Series vs. Pitt gets attention of ADs
CHICAGO — Penn State athletic director Sandy Barbour said Penn State doesn’t need to have a rival, but talks with Pitt about extending the football series will take place.
“Scott Barnes, [Pitt’s] new AD, I’ve known for a long time,” Barbour said Friday at Big Ten Conference media days. “We’ve had a brief conversation. I think we’re scheduled here in the next month or so to talk about it. We’ve got a big puzzle in looking at our non-conference schedule, so we’ll see where that fits in.”
Penn State will play nine conference games beginning in 2016, a challenge that Barbour must balance as she tries to field an attractive non-conference slate that appeals to fans as well as the team. Coach James Franklin said that with how competitive the Big Ten is Penn State and other schools are taking care of their own strength of schedule without needing marquee non-conference matchups.
The Nittany Lions and Panthers are lined up for games in 2016-19 and Penn State’s future schedule already has some pieces in place. Virginia Tech is part of a series in 2020 and 2025 and West Virginia in 2023 and 2024.
What will Barbour’s pitch to Barnes include?
“We’ve got a lot of college football playoff opponents that would like to play Penn State,” she said. “So I’ll listen to what Pitt has to say."
RB competition heats up
Akeel Lynch is Penn State’s only scholarship running back with game experience. This redshirt junior led the team with 678 yards in 2014, taking on a larger workload as the season progressed and injuries thrust him into a more prominent role.
When Penn State opens camp next week, the battle to be Lynch’s backup will be among the most important. A trio of redshirt freshmen along with true freshmen Saquon Barkley and Andre Robinson are all possibilities.
“You better have three backs that you can win with,” Franklin said. “All our freshmen are in the mix at all their positions and after a week or two during training camp if it’s obvious they aren’t ready then they aren’t ready.”
Barkley, who enrolled in June, turned heads atsummer workouts. At 5 feet 11, 215 pounds, Barkley’s power during 7-on-7 drills, coupled with his maturity stood out, said senior defensive back Jordan Lucas.
O-line has a chip
A season after surrendering 44 sacks, center Angelo Mangiro didn’t hesitate to say the offensive line has a chip on its shoulder this summer.
“We can’t let [No.] 14 get touched,” Mangiro said about quarterback Christian Hackenberg. “I think a year two in the system, year two of maturity I think it’s going to be good for us.”
Mangiro said junior college transfer Paris Palmer could be an option at left or right tackle while Stanford graduate transfer Kevin Reihner could add depth at center or allow Mangiro to play guard should it be necessary.
Franklin said having a true two-deep up front — something Penn State didn’t have in 2014 because of depth issues stemming from NCAA sanctions and injuries — will help everyone improve. Penn State redshirted four true freshmen last season, a group Franklin said he will be excited to watch once the pads go on.
“He’s eager to learn,” Mangiro said of Palmer. “Paris asked me if I could watch film with him one-onone. … I give him a lot of credit.”
Firm on commitments
Franklin doesn’t want verbal pledges from players until they’re 100 percent sure they won’t decommit. Franklin said he’ll try to talk players out of committing to Penn State to make sure they’re absolutely ready and willing to only take official visits to Penn State.
"When I got engaged to my wife, she didn’t say keep dating until we walk down the aisle,” he said.
“I don’t think that would’ve went over too well.”