Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/109500
PENN STATE RUN-ONS* NAME ���Run-ons��� bolster PSU���s class The meaning behind the term ���walkon player��� has changed a lot since Bill O���Brien coined his new term for them last fall. O���Brien prefers to call them ���run-ons,��� because no one on his team walks. But no matter what people choose to call them, they���re going to have a much larger influence on the team than in years past. With the new name comes a new approach to Penn State���s scouting program. The Nittany Lions have combed their home state ��� and other parts of the Northeast and Midwest ��� to find at least 20 walk-on candidates who the coaching staff believes have the ability to earn one of the final 105 roster spots for training camp. The run-on with the best chance of seeing early playing time is kicker/punter Chris Gulla of Toms River, N.J. Gulla was rated by Chris Sailer Kicking as the No. 24 kicking prospect in the nation. He���s been told by the coaching staff that he will have an opportunity to compete for both the starting kicking and punting jobs when he arrives on campus this summer. Gulla was the No. 1 kicker on Penn State���s recruiting board, even though the Nittany Lions didn���t have a scholarship to offer. As a senior, he converted on 5 of 8 field goal attempts, including a 45yard winner against Southern Regional. For his career, he connected on 17 of 22 attempts. On kickoffs he totaled 33 touchbacks as a senior and averaged 42 yards per punt. POS HT WT HOME SCHOOL Cole Chiappiale Sean Corcoran D.J. Crook** Tom Devenney Austin Fiedler Evan Galimberti Gregg Garrity Jr. Adam Geiger Chris Geiss Chris Gulla Carter Henderson Tom Pancoast Dad Poquie Kyle Searfoss Jack Seymour Brandon Smith Andrew Terlingo Brian Tomasetti Von Walker Austin Whipple** Ath. LS QB OL OL DT Ath. Ath. QB K LB S DB LB QB LB OT Ath. Ath. QB 5-11 6-2 6-2 6-3 6-6 6-5 5-9 5-10 6-4 6-2 6-0 6-4 5-10 6-2 6-2 6-1 6-5 6-0 6-0 6-2 200 210 200 278 307 255 190 195 190 195 213 190 180 225 205 215 270 175 195 200 Beaver Falls, Pa. Bourbonnais, Ill. Worcester, Mass. Lititz, Pa. Turbotville, Pa. State College, Pa. Wexford, Pa. Camp Hill, Pa. Malvern, Pa. Toms River, N.J. Murrysville, Pa. Kennett Square, Pa. Wyndmoor, Pa. Lewisberry, Pa. Indianapolis, Ind. Lewisburg, Pa. Center Valley, Pa. Old Forge, Pa. Mill Hall, Pa. Salisbury, Ct. Blackhawk HS Bishop McNamara Worcester Academy Warwick HS Warrior Run HS State College Area HS North Allegheny HS Trinity HS Great Valley HS Toms River HS Franklin Regional HS Unionville HS La Salle HS Red Land HS Park Tudor HS Lewisburg HS Southern Lehigh HS Old Forge HS Central Mountain HS Salisbury School * As of Feb. 10 ** Early enrollee The staff has also persuaded quarterback Jack Seymour of Indianapolis to run on at Penn State. Seymour, who received full-ride offers from Ball State, Southern Illinois and Western Michigan, completed 102 of 214 pass attempts as a senior at Park Tudor, finishing with 1,570 yards, 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He missed three games due to a high ankle sprain. ���There are many guys out there ��� mostly Pennsylvania guys but even some other guys from other states ��� who have grown up dreaming about playing at Penn State,��� O���Brien said. ���[They] have fantastic opportunities to go to other schools. Fantastic schools. But they���ve chosen to come to Penn State because of Penn State.��� While Gulla and Seymour both seem to be solidly committed to Penn State, walk-on players do not sign letters of intent and are not obligated to follow through on their commitments to the school. If any of Penn State���s run-ons were to receive a scholarship offer from another school ��� Division II and Football Championship Subdivision programs are still sorting out their finances and formulating their rosters ��� there is nothing preventing them from accepting.