Penn State Must Be 'Very Intentional' This Summer, James Franklin Says
Penn State's offseason resumes this week, as players begin returning to campus and new enrollees arrive. Coach James Franklin referred to this stretch of summer as a vital stretch of self-driven training before training camp begins in August.
"The coaches and the players, we have to be very intentional about what we do between now and West Virginia," Franklin said. "They need to have a personal plan: What do I need to get better at? What do I do well? What do I need to work on to be a more complete player?"
The player-run offseason begins now. Here's what the Lions are planning.
'We Can't Throw Enough All Summer'
Penn State already has introduced quarterback Drew Allar to the world, where he'll meet stratospheric expectations. Allar hasn't started a game but already has Heisman Trophy odds. Which is why Franklin sent Allar and his teammates on offense into summer with this directive.
"We've just got to grind through it, and we can't throw enough," Franklin said. "Our quarterbacks, wide receivers, tight ends, running backs, we cannot throw enough all summer. ... Having Holuba wide open all summer no matter what the weather is, to be able to throw, is going to be really valuable for us."
Allar said he and the quarterbacks are taking that as a challenge. Last summer, while its weight room was under renovation, players lifted in Holuba Hall, reducing their ability to throw much in there. This summer, the building is empty, which means Allar plans to book it often for passing drills and player-run 7-on-7 practices. "We won't have any problems getting people there," he said.
"[Franklin] knows how good we can be, and we know how good we can be in the pass game, but we’re not there right now," Allar said. "We got a lot better through the spring. This summer is going to be huge for us. Everybody is willing to buy into it. I'm really looking forward to summer workouts and getting our chemistry down."
Key to that chemistry are the transfer receivers, particularly new enrollee Dante Cephas. The former Kent State receiver is the most exciting player Penn State has added from the transfer portal and could be the third starter Franklin sought all spring. In fact, Cephas has the potential to become an impact receiver with KeAndre Lambert-Smith, whose anticipated breakthrough would turn the offense loose.
Welcoming the Second Wave of Freshmen
Eleven freshmen enrolled early, while another 12 will join the roster this summer. Some of those freshmen made notable spring impacts, including linebacker Tony Rojas, who led the defense in tackles at the Blue-White Game.
The next wave of freshmen includes some intriguing players, notably a pair of running backs who bring promise to the room. One player to watch is London Montgomery, who missed his senior year at Scranton Prep due to injury but has a compelling future. He rushed for 2,356 yards and 36 touchdowns as a junior, and Franklin predicted that Montgomery might have run for 3,000 as a senior but for the injury.
"When you get hurt and don't play your senior year, there's not a lot of people talking about you," Franklin said. "You watch his junior year tape, it's really good. ... The more people you talk to about his personality, the more you get to know him, the type of impact he has on others, it's really strong."
A New Group of Transfers
Running back Trey Potts leads a group of transfers who will join Penn State's roster this summer. Potts, who played four seasons at Minnesota, instantly becomes the oldest scholarship running back in Penn State's room. He also brings some unique complementary elements to an offense that is poised to feature sophomore backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen.
In addition, defensive tackle Alonzo Ford joins Penn State's roster from Old Dominion, where he made 3.5 sacks last season. Ford bolsters a position that Franklin sought to upgrade during the offseason. The Lions also added offensive lineman Addison Penn, a walk-on, from Duke.
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