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this is the Penn State thread!!!

Lol

I was thinking the same thing.

Are Carter & Jacobs all comingback?they were pretty good there.Elsdon was one of the leading tacklers last year

Yes, they are coming back.  Elsdon and King split time last year. 

Elsdon was a top 5 tackler last year is he splitting time again?

Presuming some of these players are functionally illiterate, if they can get to near literate in three years that is probably better than not.  Just learn to read, and maybe speak a bit better, and do some simple math.

Didn't Dexter Manley of Washington supposedly get a degree but couldn't read/write?

Comparing 2022 Penn State to how I think they project in 2023:

Better:

Tight Ends - In 2022 it was called "the best tight end room in the country" by Franklin and others.  Unfortunately, Tyler Warren and Theo Johnson spent most of the year fighting through injuries.  Even with Brenton Strange off to the NFL, Franklin said this room should be better than last year. 

Offensive Line - Returns 7 guys with loads of experience and only loses Juice Scruggs.

Running Backs - Both true freshmen starters will now be sophomores.  In addition, PSU added transfer RB Trey Potts from Minnesota.

Defensive Line - PSU lost PJ Mustipher (DT) to the NFL.  However, they return all 3 defensive ends from the best pass rushing defense in the country.  In addition, there are good reports coming out of practice from the defensive tackle position. 

Linebackers - Every linebacker returns.  Practice reports indicate large improvements from Abdul Carter (he was a true freshman in 2022) and Kobe King (redshirt freshman in 2022).

Worse:

Secondary - Although the PSU secondary is still widely considered one of (if not the best) units on the team, I think it would be foolish to think that the loss of two highly drafted players in 2022 won't have some effect.

Wide Receivers - Parker Washington and Mitchell Tinsley left for the NFL after the 2022 season.  The wide receivers weren't exactly setting the world on fire in 2022, and their replacements haven't exactly received glowing reports.  By far the biggest question mark on the team.  The only thing that gives me a bit of confidence?  This unit has to compete against one of the best secondaries in college football every day, so maybe they are underrated. 

Quarterback - Drew Allar has been receiving lots of praise about his performance in preseason practices.  However, I find it hard to believe that a true sophomore can come in his first year and improve upon an NFL draft pick and PSU record holder, especially with less talent at wide receiver.  

It’s nuts.  Everything I’ve read or heard about Penn St all summer has been nothing less than glowing.  It’s almost to the point I’m surprised they are ranked 7, and not 1 or 2.  For my part I want WVU to show me this year might be better than last year.  Be competitive.  I don’t want to see Penn St’s starters yucking it up in the 4th quarter while walk ons are fulfilling their dream of playing.

If WVU’s OL is as good as some think it might be it should be able to hold its own against Penn St.  I don’t expect them to dominate but I don’t expect them to get dominated either.

Honestly, I think WVU has a decent chance.  They have a strong offensive line and running game, which matches up well against Penn State's defense.  It's quite likely that PSU could struggle offensively in their first game of the year, especially with new wide receivers and a new QB.  As I mentioned earlier in this post, Franklin's teams tend to get better as the year goes on, and often struggle early in the season.

I'm expecting a tighter game than most would project.

Starting Guard Landon Tengwall has just announced his retirement from football due to an injury.

He is a redshirt Sophomore.  Hopefully he will be OK.

He will likely be replaced by JB Nelson, a rJR.  

Seems a bit odd to announce that up front given all the things that could happen.  Maybe this is contingent.

This is pretty standard for Franklin.  Likely there will be a few more that won't redshirt, but these are the guys that are absolutely going to play.  Freshman are given a green, yellow, or red light in regards to playing time.  Green light players play immediately and will not redshirt.  Yellow players MAY be able to play, depending on injuries and how they develop.  Red light players are always given a redshirt unless something drastic happens (They may play in up to 4 games, though).

Storm Duck (CB) was a starting cornerback for North Carolina.  He transferred to Penn State this summer because PSU felt like they needed a few more cornerbacks.  When it became obvious that he wasn't going to make even the 2nd team, he immediately transferred out.  This opened the door for a bunch of the true freshman in 2023.  (note that these "green light players" are due to a combination of talent and need, and that there are 3 CBs)