Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1518105
1 2 A P R I L 2 0 2 4 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M Even when the NCAA does something that feels like a step in the right direction, there's always a catch. That's the case with the move this offseason to imple- ment one-way radio communication be- tween coaches and select players. If the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel gives final approval to the change when it meets on April 18, quarterbacks and designated defensive players will have the ability to hear direct communication with their coordinators and play-callers prior to the snap. Hastened by Michigan's sign-stealing scandal last fall, the move will bring college football into the 21st century. But as always, there's a catch. Because the rule is set to be implemented with just five months to go before the season begins, equipment manufacturers are having to scramble to produce enough helmets to meet the demand. Penn State coach James Franklin said his team doesn't have nearly enough of the tran- sponder-equipped helmets for the players who will need them. "This rule got changed so late that the company couldn't really get it out to all the schools in the country," he said. "They can only get out three [per team]. So, you've got to decide how you're using those three." Penn State has been allowing two quar- terbacks to use the helmets, while the other one is shared by defensive players. After the rule receives final approval, the coaching staff will be able to com- municate with one player on the field. That player will have a green dot on his helmet to signify that he has been des- ignated by the staff. The communication will be turned off when there are 15 sec- onds left on the play clock or when the ball is snapped, whichever comes first. When a team is on offense, coaches will need to be in communication with the quarterback. It's more complicated on the defensive side, but Penn State has been trying to acclimate its top two middle linebackers, redshirt junior Kobe King and senior Tyler Elsdon, to the new system. "One day, it's Kobe [wearing the tran- sponder-equipped helmet], and the next day it's Elsdon," Franklin said. "It's not ideal. We're able to get some work at it right now, but it's not like we can treat it game-like where all three of your [mid- dle linebackers] have it, all three of your quarterbacks have it, and so forth." This system might virtually lock King into every Penn State defensive package in 2024. While that's typically the case, last season outside linebackers Curtis Jacobs and Abdul Carter manned the Mike spot in certain third-down situations. The team will still be able to do that, but pos- sibly without the new technology. King said he's excited to use the hel- mets. "I think it's good for now and for the future," he said. "You might not use it all the time, but it's good. Certainly, it's loud. I can hear it. And it's kind of sweet to me to get the call like I'm in the NFL already." While the implementation has left something to be desired, Franklin is happy about the impending change after years of frustration over the NCAA's reluctance to approve the use of technology that has long been commonplace in the NFL. However, he doesn't see it as a cure-all. "This thing got pushed because of the whole sign stealing [scandal], and for the offenses that are no-huddle, it doesn't change them at all," he said. "You've still got to get the information to the wide re- ceivers. How do you do that? You signal. So, it doesn't really solve that issue." Franklin said he wishes the NCAA had modernized its rules years ago, allowing helmet communication on the field and tablet computers on the sideline for video breakdowns. He figures to get both start- ing this fall. "We go to high school games. They've got TVs on the sideline, and we can't have a tablet," he said. "So, I think they're good changes, but I don't know if they neces- sarily are solutions to some of the chal- lenges that have been out there that actu- ally got the rule passed." ■ Redshirt junior Kobe King has been sharing a transpon- der-equipped helmet with fellow middle linebacker Tyler Elsdon this spring. PHOTO BY SEAN FITZ Lions Welcome New Technology, Despite Slow Rollout T H O M A S F R A N K CA R R | T F R A N K . C A R R @ O N 3 . C O M Reserve Defensive Tackle Leaves Penn State Penn State lost a backup defender in late February when redshirt junior defensive tackle Jordan van den Berg announced via social me- dia that he planned to transfer. Listed at 6-foot-3, 310 pounds, van den Berg saw action in 28 games the past three seasons after transferring from Iowa Western Com- munity College. Last fall, he totaled 154 snaps in 11 games, finishing with 11 tackles and a fumble recovery. Penn State brings back ample talent at de- fensive tackle this fall, with seniors Dvon Ellies, Coziah Izzard and Hakeem Beamon all opting to return for one more year with the Nittany Lions. All three played substantially more than van den Berg in 2023, and PSU also welcomes back junior starter Zane Durant. In addition, the Lions signed four defensive tackles in their 2024 recruiting class, all of whom enrolled in January. On March 12, van den Berg announced that he had committed to Georgia Tech. — Ryan Snyder