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Some good nuggets from the 247 podcast...

Judge Smails

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May 29, 2001
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1) Koa Farmer has been practicing at the Will LB (Mike and Will play in the box), not Sam where he played last year. Cam Brown has been practicing at the Sam. Per comments from Franklin, both of them have to step up their play. Looks like they are both being pushed, Jarvis Miller at Sam, and Micah at the Will. Looks like Ellis Brooks might be leader at Mike, Jan Johnson in the mix.

2) Bates has been practicing at left tackle. CJ Thorpe has been a monster but needs to work on pass pro. Gellerstedt will be a factor at OT eventually, probably not this year. Lots of depth, people are being worked at different spots to find the best 5 (Menet, Miranda also taking reps at center).

3) Hansard (4 star, top 100 guy) has started to come on at DT. Hansard and Shelton probably backup DTs right now. Robert Windsor healthy and practicing.

4) Donovan Johnson (ran low 4.3's in testing) has really had a great off season. Pushing for #4 cornerback. Jabari Butler, another low 4.3's guy, also playing well. Probably will be a factor on special teams.

5) Deandre Thompkins, one of the best blockers on the team, has been practicing at the Slot. I said a couple of months ago how important blocking was at that position in this offense. Hamler and Polk have been practicing at outside receiver. Thompkins will be excellent in games against aggressive defenses that want to walk their safety up to the LOS and press the slot (hello, Michigan). More talk about Hamler being a lightning bolt. Really pressing Polk for starting role. Juwan Johnson sitting out the spring with an injury.

6) Bowers in uniform but hasn't been seen scrimmaging. Holland in street clothes. Danny Dalton been getting most of the reps at TE. They think Bowers will start if he's healthy.

7) Taylor and Scott starters at safety right now. Taylor has come a long way, was a Top 60 4 star, flipped from Michigan to us, then tore his ACL and has taken a long time to get back to form. Great story how well he is playing.
 
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Recruiting....Owen Pappoe, 5 star, #1 LB in the country from Georgia taking official visit to Penn State for the Blue White game. His mother went to Penn State.
kWLlj.gif


5 star LB Brandon Smith wraps up a trip when he visited Michigan, ND, Ohio State with two night stay in State College this weekend. Penn State has 4 of his 5 CBs.
 
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1) Koa Farmer has been practicing at the Will LB (Mike and Will play in the box), not Sam where he played last year. Cam Brown has been practicing at the Sam. Per comments from Franklin, both of them have to step up their play. Looks like they are both being pushed, Jarvis Miller at Sam, and Micah at the Will. Looks like Ellis Brooks might be leader at Mike, Jan Johnson in the mix.

2) Bates has been practicing at left tackle. CJ Thorpe has been a monster but needs to work on pass pro. Gellerstedt will be a factor at OT eventually, probably not this year. Lots of depth, people are being worked at different spots to find the best 5 (Menet, Miranda also taking reps at center).

3) Hansard (4 star, top 100 guy) has started to come on at DT. Hansard and Shelton probably backup DTs right now. Robert Windsor healthy and practicing.

4) Donovan Johnson (ran low 4.3's in testing) has really had a great off season. Pushing for #4 cornerback. Jabari Butler, another low 4.3's guy, also playing well. Probably will be a factor on special teams.

5) Deandre Thompkins, one of the best blockers on the team, has been practicing at the Slot. I said a couple of months ago how important blocking was at that position in this offense. Hamler and Polk have been practicing at outside receiver. Thompkins will be excellent in games against aggressive defenses that want to walk their safety up to the LOS and press the slot (hello, Michigan). More talk about Hamler being a lightning bolt. Really pressing Polk for starting role. Juwan Johnson sitting out the spring with an injury.

6) Bowers in uniform but hasn't been seen scrimmaging. Holland in street clothes. Danny Dalton been getting most of the reps at TE. They think Bowers will start if he's healthy.

7) Taylor and Scott starters at safety right now. Taylor has come a long way, was a Top 60 4 star, flipped from Michigan to us, then tore his ACL and has taken a long time to get back to form. Great story how well he is playing.

Thanks, Judge.

Any details given wrt the injuries to Juwan and Holland? Bowers... same ongoing issues?
 
Some good pics from Hermitt

http://www.pennlive.com/joehermitt/2018/04/scenes_from_penn_state_footbal_31.html

f53_prac_pl4psu_56.jpg

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Penn State running backs coach Ja'Juan Seider talks with Journey Brown during spring practice in Holuba Hall on April 4, 2018. Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com

1c6_prac_pl4psu_74.jpg

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Penn State wide receiver Mac Hippenhammer is congratulated by Penn State head coach James Franklin after receiving his stripe during spring practice in Holuba Hall on April 4, 2018. Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com

c27_prac_pl4psu_73.jpg

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Penn State cornerbacks Amani Oruwariye and John Reid present cornerback Donovan Johnson with his stripe during spring practice in Holuba Hall on April 4, 2018. Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com

e41_prac_pl4psu_84.jpg

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Penn State linebacker Ellis Brooks looks on during spring practice in Holuba Hall on April 4, 2018. Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com

1a5_prac_pl4psu_79.jpg

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Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons talks with defensive coordinator Brent Pry during spring practice in Holuba Hall on April 4, 2018. Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com

e09_prac_pl4psu_45.jpg

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Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford throws during spring practice in Holuba Hall on April 4, 2018. Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com
 
Did I hear that right - Tommy Stevens was in talks with other Big Ten programs? So glad the B1G basically invalidated the two-year transfer rule when Michigan needed Iowa's QB. smh
 
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Some good pics from Hermitt

http://www.pennlive.com/joehermitt/2018/04/scenes_from_penn_state_footbal_31.html

f53_prac_pl4psu_56.jpg

38 / 41


Penn State running backs coach Ja'Juan Seider talks with Journey Brown during spring practice in Holuba Hall on April 4, 2018. Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com

1c6_prac_pl4psu_74.jpg

35 / 41


Penn State wide receiver Mac Hippenhammer is congratulated by Penn State head coach James Franklin after receiving his stripe during spring practice in Holuba Hall on April 4, 2018. Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com

c27_prac_pl4psu_73.jpg

23 / 41


Penn State cornerbacks Amani Oruwariye and John Reid present cornerback Donovan Johnson with his stripe during spring practice in Holuba Hall on April 4, 2018. Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com

e41_prac_pl4psu_84.jpg

17 / 41


Penn State linebacker Ellis Brooks looks on during spring practice in Holuba Hall on April 4, 2018. Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com

1a5_prac_pl4psu_79.jpg

12 / 41


Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons talks with defensive coordinator Brent Pry during spring practice in Holuba Hall on April 4, 2018. Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com

e09_prac_pl4psu_45.jpg

3 / 41


Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford throws during spring practice in Holuba Hall on April 4, 2018. Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com

Brooks looks thick - in a good way.
 
Recruiting....Owen Pappoe, 5 star, #1 LB in the country from Georgia taking official visit to Penn State for the Blue White game. His mother went to Penn State.
kWLlj.gif


5 star LB Brandon Smith wraps up a trip when he visited Michigan, ND, Ohio State with two night stay in State College this weekend.
I seem to recall another mother that was from Ga who had her some flip to PSU in Grant Haley. Long shot with this young man, but getting him up for an OV is a nice job by the staff.
 
From Keystone podcast...

Thompkins thinks Hamler is the fastest player on the team. That is saying something when you have sub 4.4 guys in Journey Brown, Donovan Johnson, Butler, Thompkins, etc. Franklin says it is rare to have a player who is both lightning bug quick AND fast. Hamler is both those things.
 
From Keystone podcast...

Thompkins thinks Hamler is the fastest player on the team. That is saying something when you have sub 4.4 guys in Journey Brown, Donovan Johnson, Butler, Thompkins, etc. Franklin says it is rare to have a player who is both lightning bug quick AND fast. Hamler is both those things.

Heard the same thing.. Not to take away from the others, but from what I've seen, Hamler seems like the fastest guy on the team. That boy has some serious wheels.
 
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Heard the same thing.. Not to take away from the others, but from what I've seen, Hamler seems like the fastest guy on the team. That boy has some serious wheels.

Seems like punters and punt coverage in college has gotten so much better. Just not a lot of returnable punts anymore. That said, seems like if he can catch the ball cleanly, he would be a weapon on PR.
 
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One of the big topics for me was that they are at 87 scholarship players and need two to transfer to get to the limit. Neither speculated on specific individuals, but mentioned OL as a possible position for candidates. Wonder if they were thinking of Jenkins and/or Shuman? My first thought was Jake Z now that TS is definitely coming back. He is at best 4th string with five scholarship QBs this fall and one already committed for 2019. Any other candidates likely to move on?
 
Wow since 1902-1903 with Michigan winning back to back 11 win seasons. That is crazy! Add in 2003 there last big ten outright title I believe. They are definitely more of a basketball school then football
 
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From Keystone podcast...

Thompkins thinks Hamler is the fastest player on the team. That is saying something when you have sub 4.4 guys in Journey Brown, Donovan Johnson, Butler, Thompkins, etc. Franklin says it is rare to have a player who is both lightning bug quick AND fast. Hamler is both those things.

LOL - Guessing that Hamler is a lot quicker than lightning bugs, that little kids catch by hand on summer nights. ;)
 
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My goodness, it's been evolving and showing in fits and spurts culminating to the point of obvious in the Washington bowl game, but this team is SOOO fast and strong. Just wow...and still going up! They are going to be putting "Maryland game" hurts on more and more teams.
 
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I guess Dae’Lun Darien is having trouble catching the ball, otherwise you’d think he’d be moved to TE with all the issues we have there.
 
Did I hear that right - Tommy Stevens was in talks with other Big Ten programs? So glad the B1G basically invalidated the two-year transfer rule when Michigan needed Iowa's QB. smh

There is no two year transfer rule in the Big Ten anymore.
 
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