Franklin says Porter is out with appendicitis
Penn State safety Joey Porter Jr. missed last week’s win over Maryland because of appendicitis, Nittany Lions coach James Franklin said Tuesday.
Franklin said after the 30-0 victory over the Terrapins that Porter didn’t play because of “a non-football-injury situation.” He said a Penn State official had read a report about Porter that didn’t characterize it that way.
“There has been some mis-reporting out there,” Franklin said. “I don’t understand how that happens, but it did, so I will get into the specifics of this one so it clears it up.
“Joey had appendicitis. That’s what happened. Obviously I wouldn’t release any medical information without clearing it with the family first.”
Franklin later said that the Lions expect Porter to return sometime this season.
“That’s also why I don’t like to get into what the specific injuries are,” Franklin said. “Because then people pull out their medical books and research how long that guy will be out.
“Yeah, we’re expecting him back.”
Porter has 11 pass breakups, second on the team, along with one fumble recovery and a quarterback hurry. Opponents have rarely thrown in his direction.
He’s a semifinalist for the Lott Impact Trophy.
Condolences offered: Franklin opened his weekly news conference by offering condolences to the Virginia football team and coach Tony Elliott after three members of the squad were shot and killed Sunday night.
“I would like to take a moment and give my thoughts and prayers to Coach Elliott, to UVa football, all the family and friends [of the victims] and the entire UVa community,” Franklin said.
“It’s just really hard to even fathom, so we send our thoughts and prayers. If there is anything we can do as a Penn State community, obviously we would do that. It’s hard to even put into words.”
Diaz nominated: Penn State defensive coordinator Manny Diaz was named Tuesday as one of the 51 semifinalists for the Broyles Award, which goes to the nation’s top assistant coach.
In Diaz’s first season
with the Nittany Lions, they rank sixth nationally in pass-defense efficiency,
16th in points allowed (19 per game), 26th in rushing defense (120.4 yards)
and 31st in total defense (339.3).
Last year Penn State finished seventh in pass-defense efficiency, tied for sixth in points allowed (17.3), 38th in total defense (352.3) and 67th in rushing defense (152.7) under former coordinator Brent Pry, now the head coach at Virginia Tech.
Stoll in final 10: Penn State senior Chris Stoll has been named one of the 10 semifinalists for the second straight season for the Patrick Mannelly Award, which goes to the nation’s top long snapper.
Stoll is in his fourth season as the regular snapper. He’s appeared in 44 games and a team captain this year.
He’s helped Jake Pinegar make 11 of 13 field goals this season and Barney Amor average 44.1 yards per punt, the second-highest average at Penn State.