Penn State starts spring practice; key players discussed

Penn State's football team has started spring practice just weeks after a challenging end to their 2024-25 season. The Nittany Lions lost to Notre Dame in the national semifinals of the Orange Bowl. Several key players, including Drew Allar and Nick Singleton, have returned, which gives the team hope for another strong season. Coach James Franklin spoke with the media before the first practice. He emphasized that quarterback Drew Allar needs to improve as he begins his third season. Allar had a strong season last year, completing over 66% of his passes. Franklin believes Allar can enhance his mobility, leadership, and other skills even further. The team is adjusting to some changes in the wide receiver position. Two top receivers, Harrison Wallace III and Omari Evans, transferred to other schools. Newcomers Kyron Hudson and Devonte Ross have joined the team. Both players have impressive backgrounds and are expected to contribute to the offense. Franklin mentioned that returning veterans will have lighter practice workloads to keep them fresh. This change will allow younger players to gain more experience in practice. Three players will not be fully available at the start of spring practice due to injuries. Linebacker Tony Rojas, offensive lineman Anthony Donkoh, and tight end Andrew Rappleyea are recovering and will work at different paces. Finally, the Blue-White Game is set for April 26. This annual event is important for the community and fundraising efforts. Although some schools have canceled their spring games, Franklin says Penn State will have a modified version without television coverage, featuring shorter quarters and no halftime.