Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1520787
J U N E / J U L Y 2 0 2 4 2 7 He played well in live action, and it's no longer a foregone conclusion that Nelson will be the No. 1 guy at that spot heading into preseason camp. Ioane is going to play a lot of football for Penn State one way or another. He'll be a key player up front in 2024. Quinton Martin Jr.: There are a cou- ple factors at play for Martin, a true fresh- man running back who arrived in January as one of the more heralded prospects in Penn State's 2024 recruiting class. First, some bumps and bruises cost him prac- tice time in the spring, so it's difficult to assess with any certainty just how high his stock has risen. That said, it's hard to ignore his per- formance in the Blue-White Game. Mak- ing his first public appearance with the Nittany Lions, Martin carried 6 times for 34 yards and 2 touchdowns. He had 21 of those yards and both of his touchdowns on just 2 carries for the victorious White team. Listed at 6-1, 194 pounds, Martin had work to do as a runner when he arrived at Penn State over the winter. He still does, but he appears comfortable carrying the ball, and even though he's a taller- than-average running back, his pad level doesn't look like much of an issue any- more. It's been a nice springboard to the summer, and maybe the Nittany Lions trust him more to carve out a niche role behind juniors Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen. Of course, that will mean throwing him the ball. He's got excellent hands, and the more confidence he develops, the more touches he'll get moving forward. Martin is an exciting one to watch. Kaden Saunders: Penn State's re- ceivers have been a talking point for more than a year, and they aren't yet where they want to be as a position group. Still, if you look beyond the overarching narrative, you can't help but notice that some of those guys took steps forward this spring and have a chance to continue their im- provement this summer. Saunders, a 5-10, 176-pound redshirt sophomore, turned in a fairly consistent effort. He was the offense's "Touchdown King" in spring practice, and the plays came a little easier than in prior years. As with every receiver, there's a lot of work to do in the months ahead, but the spring sessions were a good start. KeAn- dre Lambert-Smith is out the door, hav- ing transferred to Auburn, so Saunders figures to have a more prominent role in the slot. After catching 6 passes for 56 yards as a redshirt freshman, he'll be called upon to be a bigger part of the of- fense this fall if he's up to it. Nick Dawkins: It was only a mat- ter of time until true freshman Cooper Cousins would eclipse Dawkins at center this spring, or so went the conventional wisdom. Coming out of the Blue-White Game, however, that did not appear to be the case. It's too early to say that the job has been won, but Dawkins hung in there and had a good spring in the process. The 6-4, 306-pound redshirt senior was PSU's No. 1 center heading into the Blue-White Game. Even with some errant snaps early in the contest that will need to be cleaned up, he continues to have a solid grip on that spot. The battle between Dawkins and Cous- ins will continue in preseason camp. But Penn State's decision to use Cousins at guard in the spring was a sign of its con- fidence in Dawkins at the center spot. We still expect both to play, and when guys get healthy, the Nittany Lions should have some confidence in their depth on the interior. Andrew Rappleyea: Penn State didn't play returning senior starter Tyler Warren in the Blue-White Game, so Rappleyea got an extended audition in the public sphere. The 6-4, 249-pound redshirt freshman was up and down, but he ended on a high note with a 30-yard touchdown catch late in the game. Rappleyea's value — and in turn, his playing time — will depend on how he de- velops as a blocker. He's shown a willing- ness to mix it up and scrap. The Nittany Lions' backup at the position, redshirt junior Khalil Dinkins, is a different kind of player than Rappleyea. That means they can both carve out some sort of role be- hind Warren. A focused offseason will give Rappleyea a chance to further impact the rotation. The coaching staff thinks he could have After catching 6 passes for 56 yards and a touch- down during the 2023 season, receiver Kaden Saunders will be called on to play a bigger role this fall. PHOTO BY STEVE MANUEL