Buzzworthy: Penn State football’s under-the-radar performances deliver surprises

The countdown toward the kickoff of Penn State football’s preseason camp has reached single-digits. Set to return to work on July 31, the Nittany Lions are closing out their stretch of formal summer instruction, with head coach James Franklin joined by Dvon J-Thomas , Jaylen Reed , and Tyler Warren in Indianapolis for Big Ten Media days on Wednesday, and Happy Valley United’s “We Are at the Shore” on deck for Thursday evening

The relative calm before the storm, however, is not without underlying action. Rather, the Nittany Lions have been hard at work throughout the summer, and a selection of players have positioned themselves to surprise this season as a result.

Surveying the Penn State football program in its final full week before training camp begins in earnest, here are some of the names and faces buzzing under the radar.

A healthy dose of depth

The narrative arc of a younger player working through the first parts of their Penn State careers varies wildly. Some guys connect right away to overcome the initial hurdles of a major life adjustment, on top of the college game, and make a splash. Others need what can be a year or two acclimation period before finding their stride.

And then others, like offensive tackle Eagan Boyer , just need a minute to get healthy and going. Arriving in January as part of the Nittany Lions’ big class of midyear enrollees, the former On3 Industry Ranking three-star initially checked in around 250 pounds. And, while he missed some time through spring practices, the efforts made in the weight room and nutritionally have paid off.

“Getting them to understand, ‘Hey, you’re way behind the curve from a strength and a size standpoint,’ getting them to own that and then getting them to buy into the process of fixing that, which is training your butt off,” said strength coach Chuck Losey in June. “Do everything that coaches were asking you to do and get the K-cals in. Your calorie intake has just got to be at a ridiculous level. I mean, nutrition is a huge thing with those guys.”

The message resonated, and Boyer is buzzing heading into preseason camp because of it. Now listed at 273 pounds, his 22 pound increase was one of the most significant of the offseason. Not a threat to supplant any of the anticipated starters at tackle, Boyer’s potential for a strong camp would be significant to a Penn State offensive line seeking depth beyond the four projected primaries of Drew Shelton and J’Ven Williams on the left side, or Anthony Donkoh and Nolan Rucci at right.

Rapp battle

Tight end has an obvious alpha in Warren set to have a bigtime 2024 season. In fact, for the first time in years, the Nittany Lions aren’t looking at a 1A/1B situation at the position.

That doesn’t mean Penn State can’t have a tight 2A/2B in store for the upcoming campaign. And, for this space, the preseason camp buzz for Andrew Rappleyea is notable in its implications after Warren.

Let’s go to Ty Howle for some early-summer assessment on Rapp:

“I think the biggest growth is he was a guy that he’d gotten here, probably more physically ready to play as a freshman and he’s already 245 pounds. But mentally, he’s taken a big step of learning the overall concepts of the offense. And so I’m really seeing that grow from year one to year two,” said Howle. “Understanding his role and how that piece fits in all the different base game, run game protections. So I’ve been really happy. He had a really nice spring for us. He had a really good year last year for us, he got in there four games. But he’s taken a big step forward.”

Between Khalil Dinkins and Rappleyea, at least, Penn State will have some usage decisions to make this preseason.

Penn State defensive tackles strengthen

Boyer isn’t the only true freshman who has made the most of his first months on campus. And, in former On3 Industry Ranking three-star Xavier Gilliam , there are similar ramifications for the program this offseason. Drawing the attention of Losey earlier this summer, there were signs of his early emergence to note.

“Another one that jumps out to me is Xavier Gilliam. That guy is going to continue trending,” said Losey. “The things that he does in some of our movement sessions, the way he explodes off the line. His strength, his power, his ability to apply force, he looks like a vet out there. So I’m excited for him.”

Penn State had a huge win this offseason in the returns of J-Thomas, Coziah Izzard , and Hakeem Beamon in addition to Zane Durant . That’s four reliable pieces to form the foundation of Deion Barnes’ interior of the defensive line. Alonzo Ford is something of an unknown after his injury last year, but he’s been on the radar this offseason as a potential contributor. Could Gilliam make a run for six? Penn State wouldn’t object to the possibility.

Cornerbacks make a move

At this point, the reminder might seem like overkill. But, former Mississippi State transfer cornerback Audavion Collins continues to impress. And, the expectation for his potential contributions this season has mirrored that trajectory.

Whether it got the attention it deserved in April or not is probably up for debate. In his pre-Blue White Game radio show, though, Franklin touched on the reality that the light had “gone on” for Collins after having a year in the program.

“Audavion Collins is a young man that I would describe like that. From this time last year to now, it’s like dramatically different,” said Franklin. “He’s playing with so much confidence. He’s gotten bigger. When he transferred in here from Mississippi State, I think he was like 158 or 162 pounds, which is weird for a college player. But he’s up to 180 now. He’s playing with real good confidence. He’s showing up on special teams and showing up on defense. And he’s part of that battle for that corner job.”

His emergence is part of a larger story, though, that also warrants mention. Given the losses of three NFL-worthy corners, the room itself entered a state of unknown in the offseason, despite Terry Smith’s outstanding track record. The tenor of the room has gradually shifted this summer, though, from cautious optimism into something more confident.

Penn State needs ‘more Nick Dawkins’

By the end of spring practice, some of the sentiment that positioned Cooper Cousins to make a run at the starting center job had died down. While Cousins has been undoubtedly impressive, there was a concurrent storyline impacting that reality. Nick Dawkins, the Nittany Lions’ fifth-year senior, was asserting himself in a way that wasn’t quite known how it would turn out.

By the summer, his on-field performance and broader leadership potential had taken on a new shape that has fully manifested itself as the Nittany Lions have gotten closer to preseason camp. Penn State has been buzzing for Dawkins this offseason, and that optimism has only grown as the 2024 campaign nears.

Talk about it with our premium members in the Lions Den, here!

The post Buzzworthy: Penn State football’s under-the-radar performances deliver surprises appeared first on On3 .