NittanyCentral

NittanyCentral delivers expert analysis from veteran reporters and timely updates on Penn State sports, with in-depth coverage of Nittany Lions Football, Wrestling, Basketball, and more.

NittanyCentral

NittanyCentral delivers expert analysis from veteran reporters and timely updates on Penn State sports, with in-depth coverage of Nittany Lions Football, Wrestling, Basketball, and more.

Manny Diaz

Manny Diaz’ ‘Chip’ Could Result in Championship for Penn State Football

Manny Diaz is no stranger to elite defenses. In just his first season as Penn State’s defensive coordinator, Diaz elevated the Nittany Lions‘ defensive production in almost every statistical category last year. Penn State Football held opponents under 20 points nine times in 2022, something they did only six times under previous defensive coordinator Brent […]

Projecting Penn State Football Defense Starting Lineup, Primed for Dominant Manny Diaz Encore

Penn State Football defensive coordinator Manny Diaz enters his second season in Happy Valley with a load of talent on the defensive side of the football and an interesting predicament, how to get so many playmakers involved and on the field for enough snaps. Penn State returns eight starters from a defense that ranked 10th […]

Is Penn State Football Built to Beat Ohio State or Michigan? | Nittany Lions Mailbag

Training camp is underway for Penn State Football, ahead of a season that carries the loftiest expectations the program has seen in nearly a decade. Thanks to a roster loaded with talent on both sides of the football, and the arrival of the most highly touted quarterback of the James Franklin era, fans in Happy […]

Penn State Football Recruiting News: Nittany Lions Add Elite Defensive Tackle

Penn State Football added a key piece to its 2024 recruiting class on Friday morning with the addition of 4-star defensive tackle Liam Andrews. The 6-foot-5, 260-pound defensive tackle picked the Nittany Lions over Wisconsin and South Carolina. He is the 23rd commit in the 2024 class. This is a major get for first-year defensive […]

Penn State Football Poised For Elite Defensive Tackle Recruiting Haul

Penn State Football has gone a bit quiet on the recruiting trail, but that shouldn’t be the case much longer. The Nittany Lions are in the thick of it for two elite defensive tackles, and both will be making their decision this weekend. The first is high 4-star Liam Andrews, who will announce on Friday. […]

Penn State Football: 5 Keys to Making the College Football Playoff in 2023

Could this be the year Penn State Football breaks through and makes the College Football Playoff? Only time will tell, but the Nittany Lions have a roster talented enough, with experience and depth at key positions, to have a legitimate chance. Here’s a look at 5 keys to Penn State Football making the College Football […]

Penn State Football Recruiting Lands Major Commitment: Mylachi Williams Soars in Rankings, Boosting 2024 Class

Penn State Football received as major commitment over the weekend from 4-star defensive end Mylachi Williams, and the newest Nittany Lions’ addition is already shooting up the recruiting rankings.   The best in PA stay in PA!!!🦁🦁🦁 pic.twitter.com/Yy8Exmkp12 — Mylachi Williams (@24MylachiW) July 9, 2023 On Monday, On3 updated its 2024 class rankings, and Williams […]

Penn State Football Needs These Cornerbacks to Step Up With Joey Porter Jr. in The NFL

With Joey Porter Jr. moved on to the NFL, we all know Kalen King will step in and be the No.1 cornerback for Penn State Football. The question is, who will the other cornerbacks step up? King is an outstanding corner, and teams will likely try to avoid him. He had a 44.7 completion rate […]

Penn State Football: Predicting Top-5 Playmakers on Loaded Nittany Lions’ Defense

Penn State Football boasted a defense in 2022 that was among the best in college football, finishing 7th in total team scoring defense and 8th in both sacks and turnovers per game. Over the past three seasons, Penn State ranks 3rd in sacks per game and 7th in turnovers per game. Bringing back a ton […]

Penn State Football Recruiting: Ranking Nittany Lions’ Top-5 Targets as Critical Stretch Looms

Penn State Football is entering a critical point in the 2024 recruiting cycle. The official visit window will open next weekend, giving the Nittany Lions one last crack to win over most of their top targets. The official visit window was kind to Penn State both in the 2022 and 2023 cycles, so the staff […]

Penn State Football Prepares to Fill Big Shoes: How Nittany Lions will Replace Joey Porter Jr.

The NFL draft has come and gone, and a number of former Penn Football standouts headed to the NFL. Leading the way, and the first former Nittany Lions player off the board was Joey Porter Jr. The son of former NFL great, Joey Porter, is headed to old stomping grounds. The Pittsburgh Steelers took Porter […]

Next Penn State Football DT Target Just Entered Transfer Portal

After the Penn State Football spring game this past Saturday, head coach James Franklin mentioned defensive tackle and wide receiver as positions they would continue to look into the portal for additions. A massive entry came Monday, in the form of former Ole Miss defensive tackle Tywone Malone. The six-foot-four, 300 pound sophomore is the […]

Penn State Football LB Abdul Carter Strongest Link in Manny Diaz’s Chain

Penn State Football fans, or College Football fanatics, if you’re looking for a University of Miami Turnover Chain for let’s say your man cave or even for posterity’s sake then you’d better hurry. There are only about four Miami turnover chains left on EBAY the last time I checked. There was one under my tree […]

Penn State Football Adds Top-Rated CB In Major Recruiting Get

Penn State Football starts April off with a bang as four-star cornerback Jon Mitchell commits to the Nittany Lions. Mitchell, a 6-foot 175 pound cornerback out of Jacksonville, Florida, committed to Penn State over offers from Notre Dame, Alabama, Miami, and Florida State, among others. #WeAre🦁 pic.twitter.com/md8WIyrpZs — Jon Mitchell ⁵ (@LM5jon) April 1, 2023 […]

Penn State Football CB Kalen King Named ‘Player to Watch’ Across College Football

Kalen King figures to play a starring role in the Penn State Football secondary in 2023, and is quickly garnering national preseason recognition. King, 5-foot-11 and 188 pounds, will aim to replace 2023 second-round NFL Draft pick Joey Porter Jr. in the Nittany Lions‘ defensive backfield this fall. Ahead of King‘s sophomore season, 247 Sports […]

Penn State Football Winter Workouts Won By KEY Defensive Player

Penn State Football is in the midst of winter workouts, over the past several weeks, and one player has stood out to defensive coordinator Manny Diaz. Curtis Jacobs has now been named competitor of the day three times for the linebacker room, leading all linebackers, so far this winter. Jacobs’ announcement to return to the […]

3 New Faces DOMINATE Penn State Football Winter Workouts

The Penn State Football team began winter workouts Tuesday, marking the first opportunity for transfer players and early enrollee freshmen to take part in team activities. Over James Franklin’s tenure, assistant coaches have always named a competitor of the day for each position group. For the first winter workout in 2023, the Nittany Lions saw […]

Is Penn State Football LB Abdul Carter the Next Micah Parsons?

Penn State Football has a long, proud tradition of elite linebackers. From Lavar Arrington to Dan Connor and Sean Lee, the Nittany Lions‘ reputation as LBU has been well earned for decades. The exciting part is we might be on the cusp of adding another name to that list, Abdul Carter. The true freshman LB […]

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