Live blog: Updates, photos, stories and more from Penn State football Media Day
CDT staff
With the start of the 2021 Penn State football season just a month away, head coach James Franklin and the Nittany Lions took time to meet with the media on Saturday at Beaver Stadium.
Media day is the one day a year when all of Penn State’s football coaches, coordinators, assistants and players (except first-year players and freshman) are available to speak to. Franklin’s press conference kicks off at 12:15 p.m., followed by the coordinators at 12:50 p.m.
Here’s what’s happened so far:
A look inside Penn State football practice this evening. pic.twitter.com/Y8kqrHeSdf
— Abby Drey (@ADreyPhotos) August 8, 2021
#PennState DT PJ Mustipher on his senior leadership: “I love being a leader of this team, a leader of this D-Line — being a leader is great. It’s what I was born to do I feel like. It’s what I prepared to do my whole life and with it being my senior season, I’m ready to take off.
— Kyle J. Andrews (@KyleJAndrews_) August 8, 2021
Penn State football’s Keaton Ellis (@_keatonellis) talks a little bit about how his transition to safety is going. “I’m feeling really comfortable back there.” pic.twitter.com/QAkC821dTA
— Lauren Muthler (@lmuth1259) August 7, 2021
Penn State football’s Keaton Ellis (@_keatonellis) talks a little bit about how his transition to safety is going. “I’m feeling really comfortable back there.” pic.twitter.com/QAkC821dTA
— Lauren Muthler (@lmuth1259) August 7, 2021
I got lots of videos at Penn State football media availability this afternoon that will be coming to you over the next few weeks before the season starts. I took limited photos but check back later for a look inside practice! pic.twitter.com/La4WgwYrq1
— Abby Drey (@ADreyPhotos) August 7, 2021
They are…#PennState pic.twitter.com/ueefaZtixV
— Kyle J. Andrews (@KyleJAndrews_) August 7, 2021
Yurcich says he likes to use three running backs in a game, but says there will be weeks where he wants four and that there is no cap on that number.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) August 7, 2021
Yurcich says the receiver room isn't where it needs to be yet.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) August 7, 2021
"We're always going to have that mentality. ... There has to be an attitude, a relentless pursuit, to get better and improve."
Mike Yurcich speaking now says Sean Clifford has high upside.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) August 7, 2021
"He's a tremendous leader. Sean is all about helping this team win. He's willing to do whatever it takes."
Brent Pry says that he expects Curtis Jacobs (@CurtisUpNext23) to take a big leap as both a leader and a football player this season. He says that Jacobs asks a ton of questions and is inquisitive in practice, which allows him for him to grow.
— Kyle J. Andrews (@KyleJAndrews_) August 7, 2021
Pry says Jaquan Brisker has surprised him with his leadership.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) August 7, 2021
"He's speaking out. He's holding guys accountable."
Jonathan Sutherland is playing safety but also playing SAM linebacker, per Pry.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) August 7, 2021
An update on @coachjfranklin noting his daughter is in the hospital. Talked to him quickly after the presser and he said it is for precautionary reasons. Best wishes to her and the family.
— Mark Brennan (@MarkXBrennan) August 7, 2021
Pry: "Keaton (Ellis) is primarily playing free safety right now."
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) August 7, 2021
Says Marquis Wilson is primarily working with the defense, but will also have a role offensively.
Amin Vanover has moved outside to defensive end. Pry says he's a "swing guy" on the defensive line.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) August 7, 2021
Pry says the guy he's most excited to see in camp is Smith Vilbert.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) August 7, 2021
"He's got tremendous size, tremendous length, (he's) athletic."
Pry says it's still a "1-2 punch" at inside linebacker with Ellis Brooks and Jesse Luketa. Adds that Tyler Elsdon has impressed as well.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) August 7, 2021
Lorig says Stout is first in line to punt this season, but says the number of jobs he wins could affect that.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) August 7, 2021
Joe Lorig was roommates with James Franklin at Idaho State in 1999.
— Audrey Snyder (@audsnyder4) August 7, 2021
"He was messy. He was not a very good communicator all the time," Lorig said, smiling. "He's a below-average roommate."
Lorig said Jaquan Brisker is in the mix to return kicks.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) August 7, 2021
"He's got good ball skills, he's a tremendous decision-maker."
Franklin on new offense:
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) August 7, 2021
"We're running most of the same plays we've always run. It's more about packaging, it's more about presentation."
Franklin on the coronavirus pandemic: "I am asking, and pleading for everybody to do everything they possibly can to give us the best chance to get back to what … we would probably describe as normal."
— Daniel Gallen (@danieljtgallen) August 7, 2021
In terms of QB Sean Clifford’s development, Franklin believes that it’s tough to have multiple offensive coordinators. He mentioned that on the flip side, it allows players to learn more and different techniques.
— Kyle J. Andrews (@KyleJAndrews_) August 7, 2021
Franklin: "All of us making choices and sacrificing together is going to give us the opportunity to fill that stadium up."
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) August 7, 2021
Franklin, while emphasizing the need for people to get vaccinated, says his daughter is in the hospital right now.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) August 7, 2021
Franklin on offense: "We need to be shooting on all cylinders come Week 1."
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) August 7, 2021
Franklin says that he wants structure in practice for installation of the offense and defense. Base looks, then blitz/exotic looks and they've been more aggressive in camp with the different formations that they've added.
— Kyle J. Andrews (@KyleJAndrews_) August 7, 2021
Franklin says Mike Yurcich's offense is similar to what team did with Joe Moorhead, emphasizing spread concepts and getting the ball to playmakers in space.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) August 7, 2021
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Penn State football DE Adisa Isaac likely out for season, coach James Franklin says
Adisa Isaac had an offseason injury and will most likely not be available for the season, per Franklin.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) August 7, 2021
Franklin says Jesse Luketa will split his time between LB and DE, but more of his time will be spent at DE in training camp because he already has experience at LB.
— Jon Sauber (@JonSauber) August 7, 2021
James Franklin says that their offensive identity will stay similar to what they’ve had with spreading out the field and staying explosive under new offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich. #PennState
— Kyle J. Andrews (@KyleJAndrews_) August 7, 2021
First time in the press box at Beaver Stadium. pic.twitter.com/I8JywjcNPS
— Kyle J. Andrews (@KyleJAndrews_) August 7, 2021
This story was originally published August 7, 2021 at 12:02 PM.