Wow, thanks for the link. From what Hagans said there he's pretty much got to play Howard. Not just because the team needs additional playmakers at WR beyond the transfers, but also because the three transfers and Clifford will all be gone after this season and Hagans will need a couple of the younger WR playmakers to get experience this season so that they can lead a young but talented WR group in 2026.
Yeah Greg, the only way Arrington consitently sees the field this year is special teams. Too far behind what are expected to be the first five or six LBers: Rojas, Campbell, Deluca; then in no particular order: Speca, Wiley, Tasch.
That is why I think he simply redshirts. I can't imagine him being so invaluable on special teams that we would need to burn his redshirt? It's not like he is some incredible punt returner, for example.
I agree. It is best to keep that RB3 competition going so we can have all participate in the RB1&2 combo for next season. Same with the QB2 this season. They will try to keep that competition going as long as possible unless one is just too obviously above the other. This increases the chances that they are both competing next summer for QB1.
If we could keep both Grunk and Smolik competing against one another for the next year thus keeping them from portaling that would be great. This assumes one of them would be ready to be good next season.
You certainly could be right. I expect CJF will discuss it with Lavar & Jr after the coaches make an assessment.
Coleman’s high school tape is ridiculous! Word seems to indicate that he is a handful to our experienced OLinemen. If you haven’t watched it yet check out Tengwall’s you tube breakdown. Great bend and super quick spin move.
Freak athlete apparently.
Jr. has all the tools, looks smooth in the drills. He’s a true freshman and linebackers have a lot more mental assignments than DEnds. A red shirt is probably the best thing for him.
It is and I've been in the LA II redshirting camp but I keep hearing now that they aren't ready to trust anyone beyond our top 3 at LB right now. That may force them to take a longer look at LA II greenlighting unless some of the Wylie, Speca types step up.
Good and makes sense if the 2nd string guys are not ready. Ride with your lead horses.
I think so but it's a long season. I'm hoping that half of the games give us an opportunity to open up those rotations and get younger guys reps. We need more depth at LB. The top 3 are very good. But if someone goes down there, we are paper thin. Remember that Michigan game when we were playing like 3rd string LBs not that long ago? It happens. Plus, we want our starters fresh for the end of season run.
I don't see LB as "paper thin". Knowles defense only plays 2 LB's and there are now 3 starters. That's a luxury many teams don't have. Other years PSU has had the competition for three starting LB's undecided into the beginning of the season. Wylie, although having missed seasons with injuries, has been practicing at LB at PSU for four seasons and should be very mature in his understanding of the position as well as physically mature. And it's the nature of college football for young talented players to emerge during Fall camp and be ready to take on playing time as Franklin and his staff have recruited the position pretty well in the last couple of years. Nelson, Speca, Jackson, Tatsch, Arrington, Smith. There are plenty of talented players competing at LB. Overall a group that most every top 20 team would love to have on their roster, and from which a deep depth chart will most likely emerge for the upcoming season. Especially considering the 2025 defense will normally play only 2 LB's and LB's don't substitute nearly as often as most other positions, the LB position looks to be as deep as any position on the roster.
Solid points. Maybe paper thin is not the right description of the depth. It may be more inexperienced depth that Knowles has stated he is not comfortable putting out there. That may also be coachspeak telling those youngins that there is an opportunity to grab that 2nd string spot if they step it up.
Some coaches comments are meant more for player motivation than to be taken as reality.....
I am most interested in Wylie. Experienced guy in the program but has not played a lot and coming off an injury. We need him to step up and fill in for depth. We will see if Speca is ahead of him or not. Whomever is LB#5 most likely will not see the field much beyond the ooc games and if there is an injury. Especially if Knowles likes to stick with the starters.Some coaches comments are meant more for player motivation than to be taken as reality.....