Akron won't be 'intimidated' by experienced Nittany Lions
James Franklin was afforded luxuries this past offseason that he did not have in his previous years as Penn State’s coach.
With veterans filling most of the key starting positions, the fourth-year Nittany Lions coach dedicated more time to working out his second- and third-stringers, cutting back the amount of reps allocated for his starters.
He also didn’t have to resort to his usual bag of tricks to push his players on the dog days of training camp, when fatigue begins to set in. Players had no shortage of motivation, coming off an 11-3 season that ended with a Rose Bowl loss against Southern California.
The Big Ten Conference champions, ranked No. 6 in the preseason Associated Press poll, want to prove last year was no fluke. That journey continues at noon Saturday when Penn State kicks off the 2017 season against Akron at Beaver Stadium.
Trace McSorley and Saquon Barkley are two of many returning weapons on Penn State's offense.
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“We’re in a position where we have a lot of guys who have played a lot of football for us,” said Franklin, whose team returns 18 starters. “And for us, the most important thing was to build on those fundamentals and techniques and confidence levels they have and make sure we’re a well-oiled machine as quickly as we possibly can while also staying healthy and getting to the game.”
Penn State will face a Zips team that might be deceptively good, at least on paper. Akron was ravaged by injuries last year, but, in 2015, the Zips boasted the best defense in the Mid-American Conference and finished 23rd in Football Bowl Subdivision in points allowed per game (21.5).
Akron has an experienced senior quarterback in Gateway High School graduate Thomas Woodson, and sixth-year running back Warren Ball is a former Ohio State transfer who looked good in limited action last season. But coach Terry Bowden is most encouraged by the strides his defense has made.
“Our defense had to slowly build up,” Bowden said. “This year, we have most of our starters returning, and I think after the preseason is winding down into game week, I think that’s been our most improved. People want to talk about your quarterback, or they want to talk about your running back, but, if you’re going to win championships, it’s all about defense, because that’s what gets you to the championship game.”
Franklin said Penn State will be careful not to take Akron lightly, noting the MAC has pulled off several upsets against Big Ten teams in the past five years alone. Franklin noted that while Saturday might be just a season opener for his team, it’s a moment for Akron.
Akron, a 35-point underdog according to OddsShark, has been competitive against highly ranked Big Ten teams in the past. In 2013, No. 11 Michigan was favored to beat Akron by 35.5 points, yet the Zips nearly pulled off an upset before falling, 28-24.
“We won’t go in there intimidated,” Bowden said. “We will go in there knowing we’ll have to play our best, and maybe they’ll be a little bit off. Somebody in the MAC will beat a Big Ten team, or will beat a power conference team on Saturday. Might as well be us.”
Penn State recruiting: Commits to attend season opener, RB target Devyn Ford dominates
In two high school games this season, running back Devyn Ford has 7 touchdowns.
Stay updated as Penn State rises toward the top of the recruiting rankings! Don’t miss the coverage from Tyler Donohue, who brings a decade of experience as a national college football reporter and recruiting department staff member with a Big Ten program. Read his daily notebooks here at 7:20 p.m. ET Monday through Friday and follow us on Twitter for the latest Nittany Lions recruiting news.
Penn State commits expected to attend season opener
The Nittany Lions return to Beaver Stadium on Saturday for a season-opening game against Akron. This is Penn State’s first home matchup since claiming the 2016 Big Ten championship, so expect an electric atmosphere to greet James Franklin and his players when they hit the field for a noon kickoff.
Along with passionate longtime fans and university students, seats will also be filled by high school recruits. A larger turnout of uncommitted prospects is expected for a Sept. 9 game against Pittsburgh and eventual conference showdowns, but the 2018 Nittany Lions recruiting class will be well represented Saturday.
I’ve independently confirmed 5-star receiver Justin Shorter, 4-star tight end Pat Freiermuth and 4-star linebacker Jesse Luketa will be on campus. Freiermuth arrived in State College on Friday.
Shorter and Freiermuth are the longest standing members of this class, which is considered No. 3 overall in 247Sports composite rankings. Both players pledged to Penn State prior to their junior season, while Luketa committed in February and became a group leader.
Along with this trio, Sean Fitz of 247Sports reports another three commits are expected to spend Saturday afternoon at Penn State: linebacker Charlie Katshir, tight end Zack Kuntz and defensive tackle PJ Mustipher.
Mustipher is among the most recent Penn State pledges, as he chose the Nittany Lions over fellow finalists Maryland, Michigan State and Tennessee on Aug. 7. Mustipher told Land of 10 a few days later he is “185-percent” committed.
Katshir and Kuntz are longtime pledges who both attend high school in Pennsylvania. Freiermuth (Massachusetts), Mustipher (Maryland) and Shorter (New Jersey) make the trip from beyond state borders.
Expect a large group of commits to gather for an official visit weekend at some point, with the Oct. 21 “White Out” game against Michigan looming as a possibility.
2019 RB target Devyn Ford delivers another dominant performance
The state of Virginia has been good to Penn State when it comes to running backs. Former standout Nittany Lions rushers Tony Hunt and Evan Royster played prep football in Virginia, and that’s also where you’ll find 4-star 2018 commit Ricky Slade.
Penn State has again set sights on ball carriers on the Virginia recruiting trail. Along with Flint Hill School (Oakton, Va.) junior Jordan Houston, Devyn Ford is one of three 2019 running backs who hold a Nittany Lions offer.
Ford, a 5-foot-11, 185-pound prospect, plays for North Stafford High School. He is teammates with 2018 Penn State offensive tackle commit Nana Asiedu, and the two attended spring game festivities on April 22 in State College together. Asiedu pledged to James Franklin before kickoff.
Considered the No. 4 running back and a top 50 overall recruit in 247Sports 2019 composite rankings, Ford is well on his way toward validating high expectations. If his early-season efforts are an indication of what lies ahead, 5-star status is inevitable.
Ford erupted for 222 yards and 4 touchdowns in the first game of his junior campaign, a 56-15 victory over Osbourn, according to Inside NoVa. His follow-up Thursday nearly matched that performance.
He again shredded through an overwhelmed opposing defense, gaining 153 yards on 21 carries in a 45-6 thrashing of Briar Woods, according to Joey LoMonaco of the Free Lance-Star. Ford rushed for 3 scores, pushing his touchdown total to 7 through 2 contests.
His game-changing speed and agility is on display early this season, as 4 scores have come from beyond 30 yards.
The Nittany Lions are a contender for Ford, and having Asiedu on campus as a freshman next year should help this pursuit. Clemson, North Carolina and Virginia Tech are among other contenders in a recruitment that includes nearly 30 scholarship offers.
Enjoy a peek at priority targets from your living room Friday night
I know we’re excited to consume as much college football as possible this weekend, but may I offer up an appetizer suggestion?
St. John’s College High School (Washington, D.C.), featuring a few Penn State targets, takes part in a cross-country battle Friday night on national television. The team travels west to take on California powerhouse De La Salle High School (Concord, Calif.), and kickoff is scheduled for 11 p.m. ET on ESPNU.
Several St. John’s players attended camp in State College on June 16, and three left with Nittany Lions offers: 2019 defensive back Quinten Johnson, 2019 running back Keilan Robinson and 2020 edge rusher Mekhail Sherman.
“It definitely means more to get offered with my teammates because those are my guys and I want the same or more for them as I do for me,” Johnson told Land of 10 afterward. “I’ve seen the hard work and dedication they put into their craft.”
They will enter a large spotlight Friday night, and all seem genuinely interested in Penn State. Instead of watching the final stretch of Wisconsin-Utah State this evening, perhaps you’d care to see potential future Nittany Lions in action.
Sherman, a 6-3, 235-pound sophomore, is someone I’m excited to evaluate this season. There is a lot of buzz around him and he landed at No. 5 among outside linebackers in initial 247Sports 2020 rankings.
“He has all the athletic tools that college coaches love,” Robinson said. “He’s so young and has so much potential. That’s why all these schools are already recruiting him.”
Sherman shared an interesting note with me while discussing his June meeting with Franklin.
“If he had the chance, Coach Franklin said he would have me play [for Penn State] this year,” Sherman said.
Getting to know the Zips with the Akron Beacon Journal beat writer
Penn State last played Akron in Sept. 6, 2014, when the Nittany Lions won 21-3. The Zips have obviously changed a lot during that time, so we asked Akron Beacon Journal beat writer George M. Thomas what to expect this time around.
Penn State last played Akron in Sept. 6, 2014, when the Nittany Lions won 21-3. The Zips have obviously changed a lot during that time, so we asked Akron Beacon Journal beat writer George M. Thomas what to expect this time around. Abby Drey CDT photo
BY JOHN MCGONIGAL
jmcgonigal@centredaily.com
So much has been written about Saquon Barkley, Trace McSorley, Joe Moorhead and the outlook for Penn State heading into the 2017 season.
And even though the Nittany Lions are expected to win their season opener handily on Saturday, it can’t hurt to know the opposition.
That’s why this week and for the rest of the season we’ll be speaking with a beat writer from Penn State’s opposition heading into the game.
We caught up with George M. Thomas of the Akron Beacon Journal for his thoughts on the Zips and what challenges they can pose Penn State’s prolific offense.
Q: In general, what are the expectations for Akron this year? Are they high or low?
A: For those in the program, expectations are high. But every coach is going to tell you that to start the season. I think those around the program who aren’t directly involved with coaching or playing, there’s a wait-and-see attitude in general. For all practical purposes, Akron had that bowl season in 2015, but they took a step back last year. They took that step back primarily due to injury, but by the same token, there has to be a next-man-up mentality on the team, and the guys behind the starters didn’t step up. I’m interested in seeing what’s going to happen. I can’t put my thumb on them. Seriously.
Q: Zips quarterback Tommy Woodson looks like he’ll be ready to go after offseason surgery. When he’s at his best, what makes him tough to defend?
A: He throws the deep ball very well. Tommy’s got a gun. Isn’t that a song? (laughs) Thomas has got a gun. Generally speaking, he makes good decisions. Very intelligent. He’s confident without being cocky. He’s the guy you want running the team right now.
Q: So of the players surrounding Tommy on offense, who’s that one guy who could give Penn State reason to worry?
A: No. 1, the offensive line returns four of five starters, so that’s a good sign right there. The big question is at wide receiver. They lost Jerome Lane and JoJo Natson to the NFL; they’re with New York (Giants) and Indianapolis, respectively. But here it is: You’re going to need to look for running back Warren Ball, who’s got a sixth year of eligibility. He’s a graduate transfer from Ohio State — couldn’t crack the lineup there. And he went down to injury last year, but when he went down, he was averaging 7.2 yards per pop. This isn’t fluky stuff. He’s a powerful runner. He made SI’s Freak list. The kid is cut, very speedy and very strong.
Q: On the flip-side, who’s a guy on the defensive side of the ball that could disrupt Trace McSorley, Saquon Barkley and the Penn State offense?
A: Ulysses Gilbert is a guy they’re going to have to pay attention to. He’s a linebacker who’s very fast, strong. Not too big, but he’s deceptive. They like a defensive end named Brian Reinke. He’s come out of nowhere. He’s a junior and local kid, going to a high school in suburban Akron. He went from 215 pounds to 250. In the practices I’ve been allowed in to see, I’ve seen him disrupt the offense. Now let’s be realistic. Because this isn’t the Penn State team that played Akron in 2014. This is a Big Ten champion. You could’ve made the argument that they should’ve been in the College Football Playoff.
Q: And that was going to be my final question for you. I mean, everyone is anticipating that this is going to be a blowout. As someone who’s as familiar with Akron as one can be, is that what you ultimately expect?
A: I expect them to be able to hang on for a little bit. You and I both know what happens in these types of situations. You’ll get a team that can put together a couple of drives, has one or two nice defensive stops, they get hyped up, and eventually the team that’s obviously superior wakes up. I’m not trying to put Akron down. But I’ve been covering college football for 10 years and watching for 47 (laughs). It’s always played out this way.
John McGonigal: 814-231-4630, @jmcgonigal9
