Allar expected to take a major leap forward
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The sun shined bright on the tops of Mount Nittany, a warmth that signaled the start of new beginnings for the Penn State players who entered the practice facility on Tuesday for the first day of spring practice.
James Franklin, painted from head to toe in a blue tracksuit, addressed the media before taking the field. With three new coordinators in his building, former players signing lucrative NFL contracts and the first year of an expanded Big Ten on the horizon, Franklin had no shortage of topics to discuss.
Here are a few takeaways from Franklin’s spring news conference:
Allar ‘ready’ for next step
Penn State quarterback Drew Allar’s year of firsts is in the rear view.
Entering his second season as the Nittany Lions starter, Allar is expected to take a major leap forward by Franklin and new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki.
“I think he’s ready to take the next step,” Franklin said. “I think he’s excited about some of the things that we’re doing. I know he’s had a great offseason. He’s moving better and looks better and looks leaner. His weight is still very similar, but I think he’s changed his body composition in a lot of ways.”
Franklin praised Allar for his 25-to-2 touchdown-tointerception ratio in 2023 but said reaching his full potential comes down to “consistency” against “all competition.”
Allar was 28 of 64 for just 261 yards in Penn State’s losses to Ohio State and Michigan.
Cleaning things up
The offensive struggles from seasons past don’t all fall on the shoulders of Allar. He had to make do with a wide receiver corps that lacked a true No. 1 target — expected to be veteran KeAndre Lambert-Smith — and dealt with multiple injuries to starter Harrison Wallace III.
After adding Ohio State transfer Julian Fleming, Franklin appears confident in his receivers as they enter the second spring practice under position coach Marques Hagans.
“I don’t think we’ve ever really had a talent issue at wideout. If we look at our guys’ athletic numbers, testing numbers, I think it’s as good as anywhere in the country,” Franklin said. “So I think you take that and now you take another year of experience, I think there’s some things that we can do offensively to help, as well.”
Players have raved about Kotelnicki’s ability to simplify the playbook despite being known for his complex schemes. Franklin said there’s “an opportunity” for Kotelnicki to “clean things up” by calling plays in a way that better positions the coaching staff as teachers.
Shelton out for spring
Tackle Drew Shelton, who appeared in 10 games in 2023, will “probably” miss all of spring practice as he heals from surgery he had done after the season. Shelton is expected to play an increased role this fall with last year’s starters, Olu Fashanu and Caedan Wallace, off to the NFL.
As Shelton’s injury shakes up some the Nittany Lions’ spring offensive line, new faces could soon step up.
Of the young linemen who have garnered good reviews, early enrollee freshman Cooper Cousins could make a run at the vacant center position previously held by Hunter Nourzad.
Cousins, at 6-foot-6 and 319 pounds, can play “multiple positions,” Franklin said, but will be stationed primarily at center to “gain some confidence.”
West Coast travel plans
Franklin said Penn State is still determining the best process to “handle” its travel to the West Coast in an expanded Big Ten that will include USC, UCLA, Oregon and Washington.
“Whether it’s in major college football or you look at the NFL, you look at the teams traveling west and what their records have been like compared to the teams that are traveling east and what their records are like and be very honest and thorough about what we’re going to have to do to put us in the best position to make those trips,” Franklin said.
The Nittany Lions visit USC on Oct. 12.
A kick-off time has not yet been announced.