Blue White Illustrated

A P R I L 1 3 , 2 0 1 6 B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M 5 With at least two of Penn State's pro- jected starting linebackers on the side- line this weekend for health reasons, there should be plenty of opportunity for young or backup LBs to establish a pres- ence during Saturday's Blue-White Game. Speaking to reporters on a conference call earlier this week, senior-to-be Von Walker highlighted three position- mates who have been making noise be- hind the scenes at practice this spring and might be set up to have strong per- formances this weekend. They are: Jason Vranic, Jan Johnson and Brandon Smith. Vranic, a walk-on transfer from Erie Community College, "is an awesome guy, an awesome 'backer," Walker said. "He still is trying to get the ropes at line- backer right now, but he's shown tremendous improvement and he's stepped in as a player so much. He's an awesome guy, so look for him. "Jan Johnson, he wrestled here at heavyweight, too, and now he's playing linebacker and he's picked stuff up. He played last year, too, but you probably didn't hear of him that much, but this year keep an eye out for him. He's stepped in and he's done an unbelievable job. He's an awesome player, so those two guys and Brandon Smith. "I love the way Brandon Smith plays. He's one of the toughest guys I know, so definitely keep an eye out for him, too. Those guys are all extremely hard workers, and I wouldn't expect any- thing but good things from them on Saturday." Walker didn't want to dwell too much on his own performance in spring prac- tice, preferring to put the spotlight on his teammates. He acknowledged that he caught an interception during one of the sessions, but he said that it wasn't the defense's best moment of the off-season drills. The man responsible for that play, he said, was seenior defensive end Evan Schwan. "Evan Schwan got an interception and it was a pick-six during practice and it was awesome," Walker said, adding how it's not often that you see a defensive lineman running toward the end zone. "You saw [Austin Johnson] or Carl [Nas- sib] maybe get a pick last year, but you don't see it that much, so for Evan to get an interception, obviously, we all went crazy." Walker: These 3 LBs will bear watching on Saturday T I M   O W E N   | O W E N . T I M . B W I @ G M A I L . C O M BLUE-WHITE WEEKEND SCHEDULE OF EVENTS FRIDAY, APRIL 15 All-Sports Museum open to public............ All-Sports Museum.....................................10 a.m.-6 p.m. Women's tennis vs. Northwestern............. Tennis Center........................................................ 4:30 p.m. Softball vs. Maryland.................................... Nittany Lion Softball Park....................................... 6 p.m. Luke Bryan concert.........................................Bryce Jordan Center............................................. 7:30 p.m. SATURDAY, APRIL 16 Beaver Stadium parking lots open............. Beaver Stadium.......................................................... 8 a.m. Men's golf hosts Rutherford Invitational.. Penn State Blue Course............................................ 8 a.m. Blue-White Family Fun Zone........................Holuba Hall......................................................9 a.m.-1 p.m. Fan Festival......................................................Curtin Road.................................................................. 9 a.m. Team bus arrival............................................. Curtin Road and Porter Road...........................10:30 a.m. Player autograph session............................. Gates A, B, C, E, F.............................. 11:15 a.m.-12:05 p.m. Lion Cub Zone..................................................All-Sports Museum...........................11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Beaver Stadium Gates A and B open.........Beaver Stadium...................................................12:30 p.m. Blue-White Game........................................... Beaver Stadium.......................................................... 2 p.m. Women's rugby................................................West Campus Fields................................................... 1 p.m. Softball vs. Maryland.................................... Nittany Lion Softball Park........................................4 p.m. SUNDAY, APRIL 17 Men's golf hosts Rutherford Invitational.. Penn State Blue Course............................................ 8 a.m. All-Sports Museum open to public............ All-Sports Museum.....................................10 a.m.-4 p.m. Women's tennis vs. Illinois........................... Tennis Center.............................................................. 11 a.m. Paterno Family Beaver Stadium Run.........Beaver Stadium..........................................................11 a.m. Softball vs. Maryland.................................... Nittany Lion Softball Park.........................................1 p.m. Men's lacrosse vs. Johns Hopkins...............Penn State Lacrosse Field........................................ 7 p.m. MONDAY, APRIL 18 Bruce Springsteen concert...........................Bryce Jordan Center............................................. 7:30 p.m. kid, as you guys [have seen from him] playing special teams and running back. So he's fitting right in with the defense. He's working on a little technique and fundamentals, but I think his athleticism is going to help make his transition faster." Scott's mindset, too, will help him ease into his new role. Said Haley, "I think he's handled it very maturely. He's one of those guys who is going to do anything to help the team. He's a strong guy. He's athletic, has long arms, so he can handle maybe bigger receivers and tight ends, if we need him to handle that." As for Haley's future, that is still a bit vague. As a two-year starter who has played both boundary cornerback and nickel at Penn State, there has been speculation as to where he will spend most of his time as a junior. For now, however, Haley isn't dwelling on where he will line up. "Where Coach needs me, I'll be," he said. "Right now as corners in the spring, we run on both sides – field and bound- ary. I think I'm comfortable anywhere, so wherever Coach wants to put me – in the nickel, field or boundary – I think any- thing works out."

• Cover