Blue White Illustrated

PENN STATE RADIO NETWORK WAEB............. 790-AM....... Allentown/Bethlehem/Easton WVAM............ 1430-AM....................................... Altoona WRKY............. 104.9-FM............... Altoona/Hollidaysburg WPGG............ 1450-AM......................... Atlantic City, N.J. WILK.............. 103.1-FM.........................................Avoca WLZS............. 106.1-FM........................... Beaver Springs WAYC............. 1600-AM.......................................Bedford WAYC............. 100.9-FM......................................Bedford WBYB............. 103.9-FM.....................................Bradford WBUT............. 1050-AM..........................................Butler WCPA............. 900-AM...................................... Clearfield WQYX............. 93.1-FM..................................... Clearfield WBYB............. 103.9-FM............................... Coudersport WZDB.............95.9-FM........................ DuBois/Sykesville WHGL............ 102.9-FM................................ Elmira, N.Y. WPSE............. 1450-AM.............................................Erie WFRA............. 1450-AM...................................... Franklin WGET............. 1320-AM.................................. Gettysburg WJEJ.............. 1240-AM.Hagerstown, Md./Chambersburg Sports Radio..96.5 FM.................................... Harrisburg Sports Radio..95.3-FM (HD)............................Harrisburg WKZN............ 1300-AM..................................... Hazleton WHUN............ 106.3-FM................................ Huntingdon WCCL............. 101.7-FM..................................Johnstown WBYB............. 103.9-FM.......................................... Kane WNPV.............1440-AM.....................................Lansdale WLBR............. 1270-AM..................................... Lebanon WJUN............ 92.5-FM....................... Lewistown/Mexico WMGW...........1490-AM....................................Meadville WJST.............. 1280-AM.....................New Castle/Sharon WVNJ............. 1160-AM.......................... New York Metro WNTP............. 990-AM..................................Philadelphia KQV............... 1410-AM................................... Pittsburgh WAVT..............101.9-FM.................................... Pottsville WPPA............. 1360-AM.....................................Pottsville WIOV..............1240 AM...................................... Reading WIOV..............98.5-FM....................................... Reading WBZU.............910-AM....................................... Scranton WBYB............. 103.9-FM................................. Smethport WQWK............1450-AM.............................. State College WBUS.............93.7-FM................................State College WZDD............ 101.3-FM....................Stratonville/Clarion WKOK............ 1070-AM...................................... Sunbury WCCL............. 101.7-FM................................... Somerset WTIV.............. 1230-AM..................................... Titusville WHGL.............100.3-FM............................... Troy/Canton WTRN.............1340-AM......................................... Tyrone WTRN.............100.7-FM........................................ Tyrone WNBT............. 104.5-FM...................................Wellsboro WNBQ............ 92.3-FM....................Wellsboro/Mansfield WILK.............. 980-AM................................. Wilkes-Barre WKSB.............102.7-FM.............................. Williamsport WSBA............. 910-AM.............................................. York WJST.............. 1280-AM........................Youngstown, Ohio D E C E M B E R   3 0 ,   2 0 1 6 B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M 18 cially aBer starting 2-2 this year. They kept to their plan all year and really coached those players up. Penn State has a lot of good things coming their way, and Coach Franklin and his coaching staff are a big reason why. BWI How much did this season impact Lamont's decision? Before the year, I re- member you told me that you guys love everything about Penn State but just wanted to see how much the team pro- gressed. So, did the team's success play a big part in his decision, or do you think he would have ended up at PSU even if it had won seven games again this year? WADE That was huge, it really was. When Pitt beat them early this season, then with Michigan a few weeks later, it was looking like this may be a tough season. For them to bounce back then and win all the games they did during the Big Ten season, it really left a great impression on [Lamont]. He wanted to play for a winner because he comes from a winning high school. He's always had a lot of success in high school, so now, when you look forward, with all the guys they have coming back, we really believe they could be a top-five team next sea- son, especially if they can beat USC in the Rose Bowl. The sky is the limit for Penn State, especially when you look at what they've added this season. Their current recruiting class is excellent, the 2018 class is off to a great start, so I'm really looking forward to seeing them take the next step. BWI Lamont is set to enroll early now, which isn't easy. I know he had to work hard to make sure he got all of his credits done so he could enroll in January, so as his father, how proud are you of what he's accomplished academically? WADE I'm extremely proud of every- thing he's done these past few years. The kid is a very smart young man. If he really wants something, he always goes out and gets it, regardless of what's in his way. I'm very proud of him. He's worked very hard to be able to enroll early, which is a major accomplishment in itself. That's going to allow him to grasp some schemes and concepts before the rest of the class gets there. That should put him on the field sooner, so I can't say enough about how proud I am of him. Even if he's not able to play aBer college, I know he's going to get an excellent degree and be successful in whatever he ends up doing. That alone is a blessing. BWI Speaking of education, I know that also played a major part in his decision. Can you talk about that, as well as what Lamont wants to major in? WADE He's planning to major in entre- preneurship. Their alumni association was huge. It's just so big, but they also really help each other out, especially for someone that plays sports at Penn State. Once he's done, we know that there will be a lot of opportunities for him through their alumni. BWI Can you talk about his relationship with a few of the other committed play- ers? Do you know of any players with whom he's become close in recent months? WADE Lamont could speak on that better than myself, but one guy that I know he speaks with a lot is K.J. Hamler. His relationship with K.J. was huge. They talked a lot about Penn State in the past couple of weeks. From what I under- stand, they're actually going to be room- mates when they enroll next month. I met K.J. when we went up there for a visit a while back. I like that young man a lot. He's a real nice kid and I think he's going to do a lot to help that program out early in his career. BWI Throughout Lamont's recruit- ment, cornerback was the position we discussed the most, but if you look at the depth chart, safety and nickel back are the two positions that could allow him to get on the field early. What has Terry Smith been saying to you guys about next year and where he could play early in his career? WADE Yeah, we've talked about that a few times. Both of those positions are real possibilities. Terry has been telling us that they plan to play him. They have to get him in the mix early, so wherever he fits best in their scheme, [that's where] they plan to play him. We know they have at least one opening at safety next year and there's another possible opening if another guy goes pro, so that's a position that he could work at during spring practice. Terry just wants him to produce early, so we'll see where he ends up playing aBer spring practice and the spring game.

• Cover