What to watch for from Penn State at 2023 Big Ten Media Days in Indianapolis
Penn State and the rest of the conference will take part in Big Ten Media Days across two days in Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Stadium. The Nittany Lions will take their turn Wednesday when head coach James Franklin will speak to the media along with Keaton Ellis, Olumuyiwa Fashanu and Adisa Isaac.
Here’s what to look for at the event.
Hometown captain takes the podium
Ellis will head to Indianapolis after he was named a captain this offseason in his fifth year as a Nittany Lion. This comes after he spent his high school career locally at State High as a Little Lion. Now, Ellis has ascended all the way to the top of the safety depth chart where he has a strong chance to start to begin the season.
Kraft speaks a year into his tenure
Penn State athletic director Pat Kraft will meet with the media Tuesday night ahead of media days. He’s just over a full calendar year into his time leading the athletic department and has already ushered in a new era with regard to name, image and likeness (NIL) and investment in different programs like men’s basketball where he made new head coach Mike Rhoades the highest-paid coach in program history.
The situation at quarterback
Franklin will first speak on the main stage at noon Wednesday before meeting with reporters at a smaller podium later in the afternoon. While it is assumed that sophomore quarterback Drew Allar will start as the team’s signal caller, Franklin has not made that declaration publicly. This will be the next opportunity for him to do so — even if it’s more likely to come sometime after fall camp begins in early August.
Focal point of media days
Penn State, Michigan and Ohio State all have a legitimate shot to make the College Football Playoff this season, but that won’t be the center of attention in Indianapolis. Northwestern interim head coach David Braun will speak in Lucas Oil Stadium after former head coach Pat Fitzgerald was fired amid a hazing scandal. Braun joined the program in January from North Dakota State. His first session begins at 11:45 a.m. Wednesday, 15 minutes before Franklin speaks.
