Upgraded WR room on display

By Andy Stine

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UNIVERSITY PARK — The wide receiver room at Penn State looks a lot different than it did just a few months ago when the Nittany Lions were making their run through the College Football Playoff.

Perhaps the biggest news from the Blue-White Game on Saturday came even before the team took the field as it was reported by multiple outlets that the wideouts got another big addition in Syracuse’s Trebor Pena.

Pena, who has one year of eligibility left, hauled in 84 catches for 941 yards and nine TDs for the Orange last season.

Penn State coach James Franklin declined to discuss anyone that isn’t currently on the roster but said the team is “trying to create as much as much competition at every position” as possible.

“That is the nature of this level of college football,” Franklin said. “We embrace it as coaches and the players embrace it as well.”

Saturday brought the first looks of USC transfer Kyron Hudson and Troy transfer Devonte Ross for the game, which resulted in a 10-8 win for the White team in a modified scoring system.

Hudson didn’t do much of note, but Ross opened plenty of eyes.

PSU quarterback Drew Allar missed Ross on a deep ball, but Ross’ speed was noticeable. He also has a knack of making tough catches in traffic and was used in jet sweeps a couple times.

“He’s a really good, contested catcher,” Allar said of Ross. “He’s done a lot of good things throughout the spring. One thing about him, he’s all about work. He’s earned the respect of everyone in the building with just how he carries himself.”

There were also a few holdovers from last season who played. Liam Clifford and Kaden Saunders both suited up for the Blue team.

“(Wide receivers) Coach (Marques) Hagans is going to bring in guys, whether they’re young or old, that are going to make the room better,” Clifford said. “That’s exactly what has been happening in the last couple of years, which has been cool.”

Smolik shines

There were no stats kept for the game and no MVPs were picked, but had there been a selection, Jaxon Smolik would have made a good case for himself.

Smolik, returning from missing all of 2024 with an injury, threw a touchdown to true freshman Lyrick Samuel and made several completions in stride while showing poise in the pocket.

Redshirt freshman Ethan Grunkemeyer got the start for the White team and largely played a clean game, though he did drop a couple snaps.

Franklin declared the backup quarterback job “a battle.”

“They’ve got strong arms, and Jaxon missed the whole year, so we didn’t have a whole lot to compare,” he said. “Jaxon had a great spring so it will be a battle. Whoever wins the backup job we’re going to have to get them real reps, whether that be packages that we have set up for them or entire series.”

Cutdown to 105

With the college football world in limbo over the House settlement, as it stands at the moment, all NCAA teams would have a max of 105 players on the roster in the fall.

The caveat, and challenge, is that all 105 can be on scholarship as opposed to the current limit of 85.

Teams can keep the roster at or over 105 throughout fall camp and up to the first game but must be cut down to 105 at that time. Players can also be brought back after the season to compete for a job again.

It’s Franklin’s intention to keep everyone on the roster as long as possible.

“I don’t like it at all,” he said. “I know what the game of football, and college athletics does in general, in helping build well-rounded individuals. I’m fighting and scratching and clawing to hold on to what I believe college athletics is all about.”

Looking for an LB

Franklin has said the Lions won’t ever be a team that spends a lot of time adding players out of the transfer portal, but he publicly stated his desire to add one after Saturday’s game.

His position has been driven by the unexpected departure of Ta’Mere Robinson, who left the team this spring and transferred to USC.

“If there is a linebacker out there that wants to be a part of our program and play for LBU, the most historic linebacker program in the history of college football, there’s an opportunity to join the room,” Franklin said. “I think we have enough in the room, but getting through a season with potential injuries could be challenging.”

A large number of players did not play in the game on Saturday, including linebacker Tony Rojas. Dominic DeLuca was the only experienced linebacker who saw action.

Change of the game

In an era where a few programs are foregoing the opportunity to play a spring game, Saturday’s Blue-White Game was a far cry of what it used to be.

In past years, most of the game was played in live tackling situations. On Saturday, a good portion was “thud,” which limits hitting, while the first 10 minutes was the 7-on-7 skeleton drill.

Award winners

Penn State’s spring award winners included: Safety Zakee Wheatley (Jim O’Hora/defensive award), Cooper Cousins and TJ Shanahan (Red Worrell/offensive award) and Dom DeLuca, Drew Allar and Zane Durant (Frank Patrick/total commitment award).

Notable …

n Placekicker Ryan Barker missed a 39-yard field goal in the first half.

n Tyler Warren, who was drafted with the 14th overall pick by the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday night, was presented the Mackey Award during a break in action.

n Quinton Martin Jr. punched in a score on fourth-and-goal in the second half.

n One of the bigger highlights on the defensive side was cornerback Daryus Dixson putting a big hit on receiver Josiah Brown in the fourth quarter that caused Brown’s helmet to come off.