In an exhibition like the Penn State Football Blue-White Game, I like to see the team walk off the field as healthy as they did when the game began.
The Nittany Lions did that yesterday in Happy Valley and I think that’s huge, after that, I look for assets from players we don’t know too much about yet.
It’s hard to tell who can really play this game until these players are put into game-like conditions.
There were others not mentioned below that opened some eyes, but if I could give out one game ball on each side of the ball, here’s who I found most deserved of those post-game awards.
Penn State Football Game Balls From Blue-White Game
Offense Game Ball: RB Cam Wallace
Despite Drew Allar tossing for 202 yards for the second consecutive year, my game ball on offense goes to redshirt running back Cam Wallace.
The dynamic duo of running backs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen didn’t see the field on Saturday. That opened the door for Wallace to lead the way for the White team.
Wallace showed off his athleticism and ability to accelerate up to speed quickly from zero, which I’m sure was one of the things that attracted the Nits to his game. Wallace finished the game with seven carries for 36 yards and also hauled in pass for another six yards.
The third back on the depth chart behind Allen and Singleton was in question before the Spring game but I think after watching him yesterday, Wallace probably has a good bead on RB3 heading into next season.
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Defense Game Ball: CB AJ Harris
Let’s face it the White team was loaded Saturday, making the outcome pretty much commensurate with the talent level they brought to the field in a 27-0 victory.
On the opposite side of the field one of the new guys in cornerback A.J. Harris did everything he could to keep things on the level.
The transfer from Georgia posted seven total tackles, including two tackles for loss, in a very strong defensive debut for the Blue team.
The sophomore also recorded a pass breakup and did a very nice job in making the day as unproductive as possible for any White receivers who happened to drift into his air space.
The game left me wanting to see more of the former Penn State recruit turned Georgia Bulldog. You can see why PSU had pursued the former #1 recruit in the entire state of Alabama. He’s tough, he’s athletic, he’s prepared and he loves to play football. Period.
Penn State Football Blue-White Game MVP: Drew Allar
Hey, why not?
The big fella endured a very brisk and windy day in Happy Valley to sling it for 202 yards and a touchdown in a 27-0 rout of the Blue team.
If nothing else his performance probably validated in some small way his head coach’s decision to name him next year’s starting quarterback heading into the 2024 season and alleviating any type of quarterback controversy that has seemed to have gained some momentum since last January.
MORE: 4 Overreactions to The 2024 Blue-White Game
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It was at PRISM where Staszak produced live games and began his career as an on-air reporter.
After a couple of brief stints with CBS-3, WB-17 and WGAL-8 in Lancaster, PA, Staszak began a 12 year stretch at FOX 29 where he became the lead sportscaster in 2007. It was there that Staszak found himself in the middle of Philadelphia Phillies World Series Championship coverage that earned him an Emmy nomination for best sports reporter in 2008.It was one of five Emmy nominations that Staszak earned over the course of his career.
All told Staszak covered three World Series, two Stanley Cup Finals, an NBA Finals and one Super Bowl during his television run.
Staszak left the TV business for 97.5 The Fanatic in 2013, where he enjoyed eight years bloviating his beliefs on how a professional football team should be run.In 2018 when he fortunate enough to be the first sports talk host in the city, along with cohort Zach Gelb, to provide post-game coverage of the first Super Bowl Championship for the city’s beloved Philadelphia Eagles.
Staszak was also a writer for 97.5 The Fanatic along with 4 Philly Sports and now covers Penn State athletics for NittanyCentral.com.
