Franklin talks about Penn State’s ‘drama-free’ signing day, transfer portal, tampering and more
National Signing Day can be chaotic for college programs. Commitments can change their minds at the last moment and flip to another school, leaving the original program with an empty spot and little time to fill it.
Look around college football and you’ll see announcements being made and a head coach somewhere holding their breath.
Not at Penn State, though.
The Nittany Lions locked up their 25 commitments with signatures on the first day of the early signing period, avoiding the drama and chaos that burdens other teams around the country.
Penn State head coach James Franklin made note of why he thinks that’s the case for his program.
“In 2023, there’s a lot to be said for a drama-free signing day,” he said. “Again, I think we take that for granted. I think it’s very telling about the staff and how thorough and detailed we are. I think it’s very telling about our process; that we don’t pressure guys to commit. I also think it’s very telling about the type of young men we recruit, the families that they come from and the high school coaches and people they are surrounded with, so that’s been great and I’m very, very appreciative of that.”
That didn’t happen without the potential for drama, either. Franklin has hired two new coordinators this month in offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki and defensive coordinator Tom Allen, giving recruits plenty of reason to reconsider their college choice.
Fortunately for Franklin and his staff, that didn’t occur.
“When you have a change, and specifically at a coordinator position, that can be unsettling,” Franklin said. “So being able to get that position filled as soon as possible while also being thorough and detailed, there’s a ton of value in that. ... Trusting us. Being able to show them a pattern of success and a pattern of decision-making, that has helps with that. I think all of those things have been a part of trying to limit that drama as much we possibly can.”
Tampering in the transfer portal
Franklin had previously mentioned issues with the transfer portal and other teams tampering with players, but athletic director Pat Kraft, who spoke Wednesday afternoon, gave a specific example.
“It’s everywhere now and yes, we talk about it ad nauseam,” Kraft said. “I think it is — we say this but it really is the wild, Wild West right now. I’ll give you a perfect example. We were in Las Vegas for (offensive tackle Olu Fashanu’s) award. He was nominated for the Campbell Trophy. And on our way there, we got an e-mail of eight athletes, one of which was our own, who was not in the portal, and an agent was saying, “Hey, are you interested in him?” One of them was our (player) — and was not in the portal. (The agent) was just shopping athletes around.”
That has become a hot topic and major issue in college football and Kraft said those things have been reported.
“I was not very happy that was happening, and went to the NCAA officials there and shared it with them,” he said. “We are trying to communicate everything we see, and it’s hard because some people are showing it to you, some people aren’t, you know, and it’s just a really difficult spot to be in. And they are putting the student-athletes in a really tough spot, too.”
Impact of early enrolling
Penn State will have 16 players enroll early from the 25-player class, including quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer, giving them a head start on their freshman season.
While the class is deep with players at positions of strength for Penn State, getting to campus in January should put those players in position to play earlier than anticipated.
“I think obviously when you’re able to get guys on campus earlier, I don’t think it’s the end all be all but it helps,” Franklin said. “I mean, when they are here in the spring, learning the system, getting comfortable, getting a feel, it allows them to be better positioned to legitimately compete in the summer and during training camp.”
Wide receivers coach and offensive recruiting coordinator Marques Hagans said he’s never been on a staff with a class that had so many early enrollees. He professed the benefits of getting onto campus as early as possible, something he saw in action this season.
Wide receiver Dante Cephas was unable to enroll until the summer before the 2023 season, and took until later in the season to break out. That’s part of the reason Hagans said he wants to see players enroll early if they can.
“I think it just took him a while to get his feet settled,” Hagans said. “It just took him a while for everything to slow down. And hopefully now his trajectory continues to grow. ... If you can get guys in, in January, it just gives them a better opportunity to have those growing pains and spring ball and through fall camp. So now when the season hits, they’re in a really good place.”
Adding more offensive weapons
Three of the best players in Penn State’s class all play skill positions on offense, and one should be able to contribute early. Grunkemeyer and tight end Luke Reynolds are high-end players but will likely have to wait their turn behind veterans. However, running back Quinton Martin could see the field early on offense despite being behind stars Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen.
Franklin said Martin could actually play receiver if they needed him to, and is ready to fight for time right off the bat.
“He’s coming in to one of the best running back rooms in the country,” Franklin said. “That didn’t intimidate him either. Wants to come in and compete see how things play out. And we are going to put him in position to do so.”
The Nittany Lions still have more additions to make in the transfer portal, though, and none may be more important than at wide receiver. Hagans said any player who joins would have to elevate the room as a whole.
“If we were gonna bring in a guy, we’re gonna bring in a guy that we feel like can help elevate the competition level in the room, that can help elevate the consistency in the room, the work ethic and the toughness,” Hagans said. “So hypothetically, if we were gonna bring in someone, they would have to check those boxes.”
Quick hitters
- Penn State cornerbacks coach Terry Smith said on the program’s livestream that three players from his group are leaving for the NFL when talking to cornerback signee Jon Mitchell. Johnny Dixon, who is out of eligibility, Kalen King and Daequan Hardy, who have eligibility remaining, were the team’s three primary cornerbacks last season.
- Kraft said the program is 30% through the design portion of the Beaver Stadium project. He also said construction on the second floor of the Lasch Building is underway.
