Penn Stated: Talking Penn State Football with Donnie Collins Times-Shamrock

Well, the changes in the wide receiver room that most expected to see in the Blue-White Game last week started to take shape a few days before. Former top target KeAndre Lambert-Smith is in the transfer portal, and so is another veteran, Malick Meiga, who could have contributed toward replacing him.
The question now for Penn State is, what's next at a position that has caused plenty of consternation in recent months? Penn Stated hosts Donnie Collins and Sam Fremin discuss Lambert-Smith's departure, and perhaps more importantly, how the coaching staff plans to replace his production.
Is it going to be through the transfer portal? One of the hosts has his doubts, especially after a decent outing in the Blue-White Game for a few younger players.
Donnie and Sam also discuss the players who impressed them most in the spring scrimmage, and debate the best use of converted defensive end Abdul Carter, who will certainly add to a lethal rotation at defensive end but who also showed Saturday how valuable it is to have him on the field, somewhere.
All that, and more, in this week's edition of Penn Stated.
To contact Donnie, drop an email at dcollins@scrantontimes.com, or send him a message on Twitter @PennStateTT.

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Sam Fremin will be on the desk on Saturday, but Penn Stated co-host Donnie Collins will be at Beaver Stadium for his "favorite" day of the year, the Blue-White Game at 2 p.m. on Saturday. But both hosts think this game has a chance to be one of the most educational spring-practice-ending games in recent memory.
On this week's episode of Penn Stated, the hosts break down the positions to watch in Saturday's game, led by a group of talented but inexperienced cornerbacks and a receiving corps that underachieved and underwhelmed in 2023. Which players in that group have the best chance to stand out heading into the summer?
Donnie and Sam also spend some time discussing the commitment of Spring-Ford High School quarterback Matt Zollers - one of the top prospects in Pennsylvania in the 2025 recruiting class - to Missouri. What does that say about the role NIL is playing in college sports? And, is it necessarily a bad thing for the game to see a top prospect eschew the top schools in favor of better opportunities at an up-and-coming program? 
To contact Donnie, drop an email at dcollins@scrantontimes.com, or send him a message on Twitter @PennStateTT.

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It's finally over.
And we're not just talking about the All-James Franklin team, either.
As spring practice inches closer to the annual Blue-White Game at Beaver Stadium on April 13, Penn Stated hosts Donnie Collins and Sam Fremin open this week's podcast by breaking down the most interesting storylines of the spring to this point...and how they can manifest themselves in the spring-closing scrimmage next weekend.
How much of new coordinator Andy Kotelnicki's offense should fans expect to see in the Blue-White Game?Who are some of the players at key positions who need to have big games?Can the offense and defense work together in the game to achieve some goals heading into what is going to be a hotly contested fall camp with plenty of change afoot for the Nittany Lions?But the main event of this edition of the show is the conclusion of the All-James Franklin team. Celebrating Franklin's 10 seasons with the Nittany Lions, Donnie and Sam spent the last several weeks picking the best players at each position during the Franklin era, and they wind that team down this week with their picks at punter and kicker, and their four wild-card selections. Who didn't make the cut originally at their positions, but do now? And, what do the hosts feel was the most competitive position to pick a first-teamer at during this process? The answer might be surprising.
To contact Donnie, drop an email at dcollins@scrantontimes.com, or send him a message on Twitter @PennStateTT.

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As spring practice started in the last week, much of the conversation revolved around two position switches: The oft-talked-about move of Abdul Carter from linebacker to defensive end, and sophomore safety Mekhi Flowers' much-less-bandied-about move to receiver.
Head coach James Franklin said during a press conference last week that both moves were precipitated by player request, which of course piqued the interest of both Penn Stated hosts, Donnie Collins and Sam Fremin.
Is that indicative of a shift in philosophy for coaches who are more likely now to give a player what he wants to keep him happy and on the roster? Is it more about players feeling more empowered to ask for those changes?
Or, is it simply something that happened all the time behind the scenes anyway, and just happened to be a big topic of discussion this year at two positions that needed extra manpower?
Donnie and Sam discussed their thoughts on all of that, plus other positional battles that are intriguing them as the Blue-White Game approaches next month.
The hosts also make their selections at Quarterback and Defensive End on the All-James Franklin team, which will wind down with a full roster next week.
To contact Donnie, drop an email at dcollins@scrantontimes.com, or send him a message on Twitter @PennStateTT.

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With the latest round of betting odds on who will win the 2024 Big Ten football championship coming out this week, Penn State finds itself in a typical position: Behind both Ohio State and Michigan, with Oregon having better odds as well, at least when it comes to public perception.
But, is that necessarily an accurate way to look at how the Big Ten is shaping up this fall?
On this week's edition of the Penn Stated podcast, hosts Donnie Collins and Sam Fremin discuss the odds, and why the Nittany Lions might be in a better position than many might think to finally break through at the top of the Big Ten standings for the first time in eight years come December.
They also continue to round out the All-James Franklin Team, honoring the top players at each position during the head coach's first 10 years at Penn State. This week, they break down two loaded positions: Receiver and linebacker.
To contact Donnie, drop an email at dcollins@scrantontimes.com, or send him a message on Twitter @PennStateTT.

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It sure seems that way, if the reaction to Penn State's typically benign "competitors of the day" for winter workouts is any indication. 
With backup quarterback Beau Pribula practically sweeping the honor from quarterbacks coach Danny O'Brien in the early going during workouts, many commenters on social media are wondering if that gives the sophomore any edge in a potential quarterback battle with starter Drew Allar this spring. Well, Penn Stated hosts Donnie Collins and Sam Fremin have some news for those of you looking forward to the backup quarterback knocking off the incumbent.
It isn't going to happen.
Donnie and Sam also delve deep into the decision to move star junior Abdul Carter from the linebacker spot to defensive end for the 2024 season; Which of the hosts thinks it still might not happen, and which is convinced it will wind up being a boon to the defense that has thrived on a consistent pass rush the past few seasons?
They both discuss the Board of Trustees' fumbling of backroom talks to name Beaver Stadium after former head coach Joe Paterno, and continue to build the current coach's All-Franklin team in the second segment - it's time to add the tight ends, offensive tackles and defensive tackles to the first and second teams - on a jam-packed episode of the podcast this week.
To contact Donnie, drop an email at dcollins@scrantontimes.com, or send him a message on Twitter @PennStateTT.

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