drew allar

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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Changes abound in college football, and of course, Penn State wasn't immune to them in the last week.
With special teams coordinator Stacy Collins off to Boise State, head coach James Franklin worked quickly to replace him by bringing in Vanderbilt's Justin Lustig. But the greater coaching chaos around the country obviously dwarfed the third coordinator change on Penn State's staff this offseason.
This week on the Penn Stated podcast, hosts Donnie Collins and Sam Fremin talked about what areas Lustig could make an immediate impact in Happy Valley, and why one less talked-about part of his position might actually be a boon for the coaching staff.
They also take a deep dive into Nick Saban's retirement at Alabama and the ripple effect associated with it around college football. When coaches talk about necessary change around the game, maybe the University of Arizona would be a good example to look toward.
Donnie and Sam also...finally...delve into some listener requests and talk about whether there should be a legitimate quarterback competition heading into 2024 after Drew Allar's performance in his debut season as a starter. The bottom line: Of course there should be. But, it also comes with a bit of advice. Calm down. And understand the importance of development, especially at the quarterback position.
All that -- and, of course, more! -- on 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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Mike Yurcich is gone. Penn State's Big Ten championships hopes are, too. James Franklin is under questioning. And the Nittany Lions are going to be under the microscope as the season winds down.
On this week's episode of the Penn Stated podcast, hosts Donnie Collins (The Scranton Times-Tribune) and Sam Fremin (The Citizens Voice) break down Franklin's decision to fire Yurcich and pursue his sixth offensive coordinator in 11 seasons.
What does it mean for Penn State's head coach, as he approaches what Sam calls the most critical hire of his tenure? And, what traits should he be looking for in the next coordinator? Donnie and Sam both give their thoughts on that, and make their picks.
Plus, they discuss why Yurcich failed to get the offense to reach the levels most expected he would, the negative fan reaction after the loss and...of course...2-point conversions and the value of common sense.

To contact Donnie, drop an email at dcollins@scrantontimes.com, or send him a message on Twitter @PennStateTT.

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It's the question most Penn State fans have been wrestling with since the Nittany Lions lost the latest in a long line of existential struggles against Ohio State last Saturday, and frankly, they should be used to the feeling by now.
Penn State's 11-game winning streak and circled the drain yet again against the Buckeyes, leaving the rest of what once was viewed as a potential breakthrough season very much in doubt.
Penn Stated hosts Donnie Collins (Scranton Times-Tribune) and Sam Fremin (Citizens Voice) talked about many of the issues that now surround a program that just can't seem to get past the top-level teams in the Big Ten. Even when it seems as if it has every reason to believe it should.
They give their thoughts on whether fans should have belief in the program as it stands right now. They also delve into their thoughts on who is most to blame for the latest Buckeyes defeat, and who is getting too much of the blame. Is head coach James Franklin the right man for the job, and should one poorly-coached loss change that?
Should this be a defining moment for quarterback Drew Allar, who did not play well?
As usual, there are a lot of questions with this program.
And, the answers aren't as easy to come by.

To contact Donnie, drop an email at dcollins@scrantontimes.com, or send him a message on Twitter @PennStateTT.

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Penn State needs to beat Ohio State.  James Franklin needs a signature win for the Penn State Football Program.

00:00 - Intro

1:17 - (2) Michigan - Michigan State recap

8:08 - (7) Penn State - (3) Ohio State recap

16:20 - Minnesota - (24) Iowa recap

21:46 - Wisconsin - Illinois recap

25:43 - Rutgers - Indiana recap

28:08 - Northwestern - Nebraska recap

31:48 - (14) Utah - (18) USC recap

The date that has been circled for months is almost here.
For Penn State, it's the day that means everything.
With the No. 7 Nittany Lions preparing for its annual existential struggle against No. 3 Ohio State on Saturday in Columbus, Penn Stated hosts Donnie Collins and Sam Fremin discuss every angle of the Big Ten's biggest game to this point in the 2023 season. The winner will be positioned to face Michigan in the de facto Big Ten East championship game in November, but for Penn State, the game feels bigger.
It feels like a moment in time.
Like an opportunity to make another step long awaited since the Nittany Lions last defeated Ohio State in 2016, since head coach James Franklin's now famous "elite" speech in 2018.
Donnie and Sam look at the impact of quarterback Drew Allar, playing in his first-ever national-spotlight game on the road -- and in his home state. They talk about the strengths, and rare weaknesses, of the Buckeyes offense. And, they give their predictions on who will win and what will be the biggest reason why.

To contact Donnie, drop an email at dcollins@scrantontimes.com, or send him a message on Twitter @PennStateTT.

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(00:00) - Intro

(00:39) - Michigan State - Iowa reaction and discussion

(07:11) - (2) Michigan - Nebraska reaction and discussion

(11:04) - (6) Penn State - Northwestern reaction and discussion

(15:30) - Indiana - Maryland reaction and discussion

(18:24) - Wagner - Rutgers reaction and discussion

(20:50) - Illinois - Purdue reaction and discussion

(24:41) - Louisiana - Minnesota reaction and discussion

(27:48) - Biggest takeaways from week 5

Penn State-Iowa might be the second-most important rivalry in the Big Ten these days, and this weekend, it gets the White Out treatment at Beaver Stadium.
On this week's episode of the Penn Stated football podcast, hosts Donnie Collins and Sam Fremin discuss the potential for this matchup to be an emotional one after their charged 2021 matchup. Of what two games from the past did that one remind Donnie and Sam, and do they think head coach James Franklin won't give what happened that night at Kinnick Stadium a second thought this week?
They also broke down the 30-13 win over Illinois last Saturday. The defense was dominant, but what position on the offense concerned them the most?
And for good measure, Donnie and Sam delved into that ever-pressing question: If James Franklin were for some reason to leave Penn State at the end of the season -- which isn't going to happen, so stop even thinking about it -- should the Nittany Lions consider bringing Deion Sanders in to run the show?

To contact Donnie, drop an email at dcollins@scrantontimes.com, or send him a message on Twitter @PennStateTT.

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He is a team captain.
A walk-on turned scholarship recipient.
A special teams maven.
A valuable linebacker who someday may be a starter.
But most of all, Wyoming Area grad Dominic DeLuca is "a nice guy."
That's a rare compliment in football, but teammates say DeLuca's attitude has helped unite the team and make him one of the most respected members of the locker room.
So this week, on the Penn Stated podcast, hosts Donnie Collins and Sam Fremin talk about the value DeLuca's outlook on his own career and the game has on the team, and the adulation he has received from his Pick-6 in the win over Delaware last weekend.
Donnie and Sam also debate:

• The potential pitfalls -- if there are any, of course -- of inserting different players in the starting lineup and playing more and more players on a weekly basis. 
• Head coach James Franklin's insistence that defensive coordinators should be prepared for backup quarterback Beau Pribula to play more when the game is on the line. Sure, he can run and is off to a nice start in relief. But is taking the ball out of Drew Allar's hands really what the Nittany Lions should be doing?
• What are AP Poll voters telling Penn State by moving teams ranked behind them ahead of them in back-to-back polls?
• The winners of the weekly Penn Stated Unsung MVP awards on offense, defense and special teams.

All this and more on the latest Penn Stated.

To contact Donnie, drop an email at dcollins@scrantontimes.com, or send him a message on Twitter @PennStateTT.

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So...Drew Allar lived up to the hype.
Penn State's prized sophomore threw for 325 yards in his first career start and led the Nittany Lions to victory last Saturday against West Virginia. That didn't surprise hosts Donnie Collins and Sam Fremin, who talked in this week's episode of the Penn Stated podcast about what impressed them most about Allar's performance.
But, there was much more to dissect from the opener, including the somewhat controversial -- at least from West Virginia coach Neal Brown's perspective -- late touchdown scored on backup quarterback Beau Pribula's lone drive. Was that criticism justified, or just ridiculous?
Donnie and Sam also break down the performance of Penn State's highly touted defense and whether the Mountaineers' relative success running the ball Saturday might be a harbinger of issues to come for the Nittany Lions down the road.
Plus, find out who Donnie and Sam thought were the biggest surprises of the game, on both sides of the ball. Donnie also lists his Hidden Heroes of the week.

To contact Donnie, drop an email at dcollins@scrantontimes.com, or send him a message on Twitter @PennStateTT.

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(0:00) - Intro

(2:21) - West Virginia  - (7) Penn State recap

(7:53) - (3) Ohio State - Indiana recap

(11:40) Fresno State - Purdue recap

(14:36) East Carolina - (2) Michigan

(17:25) Utah State - (25) Iowa recap

(19:38) Buffalo - (19) Wisconsin recap

(21:58) Towson - Maryland recap

(24:31) Toledo - Illinois recap

(26:00) Nebraska - Minnesota recap

(28:00) Central Michigan - Michigan State recap

The 2023 season is just a few days away, and plenty is going to change for Penn State. 
What shouldn't is what should be clear by now.
Hosts Donnie Collins and Sam Fremin discuss the No. 7 Nittany Lions' season opener on this week's edition of the Penn Stated podcast, with a focus on the should-be starting quarterback Drew Allar and what he potentially brings to the offense. Do Donnie and Sam think the former five-star prospect can actually start off strong and be a catalyst against West Virginia?
Other topics on the agenda include the Big Ten's long-overdue policy requiring teams to release pregame availability data -- and why Donnie thinks this will be a sad goodbye to the halcyon days of the overly paranoid head coaches around college football. 
Donnie and Sam also discuss not just how West Virginia can pull off an upset, but whether it seems likely.

To contact Donnie, drop an email at dcollins@scrantontimes.com, or send him a message on Twitter @PennStateTT.

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On Sept. 2, Penn State will storm onto Beaver Stadium for its home opener against West Virginia with a promising young offense that, someday, might be among the best in the nation.
They also enter facing a much less enticing reality. That "someday" could be further down the road, while their best shot to claim a national championship is the one that stands directly in front of them, led by a defense that is ready to be counted with the nation's best.
On this week's return of Penn Stated, host Donnie Collins and guest Sam Fremin of The Citizens Voice break down some of the bigger issues surrounding not just the 2023 season, but the program itself. How should Penn State -- and yes, its fans -- measure success this fall? What could this team be? And, more realistically, what is it?
They'll debate which game Penn State is more likely to win in the season series against Big Ten powers Ohio State and Michigan, and discuss whether any result outside of a College Football Playoff berth is going to be satisfactory enough for those who think the Nittany Lions' time has come.
Donnie also breaks down the state of the quarterback competition between Drew Allar and Beau Pribula, along with a rundown of the Northeast Pennsylvania players on the roster and their potential impacts this season.

To contact Donnie, drop an email at dcollins@scrantontimes.com, or send him a message on Twitter @PennStateTT.

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There's a lot to talk about around the Penn State football program as June settles in, and Penn Stated host Donnie Collins hits on the biggest topics in this week's episode.

• Adjustments to the schedule make for a rather historic broadcast of an otherwise run-of-the-mill game against Delaware.
• A big recruiting weekend draws three solid prospects to Happy Valley and nets verbal commitments from each of them. What does that say about the state of the program right now?
• An intriguing prospect who signed as part of the 2023 recruiting class is no longer with the team. 
• And head coach James Franklin's comments on expected starting quarterback Drew Allar in an ESPN article published early in the week should draw plenty of attention -- and maybe even some concern -- from Penn State fans. Find out why Donnie thinks the Nittany Lions might be putting too much of the focus on their sophomore quarterback.

All that and more in this week's episode 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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For sure, there was plenty to talk about after last Saturday's Blue-White Game at Beaver Stadium.
Omari Evans and Kaden Saunders may have cooled some of the doubt about the readiness of Penn State's second batch of receivers. For backup defensive ends, Dani Dennis-Sutton and Zuriah Fisher sure did look like gamebreakers. For true freshmen who would normally still be in high school, Tony Rojas and Ta'Mere Robinson sure did look like potential stars at linebacker. KJ Winston might be a stud at safety. The defense potentially looks dominant, even if the kicking specialists left a bit to be desired.
But with special guest Cory Giger of DK Pittsburgh Sports on as his special guest this week, of course Penn Stated host Donnie Collins is going to put the focus back on the quarterback position and the performance of sophomore Drew Allar in what, in all reality, was his first career game as the Nittany Lions' starting quarterback.
Donnie and Cory went in-depth on the receiver battle and made themselves GMs while discussing their view on what positions Penn State coaches should look to bolster through the transfer portal this summer.
Still, most of the talk centered on Allar, who threw for more than 200 yards in the game, with just one touchdown, and had to battle a hard-charging defense throughout the overcast afternoon. Is he ready to help Penn State contend for a Big Ten East title sooner rather than later? And, how important is he for a program that wants to get itself on an accelerated national title pace?
Plus, Donnie and Cory give their opinions on realistic timelines for the Nittany Lions to win a national championship. (Hint: Don't hold your breath waiting.)

To contact Donnie, drop an email at dcollins@scrantontimes.com, or send him a message on Twitter @PennStateTT.

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It's a new era for Penn State basketball.
Baseball season is upon us.
And, Penn State football is entering a new era with plenty of talent and questions.
On this week's episode of the Penn Stated podcast, host Donnie Collins chats with The Reading Eagle Penn State beat writer Rich Scarcella about Mike Rhoades, Penn State's new men's basketball coach -- a native of Mahanoy City and a graduate of Mahanoy Area High School, located just a few miles outside of Hazleton.
Does Rhoades' area roots make him a bet to stay at Penn State for the long term?
Donnie and Rich also talk about replacing Ji'Ayir Brown in the defensive scheme this spring, and the void he leaves as a leader. Who are the players most likely to step up in that role? Donnie and Rich discuss that, as well.
They also couldn't resist talking some Yankees baseball.

To contact Donnie, drop an email at dcollins@scrantontimes.com, or send him a message on Twitter @PennStateTT.

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There are no coincidences in sports. 
There is no such thing as interesting timing.
Everything is planned. There is cause and effect. Things don't happen without reason.
So when Penn State announced that it let go of receivers coach Taylor Stubblefield on Sunday night, and top transfer portal target receiver Dante Cephas said a half hour later that he was committing to the Nittany Lions, it kicked off a furious week at the position many felt Penn State needed to hit hard through the transfer portal this offseason.
In a super-sized episode of the Penn Stated podcast, host Donnie Collins discusses the additions of Cephas and rising Florida State prospect Malik McClain to a wideout group that still doesn't have a position coach -- at least publicly.
Donnie also chats with DK Pittsburgh Sports Penn State beat writer Cory Giger about the move, and what it says about James Franklin's philosophy on competing 365 days a year, "In everything you do," as one of his team's mantras goes.
Donnie also gives his opinion on which two other positions will now need help through the portal, and which portal loss for Penn State might be as important as the additions of Cephas and McClain.

To contact Donnie, drop an email at dcollins@scrantontimes.com, or send him a message on Twitter @PennStateTT.

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Penn State did what it set out to do in the Rose Bowl.

It sent a slew of players who meant so much to the program's past out in the best possible fashion, with embattled quarterback Sean Clifford absorbing a standing ovation from the Nittany Lions faithful in Pasadena after a near-perfect final performance highlighting that.

As the Clifford era ended, the Drew Allar reign as starting quarterback began, and for as promising as most around the Penn State program feel that time can be, it does bring its own set of questions.

Penn Stated host Donnie Collins wraps up the 2022 season with a look at Clifford's stirring performance, and what the win in the Rose Bowl will mean for a Penn State team that suddenly has some national momentum with the 2023 campaign still eight months from its dawn. 

What has the Rose Bowl, and a week's worth of decisions on whether to pursue NFL dreams, taught us about what's possible in 2023? And how much pressure will be on Allar, Penn State's freshman phenom, to guide the offense?

Donnie also delves into the folly of putting too much stock into season-ending polls like the Associated Press poll, which ranked Penn State at No. 7 to conclude the season. And if you think there have been lopsided College Football Playoff games in recent years, just wait until you get a load of the semifinals and finals of the 12-team tournament come 2024.

To contact Donnie, drop an email at dcollins@scrantontimes.com, or send him a message on Twitter @PennStateTT.

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Technically, the 2022 season doesn't end until the Rose Bowl is completed on Jan. 2, but this is the season of change at Penn State.

This week, Penn Stated host Donnie Collins talks about the busy past couple of weeks, and the perhaps busier ones ahead, for the Nittany Lions coaching staff as it tries to navigate its way through the early transfer portal period while also shoring up its 2023 recruiting class with the National Letter of Intent early signing period just a week away.

And those jobs have never been so important for James Franklin and company.

Find out what the Nittany Lions' list of players available for interviews at Friday's Rose Bowl media day likely says about the relatively few Penn State players opting out of the Rose Bowl, while also hearing what the bigger shift in Utah players opting out says about the future of bowl games.

Donnie also talks about receiver Parker Washington's decision to head to the NFL and what that might mean for Penn State's leading pass catcher. Does it also give us a sneak peak toward what might be the biggest story around the program for most of the first eight months of 2023? 

To contact Donnie, drop an email at dcollins@scrantontimes.com, or send him a message on Twitter @PennStateTT.

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