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S P R I N G P R A C T I C E R E P O R T Franklin said recently, "The fact that he played the position, I think, helps. It's not mandatory, but I do think it helps." 5 Which of the freshman play- ers are poised to make an im- pact this spring? For most of college football history, the only freshmen participating in any team's spring practice sessions were the ones who redshirted the previous fall. The intra-squad game was fans' first real chance to see them in action, and even if they looked good in that game, they were expected to wait their turn behind their more experienced teammates once the season began. That's not necessarily the case any- more. NCAA rule changes, coupled with the trend toward early enrollment, have accelerated the player-development process, giving freshman-eligible play- ers a much better chance of contributing early in their careers than they had even a few years ago. That's good news for the Nittany Lions, because they will need an infusion of fresh talent to help make up for a wave of departures via the transfer portal and the NFL Draft over the past few months. As for the specific players who may be poised to break out this spring, let's focus on those who fit in at positions of need: wide receiver and the offensive and de- fensive lines. These are the spots where preparation will meet opportunity. Last year, we got a sneak preview of several receivers who are going to be thrust into much bigger roles in 2019. Much of the attention this spring will be on Shorter, who earned praise from the coaching staff last summer, only to suf- fer an injury in preseason camp that led to a redshirt year. But while he was the five-star offensive headliner in Penn State's Class of 2018, don't forget about one of his classmates, George. A four- star recruit, the 6-foot-2, 220-pound George had one eye-opening moment in 2018: a 95-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter of Penn State's 63-10 vic- tory over Kent State. It was the longest scoring pass in school history, and it showcased George's downfield play- making potential, albeit against a thor- oughly gassed Golden Flashes defense. On the offensive front, the Lions ap- pear to have a redshirt freshman with starting potential in Rasheed Walker. The 6-6, 308-pounder played in three games last year and reportedly im- pressed in practice. One other player to watch here is Anthony Whigan. He isn't a freshman, having played the past two years at Lackawanna College. But the 6- 4, 292-pounder is a newcomer, having arrived in January as an early enrollee in the Class of 2019. The Lions have two openings up front after center Connor McGovern and tackle Ryan Bates left early to enter the NFL Draft, and backup Alex Gellerstedt has transferred to Vir- ginia. Expect Walker and Whigan to HUB-Robeson Center, On-Campus

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