazujian; juniors Jason Cabinda, Chris Godwin, Grant Haley, DaeSean Hamilton, Andrew Nelson and Garrett Sickels; sophomores Saquon Barkley, Trace McSorley, John Reid and Nick Scott; and freshmen Ryan Bates and Tommy Stevens.
SUMMER LEADERS, SOME ARE NOT
But who from that group are the team’s unofficial leaders? Who will make sure the young Nittany Lions stay on track throughout the summer, when player leadership is so critical – as Franklin himself can attest.
“Like I told them,” Franklin in the minutes after the Blue-White Game, “they have to take ownership of this team from this point moving forward throughout the summer. They will be as good as they decide to be. I’m very, very pleased. We have a lot of work to do between now and camp, but I’m very, very happy with spring ball and how it opened up.”
The players know that the players have to put themselves through the paces throughout late May, June and July. During that time, they’re permitted to do mandatory strength and conditioning, and meet with Franklin and their position coaches for eight hours a week. But that’s it.
“Summer we are kind of doing our own thing,” said safety Koa Farmer. “It’s just the players. So we have to take the initiative to take it as seriously if the coaches were out there and improve on the things we need to.”
An announcement of captains notwithstanding, we already have a pretty good handle on who are – and will be — the Nittany Lions’ team leaders. That’s critically important this summer and into August practices, since the squad will be heavy in the youth department. Upwards to 70 scholarship players on the 2016 roster will have two or more years of eligibility remaining.
Of the Nittany Lions’ five captains last season, only linebacker and special teams ace Von Walker returns. He went through a quick metamorphosis last year. A former walk-on from Central Mountain High School, he earned a full ride to Penn State just days after last year’s Blue-White scrimmage.
“It was tough. I went from a walk-on to scholarship to captain right away,” said Walker. “I felt I had to say more. This year, my mindset has been more about going out there and being more positive and bringing the team together – making sure we have great chemistry. And leading by example. I want to go out and make plays.”
Each position group will have its own leader or two to drive it throughout the summer. That means engineering group texts and holding teammates accountable, on the practice field and off. This is especially true at linebacker, where Walker is part of a quartet of overall team leaders who are legitimate candidates to be captains in 2016. There’s savvy and intense Brandon Bell, and the inspirational Nyeem Wartman-White, out nearly all of last season with an ACL surgery that limited his work in the spring. Both are seniors. Junior Jason Cabinda also has a big impact on his teammates.
“Cabinda is a role model to look up to,” said defensive tackle Kevin Givens. “He’s always on time, he’s always asking questions, he does what he has to do in games.”
PRY’S TAKE
Defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Brent Pry, who works with the ’backers every day in practice, likes their intangibles.
“There are some guys who really jump out,” said Pry, talking about leadership. “You say Nyeem and Brandon — certainly with them there’s a lot of experience, proven players in the field. You can put Jason Cabinda in that conversation. He’s done a tremendous job this spring. Not just calling the defense, but leading the defense, commanding the defense.”
Fifth-year senior Malik Golden, who converted to safety from wide receiver several springs ago, saw considerable playing time last fall. This spring he was the primary take-charge guy in the secondary.
“I can’t say enough good things about Malik,” said Pry, who proceeded to try: “Very steady. He’s made plays. Great communicator. To me, he’s the brains in the back-end. He kind of holds it all together back there.”
Like Franklin, Pry knows the leadership of older players will be critical in determining how the Nittany Lions progress in the long, hot off-season. He mentioned defensive ends Garrett Sickels and Evan Schwan by name.
“Those guys are going to be critical to what we do this summer,” Pry said. “They want it for themselves. That’s one of the aspects you look for, to be in a leadership position, to take charge. There are some guys up front who are jumping out. Evan Schwan. Guy is tough as nails. Really determined. Had his hard hat on every day. Approached practice every day this spring like we want all of them to. He’s a guy in the front who can step up for us in a leadership capacity. Garrett Sickels is an improving player – looking for big things from Garrett. Maybe not as vocal of a guy, but from his work ethic and his play we feel pretty about it.”
ON THE OFFENSIVE
Offensively, Penn State will be looking for leadership from its starting quarterback – very likely Trace McSorley, entering his third year in the program – as well as a host of veteran receivers (led by DaeSean Hamilton and Chris Godwin) and a few seasoned offensive linemen.
Offensive tackle Andrew Nelson, entering his fourth season, has 21 starts under his belt, while senior linemate Brian Gaia has 25. Likely, Nelson is switching from right to left tackle, while Gaia has already made the switch from guard to center. Nelson thinks they’ll be among the leaders on offense – along with a name that may surprise you.
“Leaders? Me, Brian Gaia,” Nelson said after the Blue-White Game. “I think Saquon (Barkley) has stepped up into a great leadership role… He’s obviously very important and no one can downplay the type of player that Saquon is. He’s a great player. He’s really stepped up into a good leadership role.
“…Trace is a leader. Our receivers. Hammy – he’s a great leader. Offensively, I think we come together and complement each other well. There’s no one on this offense who isn’t hungry right now. Not only for himself individually, but for the offense and the team.”
Walker sees additional leadership coming from the senior class, as well as from some younger players.
“Most of the seniors who came in with me are going to lead the group,” Walker said. “There are some other younger guys, too. Trace has done an amazing job. Tommy (Stevens) has been awesome. Nick Scott and Mark Allen are extremely hard workers and are extremely positive guys to have around.”
YOUTH WILL BE SERVED
Those younger players are key. From his vantage point, Walker says the quality of those being led has an impact on those who lead.
“The biggest thing is that when the new guys come in the older guys take them under their wing,” Walker said. “We do a really good job of getting along with each other, of knowing each other. We don’t do a lot of team-building stuff, it’s just the fact that we’re around each other all day. We’re around each other so much.
“We’re a young team with even more young guys coming in, but they’re really good guys. The recruiting has been incredible. They’re recruiting some really good dudes.”
