Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1495456
A P R I L 2 0 2 3 2 5 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M earned praise from the coaching staff. Linebacker Tony Rojas was listed at 6-2, 195 pounds when he signed in December. It was understood that he would have to add weight before he could contribute at the Big Ten level, and he hasn't wasted any time. When Penn State released its updated spring roster in early March, the Fairfax, Va., native was up to 215 pounds. Penn State's depth at linebacker looks much better now than it did a year ago, but don't be surprised to hear Rojas' name a fair bit this spring. Elsewhere on defense, cornerback Elliot Washington II has the look of an early contributor. Penn State is com- fortable playing freshmen at the corner positions, and Washington was argu- ably the top performer amongst his classmates during winter testing. There's going to be plenty of compe- tition for reps, but the 5-11, 201-pound Washington has already proven he's physically ready for the opportunity. When you add in the level of competi- tion that he faced at Venice (Fla.) High, it won't take much for Washington to adjust to this level. — Ryan Snyder 3. What's the most interesting position battle on offense? For the first time since 2019, Penn State won't be bringing back an estab- lished starter at quarterback. Instead, sophomore Drew Allar and redshirt freshman Beau Pribula are competing for the top job. When Franklin met with the media in February, he acknowledged "a clean slate, to a degree" at the position, just like any other. "We are going to have to put some- body out there first," he said. "Based on how the season ended and Drew's role last year, then that would be him. But we are going to need both of those guys … not only competing, but taking on a significant leadership role." Allar is a former On3 five-star prospect who leapfrogged Christian Veilleux last August and received sig- nificant reps in relief of Sean Clifford during the season. He has earned his spot as the presumptive starter, the guy Penn State fans hope can lift the pro- gram to greater heights. That said, program insiders have been buzzing about Pribula since the day he stepped on campus. He's a competitor and a winner, and it would be foolish to think that he'll embrace being Allar's backup without doing everything in his power to make this a tough decision for the staff. — Nate Bauer 4. How about the most interesting position battle on defense? It goes without saying that junior Kalen King has one cornerback spot locked up and will lead the way for this position group. However, there is still plenty to figure out. First, Penn State must find a replace- ment for Joey Porter Jr. at the opposite cornerback spot. The leading con- tender is Johnny Dixon, a senior who will be playing his third season at PSU after transferring from South Caro- lina. Dixon had the second-most reps of any player at this position last year, finishing with 23 tackles and 10 pass breakups. However, senior Storm Duck has ar- rived via the portal from North Caro- lina, where he was a second-team All- ACC choice. Both he and Dixon will see plenty of action, but only one can start. Beyond those two, sophomore Cam Miller will vie for more snaps and will likely push senior Daequan Hardy for the slot/nickel role. This quartet will lead Penn State's cornerback rotation in 2023, but the order is largely undecided. It will be interesting to track their competition, starting this spring. — Greg Pickel 5. What is the biggest concern that no one is talking about this spring? Many people may assume Penn State will have little trouble making the ex- pected transition at quarterback from Clifford to Allar. Clifford was inconsis- tent during his time as starter and left behind a complicated legacy. Allar is a five-star savior-of-the-program type who is undeniably talented. That said, a lot needs to happen in the offseason so that Penn State's new quar- terback will be ready to take charge of the offense. Clifford was very good at making pre-snap reads, getting guys in the right spots and being a coach on the field. His successor will need time to develop those skills. There will be plenty of film work and time spent with coordinator Mike Yurcich to make certain that Allar and Pribula thoroughly understand the of- fense. They'll also need live reps, too. It won't be a snap-your-fingers transition to move on from Clifford as many may believe. Penn State is also essentially flipping the top of the receivers room, so that's another factor to take into account. In the end, the Lions should be fine at quarterback. In fact, they could be bet- ter here than they've been recently, even with a first-year starter replacing a vet- eran. I'm excited to see the next chapter at quarterback … just with the appropri- ate expectations for the near future. — Sean Fitz Senior cornerback Johnny Dixon started six games and earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors during his junior season at Penn State. PHOTO BY DANIEL ALTHOUSE