Penn State Football Shakes Up Special Teams, Preps Young Stars for Bigger Roles
Penn State Football head coach James Franklin met with the media Monday afternoon for the first time following a Penn State win to open the regular season.
In his weekly media availability, Franklin addressed questions on Penn State’s win over Nevada, Penn State’s personnel, and Penn State’s upcoming game against FIU.
3 Penn State Takeaways from James Franklin’s Press Conference
Penn State still getting over injury issues
Penn State made it through week one seemingly healthy on the injury front after an easy 46-11 over Nevada.
However, Franklin confirmed Monday that Penn State is still getting over preseason injuries to a few players.
Franklin mentioned that Zuriah Fisher, who was expected to start at defensive end opposite Dani Dennis-Sutton, was held out of Penn State’s first game, still recovering from his injury that cost him his 2024 season.
Franklin noted that Fisher wanted to play Saturday, but the staff decided to hold him out because he had not practiced enough before the matchup with Nevada.
On another front, Franklin confirmed that Penn State running back Quinton Martin was also not available for the Nittany Lions after “tweaking” something during fall camp and missing around two weeks of practice.
On both players, Franklin suggested that neither injury will hold either player out long term and both could make their season debut either against FIU or Villanova.
Penn State starting special teams change
On Monday, James Franklin also confirmed that Gabe Nwosu has replaced Riley Thompson as Penn State’s starting punter. the 6-foot-6 inch, 297 pound Nwosu will step into the starting position at punter alongside his other starting role as a kickoff specialist.
In making the announcement, Franklin noted that Nwosu is as close to Jordan Stout as the Nittany Lions have seen in the past few years. Penn State’s punter did not see the field this weekend against Nevada, which is likely why Franklin made the announcement at his weekly press conference.
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Building Depth
Another common theme of Penn State’s press conference was Penn State’s ability to build depth during the Nittany Lions’ nonconference schedule.
First, Franklin noted that Penn State was able to get 73 players involved against Nevada, playing plenty of freshmen and younger pieces Saturday. Franklin also noted that Penn State was able to get transfer Enai White onto the field at his new position at defensive tackle Saturday where Franklin said he has “found a home.”
Penn State also had an opportunity to see what it has in redshirt freshman quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer, who led a 96-yard scoring drive for the Nittany Lions.
Franklin noted that he thought Grunkemeyer “played in the game better than he’s practiced at times. He wasn’t holding onto the ball. He was decisive.”
Penn State has another opportunity to build young depth and (hopefully) get the Penn State starters out of the game without injury Saturday against FIU. Penn State is an early 42.5-point favorite against the Panthers.
MORE Penn State Football news from NittanyCentral:
- Drew Allar Report Card from Nittany Lions’ Week 1 Blowout
- 3 Nittany Lions on The Cusp of National Stardom in 2025
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