Defensive lineman Austin Johnson was the first of the draft-eligible Penn State Nittany Lions to be selected in the 2016 NFL Draft. Johnson, taken with the 43rd pick, will be suiting up for the Tennessee Titans with former Nittany Lion DaQuan Jones. Eight picks later, the New York Jets took former Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg to add to their depth at the quarterback position. Austin Johnson A Galloway, NJ native, Johnson started all 13 games for Penn State this fall and ... Read More
Where will Christian Hackenberg be drafted after an up-and-down PSU career?
When Christian Hackenberg arrived in State College, PA, in 2013, the quarterback was already a polarizing figure — a highly touted high school prospect who was seemingly the perfect fit for then-head-coach Bill O’Brien’s pro-style offense. Now, as Hackenberg prepares for this week’s NFL draft, the former Penn State signal caller is just as polarizing, albeit for completely different reasons. The Highs Flash back to 2013. O’Brien, the former offensive coordinator for the New England ... Read More
Football is back in Happy Valley with the annual Blue-White game Saturday
Football returns to Happy Valley and Beaver Stadium as Penn State hits the field for its annual Blue-White game at 2:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon. The Nittany Lions squad that will tear up the turf Saturday will be much different than the squad that took the field on senior day in the fall for Penn State. Gone is record-setting quarterback and NFL prospect Christian Hackenberg, as well as defensive tackle Austin Johnson, who both left school early to enter the NFL Draft. Gone, too, are seniors ... Read More
Spring practice breeds competition among quarterbacks
The time has come to dust off the helmets and shoulder pads for James Franklin’s Penn State Nittany Lion football team as spring practice begins Friday. After a winter full of workouts and installing a new offense, Franklin and his team are excited about getting on the field. “This is a time of year that we all get excited about,” the third-year head coach said at a press conference on Monday. “ Our guys have done a great job ... we’re not just gaining weight, but the right type of ... Read More
WPIAL announces new classifications and conference alignment
On Monday, the WPIAL announced the new classifications and conference alignments for member schools by way of a 12-6 vote. This comes after the PIAA moved to expand high school athletic classifications by two classes from four to six overall in football, boys and girls basketball, as well as baseball and softball starting with the 2016-17 school year. As a result of the expanded classifications, the WPIAL announced previously, the championships for each class will not all be played at ... Read More
COLUMN: Is Penn State rebuilding or reloading?
At his introductory press conference earlier this week, current Tennessee Volunteers and former Penn State Nittany Lions defensive coordinator Bob Shoop now famously said, “I like the fact that this isn’t a rebuild." Is Penn State really in a rebuilding mode? Or is it reloading? To some, after the week and offseason Penn State has had, it may seem like Happy Valley is in a rebuilding mode after all based on the amount of staff and player turnover recently. For those keeping track at home, the ... Read More
Adam Breneman pens letter to Penn State
After what looked to be a promising career on the field for Penn State, Adam Breneman's football career is over as a result of chronic knee injuries. Breneman played in 11 games for the Penn State football team and amassed 15 catches for 186 yards and three touchdowns while suiting up for the Nittany Lions in as a true freshman in 2013. Breneman recentley graduated from Penn State in December in three years with a degree in business management and a 3.25 GPA. “I know that it was a ... Read More
Penn State’s rally falls short against Georgia
A furious fourth-quarter rally served to be too overwhelming as the Penn State Nittany Lions were unable to bounce back from a 21-point third quarter deficit and fell to the Georgia Bulldogs 24-17 in the 2016 TaxSlayer Bowl. "Got to give those guys credit. They're a talented team. Won nine games in a good conference. Got to give those guys credit," Penn State head coach James Franklin said after the game. First-half Struggles There was not much going for the Penn State offense in the ... Read More
Penn State QB Christian Hackenberg declares for NFL Draft
Junior Christian Hackenberg has elected to forego his senior season at Penn State and enter the NFL Draft. "Penn State is a really special place. It means more to me than I ever thought it would," Hackenberg stated following the TaxSlayer Bowl. The three-year starter for the Nittany Lions exited the 24-17 loss to Georgia midway through the second quarter with an apparent shoulder injury. Hackenberg finished the game with 139 yards on eight completions with a huge chunk coming on a 51 yard ... Read More
WPIAL well represented on All-State teams
Central Catholic and Aliquippa represented the WPIAL in the PIAA Class AAAA and AA Football State Championships this past weekend. The players who comprised those teams are well represented on the Pennsylvania Football Writers Class AAAA and AA All-State teams. The Vikings, PIAA Class AAAA Champions, are represented on the Class AAAA all-state team by running back Ronnie Jones, defensive lineman Rashad Wheeler, linebacker David Adams and defensive backs Damar Hamlin and Bricen Garner. Also ... Read More