Penn State's James Franklin Expects a More 'Traditional' Blue-White Game

The Nittany Lions plan to test their depth, on offense and defense, during the annual spring scrimmage.

Remember the 2022 Penn State Blue-White Game, which the Nittany Lions opened with a goal-line offensive drill, recalling the horror of the nine-overtime debacle against Illinois the year before? Fans will be spared those flashbacks Saturday, when the Blue-White Game returns to Beaver Stadium with much more of a scrimmage flow.

After a few years of enhanced public practices to protect against injuries, Penn State played a little more football during the 2023 Blue-White Game, and head coach James Franklin expects even more Saturday at Beaver Stadium. Penn State continues building depth on a roster that has won 10 regular-season games in consecutive seasons, and Franklin intends to showcase some of it for the final practice of spring drills.

"We've got some bumps and bruises, and we've had a very physical spring ball, but we expect to have more of a traditional spring game," Franklin told reporters after practice Tuesday in State College.

What does that mean? Franklin explained by saying that he wants to make this Blue-White Game "as competitive as possible." So instead of positioning most projected starters on one roster, the Lions will separate them. Which means fans might see the first-team offense and defense square off, at least early in the game.

"We're trying to divvy it up so you've got guys that you feel you can play in Big Ten games on either side of the ball and on either sideline," Franklin said.

Franklin covered several other topics in his post-practice media session. Here's a recap.

A quarterback injury

Franklin confirmed that redshirt freshman Jaxon Smolik sustained a "significant injury" that will keep him out for a "period of time." Blue-White Illustrated's Ryan Snyder first reported the news. With Smolik out, true freshman quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer has taken a larger role than expected in his first spring practice.

A trend among the defensive ends

Franklin used the same word to describe projected starting defensive ends Abdul Carter and Dani Dennis-Sutton: physical. Carter is playing end after spending two seasons at linebacker, while Dennis-Sutton worked in a rotation with starters Chop Robinson and Adisa Isaac last season.

"The transition has probable gone better and faster than I thought it would," Franklin said of Carter. "It's a different world up there. It sounds good, but it's a major difference. ... He's been physical and been explosive off the edge."

Dennis-Sutton, meanwhile, is checking in at about 270 pounds, about 10 more than last season. The junior could play some snaps inside in creative defensive formations based on Franklin's description.

"There's such a physical aspect to his game in everything," Franklin said, "in pass rush, in run defense in block destruction, and then he’s got such a motor. You’ve seen him chase plays down. He just plays the game the way you want it played."

A true freshman to watch

Offensive lineman Cooper Cousins has been among the standouts of Penn State's 2024 recruiting class. The freshman, who enrolled early, has positioned himself for early playing time at center and possibly guard based on an eye-opening spring.

"He probably came in further ahead than most guys and kind of skyrocketed up," Franklin said. "... And then like most of the guys, they kind of have a lull they have to work through, and now he's starting to pick it back up again. When he first got here, he was playing mostly at center where he's most comfortable and most experienced, and now we're playing him a little bit at guard as well. He's done a ton of really good things this spring, and I think come fall camp he's going to position himself in position to compete."

A veteran's progress

Don't expect to see much from tight end Tyler Warren on Saturday. Franklin has managed the veteran's reps this spring, and the coaching staff knows what to expect from their All-Big Ten player. However, Franklin said that Warren still has made strides, notably in addressing some lapses in his game. He learned about many of them by submitting his name for NFL draft evaluation last season.

"That feedback you get from NFL clubs about strengths and weaknesses is valuable information for us and for the player to see what NFL teams think of what their weaknesses are, and we can really come up with a plan to attack all those in the offseason," Franklin said.

An interesting answer

The NCAA Transfer Portal reopens Monday, when football staffs begin tracking their roster management toward the 85-scholarship limit. Public accounting would have Penn State above the limit with time to get there. However, when asked about the situation after practice, Franklin answered both confidently and with intrigue.

"We’re in great shape," Franklin said. "Don’t see any of those things [being] an issue, and our math’s different than yours."

Which means that Franklin knows/expects some players will be entering the portal after the Blue-White Game.

AllPennState is the place for Penn State news, opinion and perspective on the SI.com network. Publisher Mark Wogenrich has covered Penn State for more than 20 years, tracking three coaching staffs, three Big Ten titles and a catalog of great stories. Follow him on Twitter @MarkWogenrich.