Blue White Illustrated

redshirt freshman "just hasn't developed the same way as other guys have, for whatever reason." Franklin said Penn State may check with a nutritionist to see if there's anything that can be done to speed Zembiec's progress in the weight room. In the meantime, the Lions have a po- tential problem here, because the team's other scholarship QB – Sean Clifford – is a true freshman who isn't even on cam- pus yet. The top of the depth chart may be in great shape, but the rest? All Franklin knows coming out of spring practice is that there's still some work to be done. "We have to create more depth there," he said. "We have to create more compe- tition. I think we have two quarterbacks who we can win with, and you have to have that. But I think that you need to have three." RUNNING BACK OBJECTIVES The Nittany Lions know what they have in Barkley, so the goal was to keep him healthy while improving their depth at the position. ACCOMPLISHMENTS We didn't get to see him in the Blue-White Game – he was held out as a precautionary measure for the second year in a row – but by all ac- counts, Barkley is ready to lay waste to opposing defenses. He's up to 225 pounds on the team's latest roster yet is faster than ever, having turned in a blazing 4.33-second 40-yard time during winter workouts. Physically, he looks more than ready to pick up where he left off in Janu- ary, when he shredded Southern Califor- nia for 194 yards in the Rose Bowl. Behind him, the Lions still have some questions. Miles Sanders missed a por- tion of spring drills, including the Blue- White Game, with an apparent arm injury. Mark Allen, Andre Robinson and converted defensive back Josh McP- hearson did play in the spring game, and Allen finished with a game-high 63 yards on 10 carries. McPhearson is being groomed for a role in the return game and was moved to the backfield so that he can take part in the position group's ball-security drills, but he did start for the White in the spring game, gaining 6 yards on three carries. Assuming Sanders is healthy by the time preseason practice begins in August, the Lions still have some decisions to make about partitioning the (admittedly few) carries that don't go to Barkley this coming fall. "We have a great group of guys here, and there are some things that Saquon can do, but we need guys to complement him," Allen said. "We have Miles Sanders, Andre Robinson, Josh McPhearson and a bunch of early guys who will be coming in during the season. It is obviously a competitive room and Coach [Charles] Huff does a great job of keeping it com- petitive, which makes us all better. Who- ever gets the No. 2 spot, we're all going to support him just as much as we support Saquon." P E N N S T A T E F O O T B A L L >> Sandwiches • Salads • Spuds • Soups • Sweet Tea HUB-Robeson Center • On-Campus mcalistersdeli.com he ic w nd a S • s ad al S • s u o S • s ud Sp T t ee w S • s p u a e T

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