Blue White Illustrated

calls in the Blue-White Game, and the straightforward nature of the offen- sive approach would seemingly bene- fit a young defensive player who is only a few months into his college ca- reer. But one quality that was apparent in the spring game was Parsons' high- revving motor. Cheered on by a bus- load of friends and family from Harrisburg, many wearing No. 11 jer- seys, the 6-foot-3, 241-pound line- backer got off blocks and chased down ball carriers, even if he had to cross the field to do it. By all accounts, his showing was reflective of his showing throughout the spring. "He is extremely competitive," Pry said. "He wants to be great, and he has the drive to reach his potential and then some. He's got a big vision. With some hard work and a year-round commitment to it, I'm excited to see the direction he's going. He's a work in progress, but he is fun to coach and gives us everything he's got right now." Pry said that one of the coaches' priorities in the spring was to help Parsons become more consistent so that he's as disciplined and effective in late-game situations as he is in the first quarter. "Right now, his fundamentals and techniques will slip when he gets tired," Pry said. "But you put him in a competitive situation when he is tired, and he rises to the occasion and comes out on top. He's just one of those guys. He's got it within him to do whatever is needed. You can usu- ally get it from him. It's a great quality, and I'm glad he has it. He's got a great skill set, don't get me wrong, but that competitiveness – it's hard to coach that." Next up: a summer filled with in- formal practices, film work and some summer classes. Assuming he takes care of business in all three, he'll likely hear his name called a lot this fall. ■ E ver since he signed with Penn State in December, enrolled in January and was promptly moved by the coaching staff to a position of immediate need, it's been assumed that Micah Parsons has been on the fast track to play for the Nittany Lions in 2018. While the five-star prospect from Harrisburg, Pa., has since changed posi- tions again, moving from middle line- backer to the Will outside linebacker spot this past spring, that assessment has not really changed. Parsons is still regarded as one of the most likely of the Nittany Lions' true freshmen to see action this fall. But he's not the only newbie with a chance to make an early impact. James Franklin and his staff may have been less inclined to play true freshmen the past two seasons, a consequence of the team's improved depth, but that first wave of Franklin recruits is starting to depart, creating opportunities for the members of Penn State's most highly ranked re- cruiting class in decades. So, which of PSU's other incoming freshmen are most likely to see action this fall? Here's a bit of speculation: PAT FREIERMUTH The Nittany Lions are perilously thin at tight end, which means it's all but assured that one of their two four-star recruits at that position will play in 2018. Freiermuth, who stands 6- foot-4, 250 pounds, appears to already have the physical tools to play as a true freshman. He caught 27 passes for 613 yards last season at the Brooks School in his native Massachusetts, so he's got the sticky hands the position requires. It also bears mentioning that Penn State has had some success in recent years at bringing young tight ends up to speed quickly. Jesse James won honorable mention Freshman All-America honors in 2012, Adam Breneman started five games and caught 15 passes for 186 yards and three touchdowns in 2013, and Mike Gesicki won Big Ten All-Freshman honors in 2014. ZACK KUNTZ Another early enrollee, Kuntz appeared to get caught up in the wave of injuries that thinned out this po- sition group in spring practice. Returnees Nick Bowers and Jonathan Holland were also nicked up, making Danny Dalton the only fully healthy scholarship tight end by Blue-White Weekend. But even though Kuntz didn't play in the spring game, the coaches did get a good look at the 6-7, 232- pounder during practice. They came away believing their initial scouting report – that he was an inexperienced blocker but an inviting target in the pass game – had been accurate. If he stays healthy, he could be in the mix here. JESSE LUKETA Another early enrollee, Luketa has been overshadowed by his fel- low linebacker Parsons, but he reportedly impressed this spring, and he had his mo- ments in the Blue-White Game, finishing with four tackles for the White. The Lions need to build depth at all three positions, so while his odds of playing this year don't look to be quite as good as some others, he can't be ruled out as a potential contributor. S P E C I A L S E C T I O N OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS Penn State's much-lauded true freshman class may have a chance to contribute right away | F O O T B A L L

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