Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1534903
1 4 M A Y 2 0 2 5 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M They Said It PHOTO BY STEVE MANUEL "There was an emphasis on cutting and route-running drills for Penn State's most questionable position group [during the April 8 practice]. The team's two transfer wide receivers, Troy's Devonte Ross and USC's Kyron Hudson, continue to be the focus. But there are a few other overlooked contributors who are beginning to impress through a good portion of spring ball. "Koby Howard may be a freshman, but with a 5-foot-11, 197-pound frame, he looks anything but. Howard already made an impression on strength coach Chuck Losey, who called him an 'unbelievably strong, pow - erful guy' during winter conditioning workouts. And now, he's drawing eyes on the practice field." — Seth Engle, StateCollege.com columnist, on Penn State's wide receivers "That's just Coop. He probably won't leave [the Lasch Building] tonight until like 11:30. That's just what he does. He's going to work every single day." — Senior offensive tackle Drew Shelton on sophomore interior lineman Cooper Cousins, who is a strong contender to be PSU's starting right guard this fall "We have more tools to solve some problems. There are going to be a couple of [opposing] players every year that are a problem. There are going to be a couple of games a year that are a problem, and you've got to have enough tools in your tool belt to deal with them. Jim's been doing it a long time. He's very clear about how he wants to do it. … I've been very pleased with how our defense has handled things." — Head coach James Franklin on how new coordinator Jim Knowles has impacted the Penn State defense this spring "It's been a dream of mine, ever since the program went Division I, to play here. So, just to be able to be on the team that got to the Frozen Four, it's definitely really special." — Sophomore forward Matt DiMarsico, reflecting on Penn State's milestone ice hockey season "Our offense is so multiple and creative in the formations and the differ- ent things that they do that are really challenging. So, when you put in a basic call, you have to be able to adjust against anything when you're going against Andy and our offense. I'm not saying we're always right, but it gives us a lot of good tape to be able to watch this summer with the players to teach. "Andy and I have a really good relationship. We do work together a lot and exchange ideas. We talk a lot, probably more than anywhere I've ever been." — Jim Knowles on the chess match between himself and second-year offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki in practice "I think we're more hopeful because of the lesson that the program learned. The lesson that we learned isn't something you can read about and just say, 'OK, we got it.' You can't. You really need to go through it. The fact that we were so far back, left for dead and came back to make the Frozen Four, is something I don't think any of these guys are ever going to forget." — Penn State men's ice hockey coach Guy Gadowsky following a season in which Penn State started out 0-8-1 in Big Ten play yet rallied to reach the semifinals of the NCAA Tournament "It's a huge deal for us. The first college football game he ever attended was a Penn State game. I remember when he was a young kid running around, Peyton wanted to get a headband because he loved watching Trace McSorley. He would run around the house with that on and run outside with it just because Trace wore that. "There's always been that connection with Lehigh Valley and Penn State, of course, and that makes it so exciting that he's getting the opportunity to actually attend the school that he grew up watching. It's great having that opportunity for him to be close to home and for my son to live out his dream." — Tom Falzone, father of Nazareth (Pa.) High quarterback Peyton Falzone, who committed to PSU in April "This year obviously being my last year, I definitely want to go out with a bang and change the room for the better. I feel like we've been growing each year, but we really want to take the next step, and I definitely think we've got the guys to do it. … The ceiling is extremely high for our room." — Redshirt senior Liam Clifford on the progress of Penn State's receiver corps