Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/541265
2 0 1 5 P E N N S T A T E F O O T B A L L blocking game continues, his offensive coordinator believes, his skill set will come full circle during his collegiate career. As Gesicki becomes more of a physical threat with blocking, driving defensive ends and linebackers off the ball, it will help open up more possibilities for him in the passing game. If he's lining up in the box on a more consistent basis – where he can block for an iso, just as easily as he can run a seam route down the middle of the field – that disguise can create matchup problems for an opposing defense. "If he's able to do that, the way he's go- ing, he'll be even more of a threat than just being a guy who can play outside as a big-bodied kid," Donovan said. "Now he can play inside and [block] as well as being able to be matched up against linebacker types in the pass game. He's got the ability to have a heck of a career here." ■ KEY PERSONNEL Adam Breneman, Nick Bowers, Kyle Carter*, Mike Gesicki*, Jonathan Holland, Brent Wilkerson LOSS Jesse James* RISING STAR Gesicki is one of Penn State's potential breakout performers in 2015. He's gained nearly 20 pounds in the off-season and is up to 255. Coming off a true freshman season in which he played in all 13 games, made one start (against Maryland) and fin- ished with 11 catches for 114 yards, he is poised to have a big sophomore year. BIGGEST LOSS The only tight end Penn State lost in the off-season is James, who opted not to return for his senior season and was subsequently taken by Pittsburgh in the fifth round of the NFL Draft. James caught 38 passes for 396 yards and three touch- downs in his final season with the Nittany Lions. NUMBERS GAME If anyone is due for a bounce-back season, it's Carter. Since enjoying a remarkable redshirt freshman year, in which he caught 36 passes for 453 yards, his numbers have steadily declined. He caught only 16 passes for 153 yards and one touch- down last year, but that lone TD was a big one. It set up Sam Ficken's win- ning PAT in the Pinstripe Bowl and may have set the stage for a strong fi- nal season. OUTLOOK For the past few years, dating back to Bill O'Brien's arrival, the conventional wisdom has held that Penn State is loaded at tight end. That might be true from a num- bers standpoint, but James Franklin did not seem particularly happy with the productivity of the tight ends in his first season as coach. Although James, Carter and Gesicki all fin- ished among the Nittany Lions' top eight receivers, Franklin was quite clearly dissatisfied with the unit's commitment to blocking. As Breneman explained this past spring, "It's something Coach Franklin says to us a lot: If you can't block, you're just a big, slow wide receiver." Breneman wasn't on the field last year due to a preseason knee injury, so he gets a waiver on any complaints about the unit's blocking prowess. He's expected to be full-go in pre- season practice, and his presence in the lineup should go a long way to- ward improving any deficiencies here. He stands 6-foot-4, 252 pounds, so he certainly has the phys- ical tools to do what Franklin expects of his tight ends. To hear the second- year coach tell it, Brenemen and his fellow TEs don't really have much choice in the matter. "They're going to embrace it," Franklin said, "and we're going to move on." – M.H. >> * Starting experience in 2014 TIGHT END - Y NO NAME YR HT WT 88 Mike Gesicki So. 6-6 255 81 Adam Breneman R-So. 6-4 252 TIGHT END - F 87 Kyle Carter Sr. 6-3 240 11 Brent Wilkerson R-Jr. 6-3 253 PHIL'S TAKE If Breneman comes out of preseason prac- tice 100 percent healthy, Penn State will enter the season four-deep at tight end. Gesicki had an excellent spring practice session. He's now 255 pounds, and he needs to become a complete tight end. Carter has flex- tight end ability, and Wilk- erson needs to stay healthy. The big question here is Breneman's health. ADAM BRENEMAN Steve Manuel