Penn State football coach James Franklin offered a candid assessment of his team’s performance in their season opener against Nevada, where the Nittany Lions secured a convincing 46-11 victory. Despite the win, Franklin noted significant issues with the running game and red zone efficiency. “We had some missed assignments that made the game more difficult than it needed to be,” he stated, emphasizing the need for improvement.
The Nittany Lions managed to rush for 135 yards on 36 attempts, averaging a modest 3.8 yards per carry. In particular, they converted only 5 of 9 opportunities inside the Wolf Pack’s 25-yard line for touchdowns. Franklin elaborated on a specific play that exemplified their challenges: “On one of the drives we’re running an outside-zone scheme on the first play. We don’t block the 3-technique defensive tackle, and they get a tackle for loss. Now you’re off schedule. That’s what we still have to get cleaned up.”
Franklin pointed out that Nevada’s defensive strategy, which included a five-man front, aimed to limit the effectiveness of standout running backs Nick Singleton and Kaytron “Fatman” Allen. The duo combined for just 62 yards on 16 carries. “If you’re the defensive coordinator at Nevada and you’re coming to Penn State, the proven commodity is Nick and Fat,” Franklin said. He highlighted the necessity of avoiding negative yardage plays to enhance their offensive efficiency.
New Faces and Tactics
In a surprising move, Gabe Nwosu was announced as Penn State’s starting punter, a decision that raised eyebrows given Riley Thompson‘s prior role, where he averaged 44.2 yards per kick over the last two seasons. Nwosu, who stood at 6-6 and 292 pounds, previously handled kickoffs and punted twice in the previous season. Franklin praised Nwosu’s performance: “We’ve been very, very happy with Riley, but Gabe is special. He’s the closest thing to Baltimore Ravens punter Jordan Stout we’ve had here.”
Although Penn State did not punt against Nevada, Nwosu showcased his talent with nine kickoffs, resulting in five touchbacks. Franklin remarked on the punter’s development: “He just put it all together this summer and was consistent. It was pretty obvious to everybody.”
In the third quarter, Franklin attempted a two-point conversion, a tactical decision aimed at preparing for future opponents. “You’d like to get some of these things on film, so that people have to spend time working on them,” he explained. Unfortunately, the execution fell short when third-string quarterback Jaxon Smolik faced pressure, leading to an incomplete pass. Franklin acknowledged the failure, stating, “It was not well-executed whatsoever.”
Injury Updates
The game also saw the absence of key players, including defensive end Zuriah Fisher and running back Quinton Martin Jr., both sidelined for medical reasons. Fisher, who missed the entire previous season due to injury, was expected to play but was held out due to inadequate practice time. “I was hopeful to have Zuriah for the opener,” Franklin said. “We held him because he hadn’t practiced enough and didn’t think that was the right thing to do for him or us.”
Martin’s absence also impacted the team’s depth at running back, where he was vying for a position behind Singleton and Allen. Franklin explained, “The only reason you didn’t see Quinton on offense or special teams is because he had tweaked something. He just got cleared right before we got into game week.”
The Nittany Lions will seek to address these issues as they prepare for their next challenge, aiming to enhance their performance on both sides of the ball.
