Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1544665
6 M A Y 2 0 2 6 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M T he 2026 edition of Penn State's intrasquad game was undoubtedly a tough watch for evaluations. The Nittany Lions, already down a good chunk of their roster due to spring injuries, took the field in a downpour April 25 for a live practice, of sorts. Who stood out for PSU in Matt Campbell's first spring showcase? Let's take a look. QB Connor Barry: It was a rough day to be a quarterback, thanks to the conditions. As was the case for most of spring ball, the bulk of the work fell to Barry, a senior transfer from Division III Christopher Newport University. He didn't light the world on fire but was more than serviceable throughout the day. Barry showed some of what the scouting report said coming in, antici- pating well and moving around in the pocket when it started to break down. In seven-on-seven work, he fit the ball into tight windows, displaying a bit of moxie in the process. RB James Peoples: The running backs had a good day, with the first three showcasing strong runs in live action. Peoples, a junior Ohio State transfer, gets the nod as the top per- former. He was elusive and displayed the best vision of the three. His cut- back run in live action was among the biggest gains of the day from the run- ning game. WR Zay Robinson: Penn State's receivers were up and down. Drops were an issue, which was predictable considering the weather. Still, that's a group that will have to continue to come together now that its injured veterans are working back into the rotation. There was no one star, but Robinson, a redshirt freshman, closed a strong spring by catching a couple of touchdown passes. His athleticism and change of direction were apparent, even on a wet field. C Brock Riker: It's tough to evalu- ate the offensive line on first watch, and even harder to do so in a scrim- mage that's taking place in a deluge. But Riker, a redshirt sophomore from Texas State, more than held his own in our first extensive look at him. With redshirt senior Dominic Rulli unavail- able this spring, Riker seems to be the clear favorite for the starting center job. TE Finn Furmanek: The redshirt junior kept popping up around the football, including making a terrific catch in traffic on a ball thrown slightly behind him. He also got into the mix as an H-back lead blocker. There didn't seem to be much of a drop-off from the scholarship guys to the one who came in as a walk-on. The Lions have some injured scholarship guys who will take back their place when they return, but that's a good room. DE Yvan Kemajou: We didn't see Kemajou for much of the spring, but he returned late and was able to par- ticipate in the Blue-White Practice. It's clear the sophomore will be needed both against the run and as a pass rusher, with the Lions still trying to figure out who can get to the quarter- back on a regular basis. DT Siale Taupaki: The super se- nior UCLA transfer was tough to move in the middle of the defense. He was able to shed blocks and create chaos in traffic during inside drill and live work. It was tough to evaluate just how effective the defensive tackles were as a group, but they seemed to hold their own on the interior. Taupaki also had some success rushing the passer in one-on-ones, which was a bit of an unexpected wrinkle. NB Xxavier Thomas: Penn State's cornerbacks, predictably, had them- selves a day. The conditions were favorable for the group, but they still showcased strong coverage skills and were right around the ball at all times. The guy who caught our eye was Thomas. The Nittany Lions moved the redshirt freshman around, and he was able to knock away a few balls on the day. He also saw action as a punt gun- ner, which is a sign that he'll be trusted on special teams in the fall. S Josiah Zayas: The splash play of the day came from a true freshman, with Zayas blitzing right into a swing pass by one of his classmates, quar- terback Peyton Falzone. Zayas leaped, made the play and did not stop until he reached the back of the end zone. He made the move from cornerback to safety in his first spring and fit in well. Penn State looks to have scooped up a pretty good one late. P Nathan Tiyce: In what looked to be a terrible day for kicking the football, Penn State's specialists actu- ally shone bright. Tiyce, a sophomore transfer from Mississippi State, hit a few good ones in live work, both as a rugby-style and a traditional drop punter. He had a couple downed inside the 5-yard line and showcased a huge leg when he had space to work. ■ Nickel cornerback Xxavier Thomas flashed potential both on defense and special teams in Penn State's Blue- White Practice. PHOTO BY MARK SELDERS/PENN STATE ATHLETICS These 10 Players Impressed In PSU's Spring Finale JUDGMENT CALL O P I N I O N SEAN FITZ SEAN.FITZ@ON3.COM