The Penn State football team begins preseason camp Wednesday with high hopes of contending in the expanded Big Ten and of reaching the expanded College Football Playoff.
Here are five things to watch over the next four weeks as the Nittany Lions prepare for their season opener Aug. 31 at West Virginia:
1. Who will emerge at wide receiver, a weakness last year?
Former Southern Columbia star Julian Fleming can help after he transferred from Ohio State in January. He made 60 catches for 803 yards and six touchdowns the last two seasons as a complementary piece behind Marvin Harrison Jr. He’s also provided strong leadership at the position.
Harrison Wallace III has flashed at times, but he needs to stay healthy. Penn State desperately needs a vertical threat to keep defenses from crowding the line of scrimmage. Can it be Omari Evans, Kaden Saunders or a freshman like Tyseer Denmark? Evans and Saunders haven’t proven themselves yet.
2. Who will replace the three offensive linemen who were NFL draft picks?
Former Downingtown West standout Drew Shelton has recovered from surgery for an upper-body injury and will succeed All-American Olu Fashanu at left tackle. Shelton started the final six games in 2022 in place of Fashanu and saw extensive action last season. Former Wyomissing star J’ven Williams likely will begin the season behind Shelton
Nick Dawkins is the top candidate to replace Hunter Nourzad at center, but he’s expected to be pushed by freshman Cooper Cousins, who enjoyed a terrific spring.
Wisconsin transfer Nolan Rucci (Warwick grad), redshirt freshman Anthony Donkoh or JB Nelson could replace Caedan Wallace at right tackle. Rucci has added about 15 pounds since he arrived and is up to 320, according to coach James Franklin. Donkoh played the entire second half against Mississippi in the Peach Bowl. The versatile Nelson started eight games at left guard last year, but he could play right tackle with Vega Ioane at left guard.
Sixth-year senior Sal Wormley is motivated to finish his career strongly at right guard.
3. Who will start and play at cornerback?
Penn State lost cornerbacks Kalen King, Daequan Hardy and Johnny Dixon from a group that finished 11th in the nation in pass defense efficiency.
Cam Miller, Zion Tracy and Elliot Washington II are the top returners, but the Lions brought in A.J. Harris (Georgia) and Jalen Kimber (Florida) from the transfer portal.
Miller and Tracy saw extensive action against Ole Miss after King and Dixon opted out of the Peach Bowl and struggled against some very talented receivers. Washington played primarily on special teams last year. All three were four-star prospects.
Kimber has the most experience after playing in every game for the Gators the last two seasons, including 11 starts last year. Harris was rated a top 35 recruit coming out of high school, but he saw limited action with the Bulldogs last year.
4. How much will Abdul Carter play at defensive end and linebacker?
Franklin confirmed at Big Ten Media Days that Carter will split time between the two positions.
The uber-athletic Carter was an All-Big Ten first-team linebacker last year who played defensive end during spring practice. If he would have only played at end, his playing time would have decreased because Penn State has rotated several players there. Franklin said Carter’s position will depend on the opponent and scheme.
The Lions are again deep at end with Dani Dennis-Sutton, who’s ready to have a breakout season, Amin Vanover, Smith Vilbert and Jameial Lyons leading the returners. Zuriah Fisher suffered an injury in the spring that might sideline him for the season.
At linebacker, Kobe King returns on the inside and likely will play alongside Tony Rojas in new defensive coordinator Tom Allen’s 4-2-5 alignment. That, of course, will change when Carter plays there. How? We’ll see.
5. Will Beau Pribula be a significant part of the offense?
Pribula, the former Central York star, played in 11 games last year as the No. 2 quarterback behind Drew Allar. He rushed for 329 yards and six touchdowns and threw four TD passes.
He’s expected to see significant minutes with new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, who used two quarterbacks together at times during his three years at Kansas.
Franklin said at Big Ten Media Days that Pribula “needs to be a part of what we do.”
Reading Eagle, Pa.
