Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1512721
J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 4 11 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M by Penn State, has rushed for 1,052 yards and 15 touchdowns, giving the Rebels a balanced attack. Ole Miss finished the regular season ranked 15th in the nation in total of- fense, averaging 455.4 yards per game. Just like Penn State, it's among the best in the nation in turnover differential with a +9 margin. The Nittany Lions are No. 1 in the FBS in that statistic, having amassed a +18 margin. With their formidable offense, the Rebels figure to present an intrigu- ing matchup for a Penn State defense that has allowed fewer yards this sea- son (223.2 per game) than any FBS team since 2011. One caveat, however, is that some of Penn State's top players may not suit up for the game. Junior defensive end Chop Robinson announced on Dec. 5 that he was opting out in order to prepare for the 2024 NFL Draft, and he was unlikely to be the last player to do so. Franklin said he hoped his players would include him in their decision- making process while mulling whether to play in the bowl game, noting that the advice they receive is not always even- handed. "When we change the rules and al- low agents to be talking to these play- ers their entire college career, that's the challenge," he said. "They're getting information — and it's not always ac- curate information — from every di- rection. We just try to create an open communication line and try to give guys as much valuable information as pos- sible. At the end of the day, we want our guys to make great, educated decisions, based on all the information that's out there." Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin, mean- while, said he didn't expect the Rebels to be affected by opt-outs in the game. "I don't think we have guys who are really in that conversation who have the first-round type of grade or projection to potentially opt out," he said. "I don't think that will be an issue for us this year." One big challenge facing Penn State, Ole Miss and every team headed to a bowl game is the need to juggle multiple priorities during an increasingly busy month in college football. While pre- paring for the Peach Bowl, Franklin, Kif- fin and their staffs will also be managing the comings and goings of the transfer portal and working to ensure that they have no unpleasant surprises when the early signing period begins on Dec. 20. In addition, Penn State and Ole Miss have also undergone some staff changes in recent weeks. Penn State hired Andy Kotelnicki away from Kansas to take over as offensive coordinator (though he will only be observing during the team's game prep), while the Rebels are looking to replace tight ends coach John David Baker, who recently left to become of- fensive coordinator at East Carolina. Franklin said that the competing priorities have made for a tumultuous month. "You've got to, number one, take care of your current players and make sure that they're developing and finishing strong academically and giving yourself the best chance to [win] this game," he said. "But at the same time, you had better be bringing in players, whether it's from high school or from the trans- fer portal, who are going to allow you to keep growing and developing as a program and as an organization for the future. "It's a constant battle with those two things, and that's why you see college football staffs getting bigger, because you're literally trying to do both at the same time constantly. This time of year, right before signing period and the transfer portal opening, it magnifies it even more." ■ James Franklin said he hoped that players would consult with him before deciding whether to opt out of the game to prepare for the NFL. PHOTO BY NATE BAUER Chop Robinson To Sit Out Bowl Game, Prepare For NFL Draft Junior defensive end Chop Robinson announced two big decisions on Dec. 5, revealing that he plans to enter the NFL Draft and that he will not play in Penn State's upcoming game against Missis- sippi in the Peach Bowl. "After careful thought, I have decided to forgo our bowl game and declare for the 2024 NFL Draft," Robinson wrote in a social media post. "From one dream to the next, I am excited to continue this next chapter." Both moves were expected. After two outstanding seasons at Penn State following his transfer from Maryland, Robinson is considered a likely first-round selection. A four-star prospect from Gaithersburg, Md., he originally signed with the Terrapins but spent just one season in College Park. After enrolling at Penn State in the summer of 2022, he moved from linebacker to defensive end and developed into a pass-rushing force for his new team. Over the course of his 22 games at PSU, he had 41 tackles, including 17.5 for loss and 9.5 sacks. Robinson said his transfer to Penn State was enormously beneficial on and off the field. "As a man, it helped me," he said. "Coach [James] Franklin's message of being early to meetings and being on time, it helped me with my mindset. I didn't think that was a big deal before I got here. And as for football, being developed by Coach Deion [Barnes] and Coach [John] Scott, it's been a blessing." — Greg Pickel