Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1535618
J U N E / J U L Y 2 0 2 5 3 3 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M class, Hayes shined in December and January during CFP practices. He is in competition for the third running back spot along with redshirt freshmen Quin- ton Martin Jr. and Corey Smith and red- shirt sophomore Cam Wallace. Why he'll play: Hayes is quite tal- ented; that assessment comes from pro- gram sources and our own eyes. Penn State will have seven scholarship running backs this fall, and Hayes is in contention to be No. 3. He seems more ready physi- cally than Smith, who is a year older but about 25 pounds lighter. Why he'll redshirt: Hayes appears capable of developing into a complete running back, but he's still working on his consistency. That's code for pass protection, which is a huge factor when it comes to getting onto the field early. Also, he's not a home run hitter, which is sometimes a shortcut to getting on the field. Hayes isn't going to take reps from seniors Kaytron Allen or Nicholas Singleton, so a redshirt could be in play despite his talent. KO B Y H OWA R D W R | 5 - 1 1 | 1 9 7 Howard elicited buzz upon his arrival in January. The question now is whether the talented Florida native can boost the most scrutinized position on the roster. Howard can play inside or out and has a natural feel for the position. Why he'll play: Penn State needs something — anything — from its wide receivers this year. Howard's feel for the position has potentially vaulted him into the rotation this fall. He's tough, athletic and more put together than you'd think. Why he'll redshirt: Howard was good in spring practice but occasionally ran up against stronger veteran defen- sive backs who gave him issues. He may need time to develop consistency and improve his blocking. Also, the path to early playing time narrowed when Penn State landed transfer receiver Trebor Pena in April. B R I A N KO RTOV I C H T E | 6 - 4 | 2 2 6 Kortovich was a late addition to Penn State's class, but he got an early start on his college career by arriving in Decem- ber. He spent the spring soaking in the offense and getting more reps, with oth- ers ahead of him sidelined. Why he'll play: Kortovich's athletic numbers stack up with those of any tight end on the roster. He has added weight since arriving at Penn State and looks like he belongs in this room. Why he'll redshirt: It's going to be tough to break through given the wealth of talent ahead of him. He's still just under 230 pounds, and a year in the strength program could do him well. B E K K E M K R I T Z A Q B | 6 - 5 | 2 0 0 Kritza has a big arm, and when his me- chanics fall into place, he can sling it. Still, he's a project, as evidenced by the fact that he didn't see action in the Blue- White Game. Why he'll play: It's tough to imagine a scenario in which Kritza gets onto the field this fall. In fact, that's not an idea we want to put out into the universe. Why he'll redshirt: Kritza has arm talent, but this is a long-term deal. He's a blank slate as an athlete and as a quar- terback prospect. There's plenty of work ahead. A N D R E W O L E S H T E | 6 - 5 | 2 2 0 After an exhausting recruitment that didn't end until the final day of the early-signing period, it was reassuring to see Olesh kick into gear right away in a talented tight ends room. He added 10 pounds this spring, and Penn State plays its tight ends early if they're ready to go. Why he'll play: Olesh was a five-star prospect for a reason. He's quite tal- ented, and more important, he showed up ready to work in January. With red- shirt sophomore Andrew Rappleyea out of action this spring and sophomore Luke Reynolds sidelined in mid-April by a minor injury, Olesh picked up the offense and got more reps. He's a natural receiver with terrific athleticism. Why he'll redshirt: Rappleyea and Reynolds will be back. Redshirt senior Khalil Dinkins is already there. It's a tough room to break into. Position coach Ty Howle will play freshmen if they're ready, but it's unclear how big a role Olesh can create for himself by August. At most other programs, he'd have a green light to play this fall. M AT T O U T T E N W R | 6 - 1 | 2 1 5 There aren't many receivers more physically gifted than Outten, who clocked a 4.40-second 40 upon arrival back in January. A jack-of-all-trades in high school, he must continue to learn to play the position. Work, maturity and mindset will go a long way. Why he'll play: Outten could be in freak territory as he keeps working with strength coach Chuck Losey this offsea- son. On top of that, he can make plays with the ball in his hands in the short passing game. Why he'll redshirt: The numbers look great, but wide receiver is a de- tails position. Despite some promising flashes, Outten doesn't seem to have fully arrived yet as a player who can set up defensive backs to create separation. LY R I C K S A M U E L W R | 6 - 4 | 1 8 7 When Samuel showed up at practice during the CFP, he looked like a high school player out there among his college teammates. There's no getting around the fact that he has work ahead of him physically, which was the expectation all along. Why he'll play: Samuel flashed this spring, including in the Blue-White Game. He's far from a finished product physically, but he has showcased the body control that really goes a long way in determining whether a tall receiver can have success at this level. Why he'll redshirt: Samuel needs some time to fill out. He's still super skinny and raw. The tools are evident, but it will take a redshirt year to see it all come together. Samuel should look like a different man after a year with Losey and the strength staff. M I C H A E L T RO U T M A N I I I O L | 6 - 2 | 2 9 5 Troutman had one of the better tapes as a senior in the 2025 class. He played both ways for DePaul Catholic and now has settled in as a center and guard for the Nittany Lions.