INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Penn State head coach James Franklin, senior safety Ji'Ayir Brown, redshirt senior quarterback Sean Clifford, and senior defensive tackle PJ Mustipher represented the Nittany Lions at Big Ten Football Media Day Wednesday at Lucas Oil Stadium.
The Nittany Lions meet with the media in various capacities throughout the day, including Coach Franklin's press conference scheduled at noon and Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics Patrick Kraft's media availability proceeding Franklin.
Follow the Nittany Lions and see highlights throughout the day below and on Twitter (@PennStateFBall), Instagram (@PennStateFBall) and Facebook (Penn State Football).
ONE-ON-ONE WITH JAMES FRANKLIN
Coach Franklin's Full Press Conference Transcript
BROWN, CLIFFORD & MUSTIPHER ON B1G NETWORK
JAMES FRANKLIN ON B1G NETWORK
On consistency…“It’s all about leadership and being able to help out other players. Coming in, being the same guy every single day. Making an impact. Making sure if a guy wants to watch film, I’m available to watch film. If a guy wants to do extra reps, I’m available to do extra reps. Realistically, it’s about being the same guy every day and leading in a great way.”
On comfortability going into second season working with Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach Mike Yurcich…“Just being able to explore and help out other guys in the film room a bunch and watching all that tape. You don’t have to harp on every little detail when it comes to learning the playbook, because you already have it down. Play concepts, the routes aren’t changing, it’s just about banking those reps and thinking about all the things that can happen. That’s where the mastery comes in. For me, that’s what’s so exciting because we have that opportunity, I’ve never had that before. Coming into this year, it’s time to go.”
On coming back from injury…“I’ve been working hard. I’m just ready to go out there and finish what we started last year. That’s why I wanted to come back. I saw what we did last year and what we did during the Outback Bowl with those younger guys that were able to go out there and perform at a high level. I wanted to add to that when I came back. I just want to be a piece to the puzzle of this group that’s going to do amazing things this year.”
Who he has seen step up through spring and summer…“I would say Zane [Durant] and Hunter [Nourzad] have done a really good job. Two guys who are very athletic and have the intangibles to be dominant football players. Just have to keep it up, keep working and growing in our program. They’re both new. Hunter is going to be able to come in and compete for a starting job. Excited to see him in camp. Zane just has to keep growing. He did a great job in spring and summer. When you have the physical tools, it makes football a lot easier. Just being so explosive. So strong and quick. He has a good center of gravity. He has it all. When you combine that with the work ethic and passion, sky’s the limit.”
On working with Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach Manny Diaz…“I like this guy. When I hear the way Manny talks and the way he sees football and what plays he’s thinking about drawing up for us, I feel like he’s out there playing. The energy he brings, the kind of person he is, his style of football. He wants to go. You can’t ask for a better defensive coordinator than that, where I feel like he’s out there on the field with me. It’s been great working with him. Seeing the way he sees the game and the way he calls a game, why he calls the game. It’s been great for me to learn and I feel like we’re going to do some special things with Manny.”
On new safeties coming in…“These new guys, I’ve been looking at these guys, they’re amazing. They’re coming in fast. They’re coming in strong and mentally ready. They’re coming in as grown men and I like to see that. These guys are amazing people, not just football players. They all want to learn. They’re all hungry, they’re begging me for information. They’re begging me to come to the film room and study with them. They want to come in and give themselves the best chance possible. They want to pick everyone’s brain. You can’t ask for guys better than that.”
B1G Media Day on deck ??? pic.twitter.com/WZ24Gxv3Bf
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3 amigos fit check ??????@seancliff14 @KingPJ55 @_Tiig2 @PennStateFball | #B1GMediaDays pic.twitter.com/1lcMDi6Ir2
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We are underway at #B1GMediaDays with @coachjfranklin chatting with BTN. pic.twitter.com/ZwzH7YNrIV
Penn State Football Recognized on 2022 Preseason Watch Lists Ji'Ayir Brown: Jim Thorpe Award Sean Clifford: Davey O'Brien Award, Maxwell Award Theo Johnson: Mackey Award Keyvone Lee: Doak Walker Award PJ Mustipher: Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Outland Trophy Joey Porter Jr.: Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Jim Thorpe Award, Lott IMPACT Trophy Juice Scruggs: Rimington Trophy Chris Stoll: Allstate AFCA Good Works Team Brenton Strange: Mackey Award Mitchell Tinsley: Biletnikoff Award Parker Washington: Biletnikoff Award
For more information on joining the Nittany Lion Club and reserving new season tickets for the 2022 Penn State Football season presented by PSECU, as well as club seating in Beaver Stadium, fans can visit www.PSUnrivaled.com, call 1-800-NITTANY weekdays from 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. More than 5,300 new season tickets have already been sold for the 2022 campaign.
Clifford Named To Walter Camp Player of the Year Watch List
Clifford, Sutherland Land On Watch Lists
Mustipher, Porter Jr. Earn Preseason Honors
Brown, Porter Jr. Named To Jim Thorpe Award Watch List
Johnson, Strange Selected To Mackey Award Watch List
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