Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/969330
that McSorley has filled so spectacu- larly. At 6-0, 198 pounds, McSorley doesn't have prototypical size for an NFL quarterback, but the success of players like Drew Brees (6-0, 209) and Russell Wilson (5-11, 203) has changed the conventional wisdom as to what a successful NFL passer needs to look like. It hasn't completely overturned the conventional wisdom, though, and the top quarterbacks in this year's draft – Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen, Josh Allen – all fit the familiar NFL template. It will be interesting to see how highly Baker Mayfield goes in this year's draft. The 6-1, 215-pound Mayfield put up prodigious numbers at Oklahoma, thanks in large part to his mobility, which allowed him to extend plays and find receivers downfield. Sound famil- iar? AMANI ORUWARIYE The Nittany Lions haven't had a cornerback dra9ed during the Franklin era. That's likely to change in a few weeks, with Grant Haley and Christian Campbell both on NFL radar screens. Oruwariye could develop into an NFL-worthy prospect, too. He stands 6-1, 204 pounds, and he's already got 8ve career interceptions. With a full- time starting role likely awaiting him this fall, he would have to be considered a candidate for a spot in next year's dra9. DeANDRE THOMPKINS A 8eld-stretch- ing receiver, Thompkins could be set to assume a bigger role in Penn State's of- fense this fall following the graduation of DaeSean Hamilton and Saeed Black- nall. He started 15 games and caught 55 passes the past two seasons, and a strong senior year could put him on someone's dra9 board. He's also an ex- perienced punt returner, so that's an- other resume-builder that could help Thompkins attract the attention of NFL scouts. CHASZ WRIGHT Wright could be the only senior-eligible offensive lineman on Penn State's two-deep this coming fall. He's listed at 6-7, 346 pounds, so he's got the size to play tackle at the NFL level. He's started 14 games the past two seasons, including the last five games of the 2017 season. Wright may find himself returning to a backup role this fall if he and Ryan Bates re- main at right tackle; the Lions are blessed with an abundance of talent at that position at the moment. But with his size and starting experience, he'll likely merit some consideration a year from now. –MATT HERB Penn State's athletic revenue contin- ued to trend upward during the 2017 fis- cal year, according to data provided to the NCAA as part of the school's 2016- 17 financial report. Among the areas resulting in higher revenues were Big Ten television and bowl distributions, and increases in licensing- related revenues and corporate partner compensation. Penn State also saw in- creased philanthropy among Nittany Lion Club members and other donors. The 2016-17 fiscal year also saw an in- crease in expenses, including additional grant-in-aid costs relating to the pro- viding of cost of attendance to student- athletes during the summer academic sessions, enhanced student-athlete meals and nutrition stations, as well as coaching, administrative and support staff compensation. Increased expenses also occurred due to the costs associated with home game operations, including increased security measures and staffing, and facility enhancements. Additional expenses included the debt service payments on the university's short-term $30 million loan to Intercol- legiate Athletics earlier this decade, in addition to increased costs in the daily operations for Penn State's 31-sport program, which has won nine NCAA championships and 34 Big Ten titles since the 2012 fall semester. During fiscal 2017, Penn State generated just over $144 million in net revenues, in- cluding $35.5 million in ticket sales, $30.8 million in contributions and $23.3 million in media rights. Penn State's athletic ex- penses totaled $138.7 million, leaving the school with a positive balance of approx- imately $5.3 million. "Penn State Athletics continues to be a strong, self-supporting unit, boosted by new and increasing revenue streams during fiscal 2017, while remaining at- tentive to rising expenses in many areas," athletic director Sandy Barbour said in a news release. "During the past year, we've continued to see strong and encouraging indicators, including tick- eting, sponsorships and licensing, and additional revenue in other areas, that have brought us closer to a sense of nor- malcy, in conjunction with our efforts to closely manage expenses. "We remain vigilant in our expense management, while creating conditions for success for our students and achiev- ing comprehensive excellence through- out ICA," Barbour added. Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics does not receive any funding from the state, nor any student fees or financial support directly allocated by central ad- ministration. Penn State was one of only 13 Division I athletic departments that re- ported to be self-supporting in USA Today's 2015-16 College Athletics Finance Report. Penn State fields one of the nation's most comprehensive athletic programs, sponsoring 31 intercollegiate varsity programs (16 men's and 15 women's), tied for the fourth-highest sport total among Football Bowl Subdivision insti- tutions, that are fully funded at the NCAA maximum scholarship levels. ■ A D M I N I S T R A T I O N Rising revenues boost athletic department in 2016-17