Penn State Sunday situation: What were the top takeaways from media day?

STATE COLLEGE — Saturday marks an important day on the Penn State football program’s path to its Aug. 31 opener at West Virginia . Practice No. 3 of preseason camp is today, and that means the pads are coming on. The first two days of drills, Wednesday and Thursday, were heat acclimatization days which meant only helmets, t-shirts, and shorts. Now, though, the real fun begins, and a sense of excitement from the players and coaches was evident throughout a day full of interviews here at both Beaver Stadium and Holuba Hall.

“First two days have been good,” head coach James Franklin said. “Specifically, day two was better than day one. And today obviously is the first day for pads for us and some hitting so that obviously changes some things.”

Added sophomore linebacker Tony Rojas :

“I’m excited. I’m a physical guy. So just being [in shorts and t-shirts] wasn’t my thing. And just having pads on, I feel like that really shows your dominance. And, I’m excited.”

Blue-White Illustrated had its full team of reporters on hand for media sessions. Click here to see all of today’s stories, and check back later for reports from practice. And then, discuss it all inside The Lions Den forum , including our top takeaways from the day, which are below.

1. On Drew Allar, the leader

A good chunk of second-year starting quarterback Drew Allar’s chat with reporters focused on his leadership capabilities. He is admittedly a quiet guy who does more of his leading through his actions than his words. That can work for a QB1 to a degree, but there’s no question that the junior needs to be more vocal this season. He knows it and has embraced it, and it’s evident not just from the way he carries himself on the practice field but also in interviews. He speaks louder and commands attention. That wasn’t always the case a year ago.

“I definitely feel more natural in that role,” Allar said. “And I think between me, [quarterbacks coach] Danny [O’Brien], Coach [Kotelnicki], and Coach Franklin, it was something that I wanted to be very intentional in taking my next steps in my progression of being more of a vocal leader.

“I’m always going to be a lead-by-example guy first. That’s just kind of how I’m wired. You know, put the work in, and less talking and do the work and go out and perform. But, I want to be that vocal leader for the team. I want to be on the same page as all the players and then be that communicator between players and coaching staff, and coaching staff to players, relaying whatever message I need to do, and just being open and honest with my thoughts.”

If Allar’s words become actions on game day, it will be a big boost for the Penn State offense all by itself.

2. Penn State tackle Drew Shelton is ready to roll

Penn State offensive tackle Drew Shelton missed all of spring practice due to a planned offseason surgery. The third-year Nittany Lion from Downingtown gutted his way through much of the 2023 season. An enormous amount of “behind the scenes” work went in to get him ready for game day during the second half of the season. Listening to him speak Saturday, it feels a bit miraculous that he was able to play 72 snaps in the Peach Bowl, but his dwindling November snap count (three games with less than 30 plays, per PFF) tells the story. The reps earned during that time prepared him for the moment he faces now: Replacing Olu Fashanu as the Penn State left tackle. Now healthy, he’s fully ready for it, and knows that he doesn’t have to mimic the first-round NFL Draft pick to play at the level he did.

“Just taking the experience I’ve got from learning from Olu and Caeden [Wallace] and those guys and just really trying to make it my own,” Shelton said. “Obviously, I’m my own player. I can’t be I can’t be Olu. I can’t be Caeden. But I’m going to learn from them, and use all the tips that they’ve given me, to make myself the best left tackle for Penn State football.”

Despite missing the spring, Shelton was full-go for much of the summer and is ready to step into a starting and starring role along the Lions’ line.

3. Saunders is ready to showcase his talent

There is little question that Kaden Saunders enters year three in the Penn State program with a chip on his shoulder. The Ohio native was replaced as the primary punt returner midway through the 2023 season by Daequan Hardy. He, of course, went on to have two punt return touchdowns. Saunders understood why he was replaced. While endlessly praised with doing a punt returner’s most important job, which is catching the football, he lacked the explosiveness Hardy had. But, he aims to show any doubters that he does in fact have that in common with his former teammate as the team’s leader punt returner in 2024.

“I’m taking a lot of pride this year in showing people that I can do what Dae Dae was doing plus more,” Saunders said. “That’s something I take pride.”

Saunders said he was too timid at times last year, which was evident. He feels like he has shaken that feeling, though. Time will tell if he has.

4. Odds and ends

–Penn State cornerback Jalen Kimber comes off as such a seasoned vet. Which, he should, considering this is his fifth preseason camp, albeit his first with the Lions. Position coach Terry Smith has an embarrassment of riches in his room, and playing time decisions will not be easy.

–The Lions enter camp without a starting kicker. Returner Sander Sahaydak , transfer Chase Meyer , and redshirt freshman Ryan Barker will compete for the job. Franklin said prior game experience would be a tiebreaking factor, which means if Barker is to win the job, he will need to significantly outperform the other two throughout August.

–Andy Kotelnicki is a boisterous personality. He had more energy than any other speaker on this particular day. It’s clear why his players quickly bought into his vision for the offense. He has a clear, concise way of speaking and could probably convince you that a rainy day beats a picture-perfect weather day if given the opportunity. While everything has to work off the field, all signs continue to indicate that Franklin made the right hire.

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