Everything Penn State coach James Franklin said following the Lions’ latest practice

James Franklin met with reporters for the final time during preseason camp on Thursday night. The Penn State head coach spoke for nearly 15 minutes on a variety of topics as the Nittany Lions sit less than 10 days away from their opener at West Virginia . The first topic he covered concerned the move of redshirt freshman defender DaKaari Nelson from safety to linebacker, which Blue-White Illustrated first reported on Sunday .

“I think with a lot of these guys, we recruit them and bring them here based on kind of what position they played in high school, but right away he was 220 pounds and fighting it,” Franklin said. “Obviously, we need a little bit more depth at linebacker, and you’re looking at creative ways to solve problems,” Franklin continued. “We had a conversation with him. He was open to it. It’s really been good for him and us. He’s playing physical right now, showing up a lot in practice, making plays. I think he’s excited about it.

“He’s never done it before. You’re kind of unsure. But I think it’s genetics, we’re kind of telling them [a position switch could happen one day]. And then an opportunity presented itself, and he’s moved there. So far, so good. He’s done some really nice things.”

Read on to find out what else Franklin told the media on Aug. 20. You can also watch his comments in the embedded video player above or by visiting our YouTube channel here .

On the progress of the Penn State receivers

“I think Trey [Wallace] and Liam [Clifford] have had really, really good camps,” Franklin said. “I think there’s a lot of excitement within our program, and I think they’ve earned a lot of respect. They really worked their tails off since the end of last season, mentally, physically, and have been very consistent. They’ve always shown flashes at times. But this camp, they’ve been really, really consistent. So we have a ton of confidence in them. I think they’re going to have big years for us.

“There’s other guys as well that have had good camps. But those two guys definitely, I think, have been very, very consistent in terms of making plays, in terms of their assignments, in terms of their responsibility. I think Omari [Evans] and Julian Fleming have been really good as well. But I think those two have really, really done a nice job.”

Have the Nittany Lions accomplished all that they wanted to during camp?

“There comes a point where you just need to play somebody,” Franklin said. “It’s hard to really determine. You see good things on tape, you have some concerns, some areas that you need to work on. But you’re going against the same people every single day. So it’s hard to really judge until you play somebody else. But in terms of where we’re at, and in terms of improvement, I’m comfortable with where we’re at. I think there’s some areas that we’ve taken some significant steps in. I think it’s much more competitive right now between the offense and the defense. And I think all three coordinators have done a phenomenal job, as well as some of the new players.

“So I think we’re in a good place. I don’t know if there’s kind of an area that I would say right now that is overly concerning. It’s more hard to determine until you play somebody else. It’s hard to totally evaluate your roster until you play somebody else.”

On the battle between Cam Wallace and Quinton Martin Jr., to be RB3

And I think Corey [Smith] has worked his way into that discussion. I think Corey has done some really good things. I would say Cam Wallace , right now, is probably in the lead. But I think there’s a battle between all three of them, and I think both Quinton and Corey will play this year. We’ll see how this whole thing plays out. But I’d say if we were playing tomorrow, Cam Wallace would probably be our third back.

On second-year Penn State linebacker Tony Rojas

“You guys have seen just physically, the transformation he’s made,” Franklin said. “He’s so much bigger and stronger. It’s year two. He’s got a ton more of experience. So, he’s confident. It was interesting. I had my first year meeting that I have once a week with these guys to check in with them, and I had some guys like Tony come and talk to him. What do you know now that you wish you knew a year he wished you knew a year ago? I just think he’s very comfortable. He’s very confident in the defensive scheme and his responsibilities in his role, and then physically, he’s done a really good job of changing his body, and not in a way; sometimes they put on too much weight, and it affects your speed and quickness, and that’s not the case with him.

“His numbers are as good or better, and he’s put on significant weight. You have to remember he was 195 pounds when we signed him out of high school. I would say that’s probably more the model. A lot of times, these high school linebackers are really any position they think they have to be bigger than what they really need to be. Sometimes we’ll have them get here lean and let us put the right weight on them. I think Tony’s a great example of that.”

On redshirt freshman offensive tackle J’ven Williams

“We try to create as much position flexibility with the offensive linemen as we possibly can, to be able to solve problems, but also to be able to look at guys at different spots,” Franklin said. “Some guys, you’re surprised. You put them at tackle, and they’re comfortable in space. [Anthony] Donkoh , in high school, never played tackle. Really, for most of his freshman year, hadn’t played tackle. We move him there in one on ones one day in practice, he does a really good job at it, and takes off from there. J’ven, we kind of moved into guard. You’re not sure how he’s going to handle that, and sometimes, the lack of space makes them more comfortable. He’s shown signs that I think he can do both. So for us, we’re just trying to create as much position flexibility. I think we have more answers right now inside. We want to make sure we have enough answers outside. So, JB [Nelson is] getting some more reps at tackle, which we think he can do that, has been valuable, too.

On quarterback Drew Allar’s growth in his second camp to become a captain

“Drew’s done everything right since the season ended,” Franklin said. “I feel like him and Beau [Pribula] have taken significant steps. And I think that vote is very, very telling. I think that vote is telling about how his teammates see him. And he’s done everything right since the end of last season. I think Beau and Drew have really separated themselves and really done a nice job. I think over the last two weeks, those guys have really, really improved. And we’re very excited about [freshman quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer ] as well.

What is the Penn State schedule leading into West Virginia?

“So this is our last day, offically of camp [on Aug. 20]. We’ll transition into West Virginia tomorrow. We’ve started to kind of cut back the time at practice and some of the reps, because it’s been a tough, physical camp, to make sure that when we come to West Virginia week, that our guys feel really good. Sometimes that becomes challenging because you got some bumps and bruises. So it just reduces the numbers. But we will switch to West Virginia. We will go to scout teams, starting tomorrow with [Aug. 21] morning’s walk-through with [developmental] squads. And then tomorrow’s practice will be West Virginia, what we call kind of a bonus Wednesday practice.

“We’ll have no sweat Thursday, and then Friday will be our fast Friday rehearsal. And then Saturday, we’ll have a developmental squad scrimmage in the stadium with West Virginia looks, with the coaches in the booth, the whole thing. So very similar to what we’ve done in the past. And then we’ll get into, I think Saturday, we practice early in the morning, because I wanted the guys to have the whole day off to watch college football and go from there. And then we’ll get into our normal game week.”

How is second-year linebacker Ta’Mere Robinson doing?

Really good. He got sick for a couple days and missed a couple days of practice, lost a few pounds. But overall, I would say we’re very, very pleased with where he is. I think he’ll have a significant role on special teams, and I think he’ll have a much more expanded role on defense. I also could see him be one of those guys that plays a good amount early in the season, and by the midpoint of seasons, playing a lot for us.

On Drew Allar, the person, growing in year two

“I don’t think it’s anything I’m going to say that is like, you know, dramatic,” Franklin said. “He’s really done everything right. He’s always been a really good preparation guy in terms of being in the building, studying the installs, watching a ton of tape, asking great questions. Him and Beau are really good like that. So it’s not like it’s one thing.

“When you keep punching the clock and keep doing the right things, you get better and you gain confidence, you gain experience, the game starts to slow down for you. And I think it’s all of that. I think it’s his work in the offseason. He’s changed his body. He’s lost about 10 pounds. I think he’s running better and moving better.

“So it’s just kind of total development in every area. He’s just gotten a little bit better with the way he works, the way he prepares and the way he trains. And was voted by his peers, as well as all the coaches and the staff, as a captain, because of how we all see he handles his business. Total respect within our program.”

On if any green/yellow/red light decisions have been made for the freshmen

” I think for the most part, the conversations between the players and their position coaches, they have a pretty good idea of where they were,” Franklin said. “I do think it’s changed. The four games [or less to preserve a year of eligibility] changes things. You’re talking about the possibility of playing nine games [if you play five postseason games plus the four regular season games] this year and still redshirt. That’s dramatic. So you can be strategic.

“I’ll give you a perfect example. You use Quinton Martin Jr. and Corey Smith really as like, one person. You play one guy in one game, you play another guy in another game. And, you kind of spread that out throughout the season. Those guys are able to play in four games each, and then all of the postseason, and save their eligibility.

“I think some of them would like to say I’m a green light from an ego standpoint. But until we’re forced to make that decision, why not maximize the four games? And then once the decision’s been forced by a bump or a bruise or a helmet breaks and somebody’s got to go in, let’s be strategic as we possibly can. Where are they going to be most valuable for Penn State in their careers, and where are they going to be most valuable for themselves as well?

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