Penn State football is four days and three practices into the 2025 fall season, as James Franklin, his coaches and players met with the local media on Saturday to preview a season for which fans, media and the Nittany Lion head coach himself are expecting Very Big Things.
Prior to the sessions, the media had a sneak peek at the inside of Beaver Stadium and the temporary west side stands and press box level. (See No. 2.) Construction crews were at work on the upper deck on Saturday. It appears as if much of the bleacher installment is done, as the highly-anticipated season — No. 12 at Penn State for Franklin (101-42 overall, 13-3 in 2024) — looms. Penn State’s season kicks off at 3:30 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 30 vs. Nevada.
Here are 10 takeaways from Franklin’s press conference:
1. After Saturday, three practices down, while summer test results were up. Franklin: “We had a really good summer period. The testing numbers have backed it up. We have 12 years of data to compare and contrast in terms of strength numbers, in terms of speed, so that data has been impressive. Chuck Losey and his staff continue to do a phenomenal job.”
2. Beaver Stadium renovation momentum and excitement are building, as Franklin dropped a West Shore Home Field reference. Franklin: “West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium may look different, but we know this place is going to be rocking like it is every single year and probably just like me, I walked into the stadium and from the inside of the stadium looking up, it’s really impressive what they have been able to do with the temporary bleachers and things like that. So, excited about that.”
3. His team is healthy, but… Blue White Illustrated reported on Saturday that veteran wide receiver Kaden Saunders, who played only four games last season due to an injury, will be out for a lengthy period of time again this season due to another injury. Franklin: “The injury list is not great right now. But, after today’s practice, it’ll change things…we had some injuries that required some surgeries and things like that at the end of the season. Those players are going to be considered limited until we’ve had a padded practice to show that they’re able to do that.”
4. Expectations are sky high. Franklin: “I don’t really feel like the expectations have changed. The expectations in the Lasch Building are always high. The expectations in Beaver Stadium are always high. The expectations in this community are always really high. That’s a big reason why I came here. That’s a big reason why our players chose here. To your point, are there more conversations and maybe heightened conversations going on nationally? Yes.”
5. There are a wide variety of options at wide receiver. Make that experienced options, with transfers Trebor Pena (Syracuse), Kyron Hudson (USC) and Devonte Ross (Troy). The trio’s combined career stats: 119 games, 310 receptions, 3,337 receiving yards, 11.7-yards per catch average and 32 touchdown catches. Franklin: “The biggest thing is, they are veterans who have already produced.”
6. James is a tight end Khalil Dinkins STAN. (Note to older readers: A STAN is an extremely or excessively enthusiastic and devoted fan of a particular celebrity, fictional character or cultural phenomenon). Franklin: “Khalil did all the dirty work for us last year. He caught a ton of touchdown passes. His touchdown-to-catch ratio was really good. Big, strong, physical. His improvement since he stepped on campus has been so dramatic.”
7. Best personnel since 2014. An already popular James preseason refrain. Franklin: “I said it at Big Ten media days, when you look at all of our personnel — not just the players, but the staff and players — it’s the best combination that we’ve had in my 12 years here…The depth, the talent, the experience is impressive.”
8. No embarrassment about the riches on the offensive line. The O-line is deep, with Nick Dawkins, Drew Shelton, Cooper Cousins, Vega Iaone, Anthony Donkoh and Nolan Rucci. Penn State has 22-25 offensive linemen on its roster, compared to just four, Franklin said, when he arrived in 2014. Franklin: “There’s tremendous competition. I’m not sure how it’s going to work out. What we’re trying to do is, ‘How do we get the best five guys on the field?’”
9. Who is QB2? Your guess is as good as Franklin’s. If you want to know who will be the backup to starting quarterback Drew Allar in 2025 — Ethan Grunkmeyer or Jaxon Smolik — you may have to wait until after Allar graduates. Franklin: “It could continue throughout the entire year…If it’s close all season, it could go into the next year.”
10. Micah Parsons is on line 2. The former Nittany Lions star is embroiled in a public and nasty contract dispute with the Dallas Cowboys and their owner Jerry Jones. Franklin: “Went through this a couple years ago with Saquon [Barkley]. Obviously, there’s some things going on with Micah, and we had a chance to speak yesterday.”
