PENN STATE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL MEDIA CONFERENCE

September 8, 2025

James Franklin

Press Conference

JAMES FRANKLIN: Appreciate you guys being here again covering Penn State football like always.

Just quickly recap the FIU game. Some general positives. I think special teams really is making some game-changing plays. You saw Gabe, 68 yard punt. I don't know if I've ever experienced a reaction in the stadium for a punt like that. It was pretty cool to hear the reaction. And then the blocked punt by Dom obviously.

I thought overall we continued to manage the game well -- talking about the players -- in terms of not having to burn timeouts, having all three timeouts available at the end of the half, all three timeouts at the end of the game. Not burning timeouts because we got 12 guys on the field, 10 guys on the field.

Had some duplicate jersey numbers. Had to change jerseys. I thought our guys all managed that well, including Coach Lustig and his crew.

Played disciplined Penn State football. Had three penalties. I think we can still improve, specifically the two kicks out of bounds which are unforced errors. We've got to clean that up because obviously that impacts field position dramatically.

I think we were much more physical up front, O-line tight ends D-line, but we can still improve there.

Opportunities for growth, special teams just got to eliminate the penalties. The blocked kick was frustrating. Literally for I don't know how many years now, the way we teach it is you are responsible for your inside gap and then you basically use an arm bar in your outside gap to help the next offensive player, and everybody does that.

You're responsible for your inside gap, help outside. Inside gap, help outside. We've had two years now in a row where guys have done that maybe 20 times in a row in games, let alone training camp.

And then all of a sudden a guy gets the idea that they're going to do something they've never been coached. Never asked a question on why they should do that. Never done it in practice one time. But we've had two times now two years in a row where a guy takes two hands, put them on the inside gap, doesn't help on the outside gap, and we get split and get a field goal block.

So that's extremely frustrating as a coach. We got to get that cleaned up. And then just more consistent in general on special teams, specifically in the second halves. Got to be more explosive on the offensive side of the ball. We were 10.9% explosive on Saturday.

And then we got to be more effective on third down. That's why we weren't able to get into a rhythm. We were 25%; defensively, similar. We allowed them to stay on schedule and they ended up going for it for a bunch on fourth down.

I really feel like used to only talk third down, third down, third down, and really you should combine third and fourth downs, because the way people are going for it now on fourth down, at the end of the day, third down used to be so important because it factored whether you got off the field or not. Really it's a combined third and fourth down stat.

I think they were 60% on fourth down. It was just too many manageable fourth down situations.

And then we had too many drops. We got to catch the ball. We had too many drops in the game. We've got to do whatever we got to do. That Jugs machine should be burning up in the Lasch Building right now in the weight room with guys in there making sure they are recreating the exact catch or exact drop positioning to get that fixed.

And then just making sure defensively we're gap sound, doing your job, not trying to make plays, getting outside of your gap and trying to make a play. Overall som good things.

Villanova coming in here, in-state foe that we got a lot of respect for. I've known the head coach, Coach Ferrante for a long time. Pretty cool. He's been there 39 years. Former O-line coach, now been the head coach going on nine years, ten years.

But the consistency that they've had in their program has been awesome, and it's led to really good things for them.

When you talk about coordinators, same thing. This offensive coordinator has been there for seven years now, so there is some experience there. 17 years of coaching college football.

They're a spread team that are primarily going to operate out of the gun. They'll use some pistol backfield sets. When we say pistol, we are talking about the tailback being behind the quarterback.

Primarily a zone and gap scheme team. They'll use inside zone, wide zone schemes, quarterback draws, and third down situations.

Pass game, heavy RPO team with a little bit of dropback pass. 11 personnel and 10 personnel they'll base out of. Quarterback is a transfer from Nicholls State, Pat McQuaide. Their running back, No. 24, David Avit, a kid out of Frederick, Maryland, a sophomore. The quarterback is a graduate senior.

And then the offensive lineman that we been impressed with Stephane Voltaire, who's a senior, 6'5", 315 pounds.

Defensively, same thing. Coach Pennypacker has been there for 11 years, four years as the defensive coordinator. You guys remember we had Ola with us for a few years. He took over for Ola when Ola left. Three-down scheme. They've stayed with the same scheme by promoting from within.

They do a lot in the back half. Like a lot of people do, they're going to play middle of the field open, two and four and try to disguise the two. Then they'll play cover one and cover three and try to disguise the two.

Overall blitz about 38%. Linebacker Shane Hartzell. We've been impressed him. Kid out of Perkasie. Defensive lineman No. 98, Obinna Nwobodo, senior defensive tackle from New Jersey; and then defensive back No. 2, Zahmir Dawud, kid out of New Jersey doing some nice things for them.

On special teams, first team as the special teams coordinator, Josh Fletcher because we hired their special teams coordinator, he's with us, Coach Colangelo; doing a great job for us.

And then when you talk about guys that we been impressed with, they got an ECU transfer, Australian punter older than half of you guys. 33 years old No. 0 Luke Larsen. And then their placekicker No. 42, Jack Barnum, is also a transfer. So both of those specialists are transfers.

Expect a packed house and great environment here. Looking forward to Saturday, and we can open up to questions.

Q. James, can you assess the defensive operation through two games? What has it been like seeing Jim Knowles at work up close for two games? Secondly, can you assess how Zuriah and Zion played in their return?

JAMES FRANKLIN: Yeah, so I'll start with Zuriah. It was great having him back. Probably played a little bit more than what I wanted him to play in terms of kind of just rep count, but he looked quick off the ball, looked confident. Mentally looked confident; physically looked confident. Emotionally, big smile on his face and flying around having fun. We're young at defensive end, so that experience and that leadership is important for us.

Having Zion back I thought was also significant. Guy who has played a ton of football around here, a guy that's made some big time plays in big moments for us. So that was big. We're going to need that to continue.

When you have him and AJ and Zakee and really Elliott and AC, there are a lot of guys that have played a lot of the football in the back half. So that will be important for us, those two guys continuing to get in there, get reps, and contribute from a leadership standpoint and also from a production standpoint.

And then just in terms of with Jim, ultimately, it's about points. Obviously our first two games it's been pretty impressive in terms of points and the number of guys we been able to play.

But I do think we can be more of a suffocating style defense. We've given up some yards that I think Jim would prefer obviously us being a little bit tighter and reacting. I still think our defense is thinking and not playing as fast as maybe we have in the past, and that's what's going to be important this week and then obviously moving forward as well, just getting these guys playing fast and confident in some of the tweaks of the new system.

So that will be important for us moving forward.

Q. James, you touched on the physicality of your tight ends at the line of scrimmage a little bit earlier. I wanted to ask about the blocking of the tight ends and the wideouts in the run game. The reason I ask that it looked like on Kaytron's long touchdown run they did a really good job of creating room for him past the line of scrimmage, and the wideouts came across the field to give him an escort. What are your thoughts on how they performed?

JAMES FRANKLIN: Yeah, I thought that was a clinic play. Both tight ends not only had physical blocks, but they ran their feet. A lot of guys will cover people up and feel like they've done enough. Those two guys ran their feet and ran them off field, which allowed Kaytron to really stay away from pursuit, and then he was able to break some tackles from pursuit. Then to see those two wideouts leading him down the field, I think that's one of the biggest things I've noticed already.

I think there has been a real change in our wide receivers in terms of their effort in the blocking game. In the run game, excuse me. And I think there is a little bit of you have to be careful when you start getting into a ton of RPO. It's hard to develop receivers sometimes as blockers because they very rarely do it. It's all RPO, RPO, RPO.

So I think that's been a real positive. That's been obvious on film. If you go through that tape again there is examples of those guys coming down and digging out the safeties and having some physical blocks.

Liam had a pancake block on a safety. Peña had a pancake block on a safety I think. So those things were real positives. We're going to need to continue to do that.

We had some drops obviously with Khalil. We get those cleaned up and removed I think we'll feel really good about our tight ends and what they're doing this season.

Q. After the game, Drew Allar said he caught himself overthinking in some moments. Specifically he was speaking about the first quarter, first half. Did you see that? How do you address that or manage that when that comes up?

JAMES FRANKLIN: Yeah, I don't know if I would say I saw that. It's kind of hard to see what somebody is thinking. But he missed some throws that he normally doesn't, and I think what happens for all these guys. We talk about it in all my end-of-the-year meetings. It's a really important trait and skill for guys to learn, is next play. You know, next play. No matter what happens the previous play, positive or negative, you most move on. You must move on to the next one. I think a couple times that happened where you miss a really easy throw that he makes 99.9% of the time and that frustrates you, and if you're not careful that will linger.

So I thought that happened early in the game. I think he got frustrated and it lingered. What happens is when you got people that have invested the amount that a guy like Drew and most of our team have invested, that's easier said than done, to move on to the next play and not get frustrated and upset with yourself.

But that's why it's such an important trait to learn. No matter what happens the previous play, you got to flush it and move on to the next play, and each play is kind of its own entity. You got to make sure you're maximizing it. Only way to do that is to be present. You can't live in the past. Can't live in the future. You must be present.

So that I did see.

But the overthinking came from you guys asking him questions after the game, and then obviously myself and Danny and Trace talking to him after the game about that as well.

Q. After the game someone asked but your offensive line. You said something about you thought there was a lot of meat left on the bone. Can you talk about maybe how you think they have played so far. Is it the way up to your expectations, the way you thought the offensive line would be? If it's not quite, can you explain what's going on so far through a couple weeks?

JAMES FRANKLIN: Yeah, I thought week two, like I mentioned at the beginning of the press conference, I thought we were much more physical. Much more physical. I think in today's college football, if you're not careful, what can happen sometimes is very rarely do we practice live. Even when we don't practice live, we go thud, we don't want guys on the ground.

So you don't want your offensive line finishing guys. If you're not careful, they haven't done that but maybe two or three times during training camp, and then you get to the game and that's what you want, but you haven't been practicing it that way.

I thought that showed up a little bit in week one.

Week two I thought we were much more physical. There are some things I think we still got to get cleaned up to create a little bit more space and create a little bit more separation. I also think the running backs making the free hit or miss on a more consistent basis also will help with that.

There have been times in protection where we have not ID'ed the front in the ideal way. That happens sometimes. They do a good job disguising where the pressure is coming from, so sometimes we're not in the most advantageous situations.

So combination of all those things, but I saw a big step last week. I think as you were -- I think what you're referencing or referring to a little bit is obviously there is such high expectations for at that group coming into the season, and deservedly so, that that plays a part in it.

I saw tremendous stride last week. I think they'll play very well this week. I think we'll look back at this O-line this year and feel like they were one of the better offensive lines we've had.

Q. I like how you referenced the youth of the press core compared to the Villanova...

JAMES FRANKLIN: I thought somebody was going to bring that up before you, because right after I say that, it's like all the guys that I guess can't drive to the press conference to be here in person are all at home getting tended to in eating yogurt and pudding and stuff like that are all on the call. I thought someone was going bring it up before you. Good to see you.

Q. Thank you. And I'm in my boxers.

JAMES FRANKLIN: You're on fire today.

Q. I was wondering, you played a lot of people the first couple weeks. Did you plan to continue that Saturday, and is the open date after this game a factor in the approach to playing times?

JAMES FRANKLIN: Yeah, we'll continue to play a bunch of guys this week. I won't get into next week because we're focused on this week and staying present and this opportunity that we have this Saturday.

But, yeah, we typically have done that. I think in my 12 years we've played a ton of guys early in the season to try to develop depth. We'll try to do that again this week. It's developing depth and also an opportunity to evaluate these guys in games and who deserves more reps and who is not necessarily ready for primetime yet.

Now, they may be by week five, week six, middle of the season, but it's all of that. It's, knock on wood, staying as healthy and fresh as we possibly can. It's all that.

This isn't necessarily your question, but I think just kind of popped into my mind, too. In terms of that a little bit is ball distribution, too. I thought last week was a really good example of what we want it to look like. I think both Nick and Kaytron had 16 touches, maybe 16 and 17, right in that ballpark. And then I think the tight ends had like five touches each. Wide receivers all had between five and seven touches each.

That's what we would like. We've got to eliminate the drops, because the more we do that we'll stay on the field longer by staying on the field on third down and picking up first downs, which will create more opportunities and touches for more guys.

So yeah, we want to develop depth. We want to evaluate our roster and see who is ready, and then we want to try to stay as healthy as we can for what we anticipate to be a long season.

Q. If you talk about on the one hand it's hard to win no matter what; 1-0 this week. On the other hand, you have to concentrate on the performance and the quality of the performance regardless of result. That is sort of a spectrum there. Take the temperature of your team a little bit for us. How do you feel like they feel like they performed the first couple weeks, and how are they -- what's the mood? Is anybody communicating about it?

JAMES FRANKLIN: Yeah, we go in each week and grade the film with them and are critical of areas that we need to get better as a coaching staff, as players, all of it.

And I think that's kind of always the feeling on Sundays and Mondays, and even Saturday after the game. But, yeah, I don't think it's probably more than that, Mike. I think there is areas that we know we have to get better and that's in some rooms articulated more clearly than others. Terry Smith has a reputation of being the ultimate truth teller in the building to everybody, including myself.

So that's happening in all the different meetings, all the coaches have different approaches to how they do that, so that's valuable and that's important.

So I think our guys feel like we have done enough to win but haven't played up to what our expectations and standards are. But I would also say that's always going to be the case. We're always going feel like we can play better.

What I would also say to you is I'm going to make sure, which is challenging to do sometimes in today's culture and today's day and age, is we're going to appreciate winning. Every Sunday I put up in front of the whole team when we have our team meeting all the teams that lost that were supposed to win. There is a long list every Sunday. You know, as I think we all need to do from a perspective standpoint, as sometimes we're too close to it. I look at a ton of teams across the country that were in dog fights last week that weren't supposed to be in dog fights.

So I think your point is a good one. It's balance. It's, okay, at the end of the day winning is the most important thing. Did you do that? No. 2, how can you get better and make sure you're playing in a way that we can build confidence and chemistry to play at the highest level; and then also, have a global perspective when it comes to the game of college football and what's happening week in and week out.

Say, okay, we're going to appreciate this aspect, but we also are going to be hypercritical of the areas we need to get better. I do think there is a balance of those two things. It's a fair question and a good question.

Q. Can you compare what you saw from Chaz in game one to what you saw in game two? Just maybe discuss his -- the arc that you can see for him in terms of overall development.

JAMES FRANKLIN: Yeah, I think you guys heard me talk about it in training camp. He hadn't really seen a whole a lot of it, and then I think I mentioned to you week one he talked about being nervous and happy that that game one was over so he could get that out of his system.

He's just going to continue to get better. I mean, especially when you think about he's only played defensive end for two years. He was a high school quarterback I think his junior year in high school. So I think he's got a chance to just take leaps and bounds each game.

I think the other thing, as you know, he's kind of getting comfortable with the routine. Obviously Dani is doing a really good job of being a mentor to him. Dani can be tough love from time to time, but I think that's been good. Deion and the staff have done a really good job with him.

He's also just a really, really humble, hard working kid. I would anticipate him continuing to get better and better and better. Obviously he's also a guy that as we start to narrow this thing down, his reps will probably go up, because rather than playing a three-deep at defensive end there will be games we play a two-deep.

That may mean eight to ten, eight to twelve more reps for him. I think the more reps and more plays and opportunities and more experience he gets, the more production will come.

He's an exciting young player and he's an awesome young man. Family has done a really good job raising him. I'm not going to talk about him too much because I want to keep him humble and hungry.

Q. You mentioned explosiveness on Saturday and again today a little bit, not reaching those goals. What is holding you guys back from getting where you want to in that regard, and how do you rectify it?

JAMES FRANKLIN: Yeah, we missed a couple of throws. Missed a couple of throws. We had some drops. I think we had five drops. When you catch the ball there is a chance that you're going to make somebody miss and those are going to -- say half of those turn into explosive plays.

Then think there are times where just like Kaytron did on Saturday, you break a tackle. Now you got a chance for one of those runs to go. That's going to happen, as we've seen for the last four years with Nick as well.

So those things will come. They'll come organically just by doing the things we should be doing, breaking tackles, making people miss as ball carriers -- that's as receivers, and running backs; maximizing the opportunities that we get; hitting a few more of the throws; straining in protection a little bit longer, all those things. All those things I think are important and helpful.

Again, if our third down percentage goes up that will create more opportunities. Our defense getting off the field on third down with more three-and-outs will create more opportunities as well.

Time of possession wasn't great, right? So all these things factor in. It's not just one thing, like our favorite media, Just Chuck it Deep deal. Like all these things factor into it.

To be fair, I think we probably could throw it down the field a few more times. But then it's also the ones we throw, catching and making people miss. It's making the free hitter miss in the running game, straining in protection a little bit longer, making a few more of the throws.

You do a little bit better in each one of those areas and now all of a sudden you're close to 20% explosive plays.

Q. How has Nick Singleton looked to you thus far? And building off that explosiveness, do you think there is kind of more there for him that you're waiting to see?

JAMES FRANKLIN: Yeah. So I think -- I had a conversation with Nick yesterday, and I think a little bit like Drew, I think he was thinking too much and I think he's getting coached in some areas that I think are going to be important for his growth. I see him getting better.

For all these guys, we're going coach the heck out of them Sunday through Friday. Saturday when you wake up, just go play. I think he's trying to play perfect. I think he's such a good kid and so coachable and trying to do all the things that are asked of him.

But, again, that's not what Saturdays are for. That's just go play. Let it rip. We had a good conversation about that on Sunday, and then I had a good conversation with Charles and Stan on Sunday as well.

So I think we'll be in a good place there. I do see him really getting better in a lot of areas, but I do think on Saturdays, like we discussed with Drew, I think they're overthinking some things and trying to play perfect rather than just letting it rip.

Q. Wondering about your linebacker group through two games. How would you evaluate the top three guys we've know about for a while and the depth you've been able to cultivate or are working on cultivating?

JAMES FRANKLIN: Yes. I think you talk about the tweaks in the system and the changes that we have with Jim. I think that's showing up at the linebacker position and the safety position, the things that are asked of them that's a little bit different now.

I think at safety there is some real competition there and we're developing some depth. At linebacker, we need to get some more guys in the game to develop depth, because there are not enough right now. Those two positions are challenged the most with the tweaks of what we're doing with the system with Jim.

We got to get those guys playing fast and confident, and we need to do that this week. That needs to show up on Saturday. We got to play some guys. I think I would also make the argument that's always the position where you fight with the coaches the most about playing guys. The linebacker's essentially the quarterback running the defense, and the safeties, like Dex always said. If a D-tackle makes a mistake we got a chance to get it right. Of a linebacker makes a mistake we got a chance to get it right. Corners for the most part if they make a mistake there is somebody behind them to make them right. When the safety makes a mistake there is nobody left, right?

So developing that depth is critical. That's also why, as you guys know, on Sundays we have our developmental squad scrimmages and we play a lot of guys that played in the game if their rep count wasn't significant.

That's going to be important for us moving forward, getting those guys playing fast and confident and running the defense and the back half and creating some depth. If a guy's helmet breaks and needs to get his chin strap fixed, that we got somebody else we can put in the game we feel good about.

Q. Following up on that, we talked to Tony after the game. He talked a little bit about Jim's new scheme in the playbook and called it hard; also it's a winning way. How do you go through the season of implementing Jim's defense fully? Do you guys focus in the early stages on perfecting what's in right now or how much goes into new install week in and week out?

JAMES FRANKLIN: I think that's a good question. It's a little bit of both, right? You never go into a game with the whole package in. It's what we need that week to be successful. Some of that is to cause challenges for your opponent. Some of that is to put your players in the boast position to be successful.

And part of it is in the past with Tom and Manny, we were essentially a one-gap defense, which allowed everybody to play fast. We were in a ton of man coverage. But that also created some challenges where we didn't have as many answers some weeks for maybe some of the challenges that we may have in personnel.

So we have more answers right now, and I would say our linebackers are now being forced to play in more of a traditional linebacker role. You know, having to defeat blocks and where before we could spike and hit a gap and that was your responsibility.

So we still have a little bit of that in the system. So it's just a different way of playing, so there is some growth that's going on there. But in terms of the system to your point, not everything will be in in any given week. I think that's where Jim's experience is so valuable right now. I think we're being aggressive with it, but that's where his experience is so valuable.

Okay, we're going to do whatever we have to do against Villanova to win the game, and then there will be some things we are also going to put on them that's going to be important for us in the long haul during the season that they need to get more comfortable and confident with.

Q. Last year we had a conversation about the deep ball and placement, where you wanted the quarterback to either put it exactly where he was supposed to or leave it a little bit short for those PI opportunities. Has any of that coaching changed this year? Curious if that was part of any offseason conversation or any sort of development for not just your quarterbacks, but for the staff?

JAMES FRANKLIN: No. Same philosophy. I think that's most people's philosophy. When you're one-on-one, obviously everybody would love the perfect throw in stride. That's what everybody's ultimate goal is.

If you're not going to do that, you want to leave it short. If you leave it short, you still got a chance for the receiver to find the ball and make a play on it; where a lot of times the defensive backs can't find the ball or you get a pass interference called, which those things showed up on Saturday as well.

Yeah, in a perfect world we want to hit them in stride. What we want to eliminate is, okay, you take five shots in the game and three are overthrows; where if you have a chance and you -- three are underthrown, you got a chance to get an interference on one, still and explosive play on the other.

Again, as long atmosphere ball is left in the right location. You can't leave it short and inside on a deep ball. Got to leave it short and outside. So those things are what are so critical, is the ball location, not necessarily the depth of the throw.

So, yeah, still similar philosophy. I mean, that showed up. You had two plays, Devonte Ross, where one ended up a pass interference and one ended up a touchdown, and neither one of those were thrown perfectly in stride.

Q. Going towards the specialists, I think it was Riley Thompson talked about last year it was a pretty self-motivating group. A team that lived by the mantra of attack every session. Going towards Villanova and going off FIU where you specified in improving the special teams, how do you and Justin come in and talk about your approach to improving the special teams both from a physical and mental standpoint?

JAMES FRANKLIN: In the offseason?

Q. In the offseason and also in a week where you specified you want to improve on special teams.

JAMES FRANKLIN: When you first said Justin I was like, who is Justin?

Q. Justin Lustig.

JAMES FRANKLIN: I know. We don't ever call him Justin. It's Coach Lustig or 'Stig. Who is this Justin guy he's talking about?

Yeah, been a ton of work put into the offseason when it comes to special teams, and when you're able to have all those starters back, obviously there is a ton of confidence that comes from that, too.

And then I think the other thing that factored into it is 'Stig knowing our personnel. What does Liam am Clifford do really well? What does Dakaari do really well? What does Rojas do really well? Who are the guys starting on offense and defense that are also going to start on special teams? Who are the guys that the primary role will be on special teams and can be really significant contributors there?

So it's all of that and putting the puzzle together. Each week it's, okay, how can we put stress on their special teams and how can we put our guys in the best position to be successful? Then how do we have wrinkles that also break some of our self-scout tendencies that we have, too, whether it's in protection -- as you guys know, in the past we were a big role punt team. Well, if your opponent knows that then all of their block schemes are devised to attack where the launch point will be.

So I like what with did this offseason. I've liked for the most part what we've done in game one and two. We just got to eliminate some of the unforced errors. We had a kickoff return last week where we had one guy block the wrong guy, and if we block the right guy, there is -- the hole will be 12 yards wide and it's going to be a kickoff return for a touchdown.

Nobody gets to see that because we just have one guy that got his count wrong. So those are the things that I don't want to be talking about at the end of the season. We got a chance to really capitalize on all these things. Kicking the ball out of bounds, unforced errors. Those things must be eliminated. Missed assignments must be eliminated so our special teams have a chance to be the weapon we think they can be.

Q. You talked about the ball distribution in terms of on offense. Luke Reynolds had nine targets, seven catches, the most action he's seen in his career from that statistical perspective. How have you seen him make this stride in year two and also build that chemistry with Drew where Drew feels he can trust him in big spots?

JAMES FRANKLIN: Yeah, I think a lot of confidence there. There is also the thing that we look at, too, is not just, okay, that they caught it. It's, okay, after they caught it, one of the things he did is consistently made people miss.

So now you're taking some of your own God-given ability and adding to the scheme, adding to the throw. So that factors into it as well. A guy that's going to catch the ball and going to make something happen after they catch it. You can't have one without the other obviously.

I think there is a ton of confidence in him making the tough catch on a consistent basis.

I think Hudson has that reputation as well. We need more of that. We need more of that. It was great to see Ross show up. Pena did it obviously in week one. We just got to get all of them doing to each week. Khalil has done that over his career. Didn't show up last week, but we need it.

But that's when I think -- that's when we'll be our most effective, most explosive, when there is a number of guys out there that I think have shown you guys and shown us that they have the ability to do it, and now we just need to do it on a more consistent basis.