BWI Live: A Penn State football podcast from Blue White Illustrated

While things are still taking shape, we have a better sense of what Penn State's defense will look like under defensive coordinator Manny Diaz. The first-year Penn State coordinator spoke with the media last week, and the host of the BWI Daily Edition, Thomas Frank Carr, pieces together the clues to get a rough outline of some of the changes. He uses evidence from head coach James Franklin, Diaz, and linebacker Curtis Jacobs to build a sketch of the differences between the former Miami head coach and former Penn State defensive coordinator Brent Pry.

To find the differences, T-Frank starts with the similarities. First, he recaps what Franklin said about Diaz during the winter and explains how both coaches come from similar backgrounds. Then, he allows Franklin to explain the differences that Diaz is bringing to Happy Valley. Next, T-Frank fills in the context of what Franklin said with some details and examples. Lastly, he leaves you with one element that might be noticeable when watching things this spring's Blue White Game.

Next, he dips into the coverage aspect of defense by asking Diaz what sort of system he believes in. The Penn State explains what he believes in and leaves a big clue about what the Nittany Lions need to be successful next fall.

This nugget leads to a discussion about the transfer portal and a common thread between the Miami defense in 2021 and Penn State's current squad. T-Frank thinks that one aspect of the defensive structure will dictate what sort of coordinator Diaz is on Saturdays. This thought brings him to starting linebacker Curtis Jacobs. How is the adjustment to the new defense going? Jacobs explains what it takes to get everyone on the same page.

Next, T-Frank explains why Jacobs is a crucial player in the defense next fall. It's not just that he's the most experienced linebacker returning, but his skill set is essential for Diaz's defense to thrive. T-Frank details those skills and what will likely be asked of Jacobs next fall.

Lastly, T-Frank takes all of that information and outlines what he expects the new defensive coordinator to be like next season. Will he be aggressive? How will he use his coverage players? While some information is yet to gather, T-Frank expects an aggressive and attacking defense.

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BWI LIVE!

Penn State football marches on towards the Blue White Game, 12 days from now. It’s week four of spring football and the BWI Live show comes to you at noon on YouTube to look at where things stand over halfway through the season. Host Thomas Frank Carr, senior Editor Nate Bauer and reporter Dave Eckert discuss which players have stood out after Penn State’s first spring scrimmage last friday, Sean Clifford’s New NIL company, and more.

If you’d like to suggest a topic, ask a question, or give a comment, join the show live on YouTube and participate in the show!

Penn State spring practice

The Ntitany Lions held their first live scrimmage on Friday and BWI has information on some top performers and big-picture takeaways from the event. Some of the topics include standout players, offensive running game perspective, and an early leader in the battle for the Mike linebacker.

While these are preliminary reports, they are helpful to get a sense of what sort of progress the defense is making under new defensive coordinator Manny Diaz.

They’ll also discuss Penn State quarterback Sean Cifford’s new NIL company, Limitless. The sixth-year senior launched the company last night and already has a staff and clients. What sort of impact will that have on Penn State, his play and the future prospects of the position? They’ll discuss that and more.

After discussing other football topics, they will shift to some Penn State basketball news. Who is penn State targeting in the portal? Also, which players are planning to visit the campus? Eckert and Bauer have your insider info there as well.

Tune in at noon to the BWI Live show at noon, only on YouTube!

#PennState #NittanyLions

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This weekend, Penn State football hosts several key recruits from both the portal and the following several recruiting classes. Recruiting insider Ryan Snyder joins the BWI Daily edition to discuss the critical names and positions Penn State is hosting over the next few hours.

Host Thomas Frank Carr starts the show by addressing Penn State's immediate need, edge rusher. The team hosts former Maryland edge rusher Demeioun Robinson on Friday as they continue to seek help at that position in the portal. But, is he the answer that they seek? Yes, according to T-Frank.

He explains what skills the former top 100 recruit has and why he might be the best option left after Penn State missed out on their top targets earlier this year. He and Snyder also discuss Akheem Mesidor and how he would fit at Penn State. Head coach James Franklin outlined that Penn State is very interested in a portal edge so landing one will be critical. However, according to both Snyder and T-Frank, something might get in the way of the Nittany Lions landing either prospect.

Next, Snyder runs down the list of players visiting this weekend in recruiting. Players he mentions include unranked defensive end Mason Robinson from McDonough, and several other important players in the 2023 cycle, including quarterback Marcus Stokes. The Nittany Lions are also hosting another edge rusher, this one from outside of the region in Durham native Jaybron Harvey.

Despite having four players on the offensive line locked up for the Class of 2023, Penn State continues to host offensive linemen. Georgia native Paul Mubenga visits this weekend. What position does he play? T-Frank and Snyder discuss if the 6-4 lineman can play tackle or guard.

Finally, they wrap up with players that Snyder spoke to this week after previously visiting Penn State. First, they highlight the interior offensive line prospect for 2024, Kyle Altuner, a standout at the Under Armour camp in Baltimore last month. T-Frank and Snyder discuss his potential position, their thoughts on his performance from their in-person experience, and what Altuner had to say about Penn State.

Finally, they discuss ascending quarterback prospect for 2024, Davi Belfort.

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The Penn State football team held an open practice on Wednesday night, of which BWI was present. Host Thomas Frank Carr and senior editor Nate Bauer discuss what they saw and more of what they heard from Penn State head coach James Franklin, defensive coordinator Manny Diaz, and linebacker Curtis Jacobs. They discuss that and then take viewers' questions on the BWI Daily mailbag edition.

The first topic of conversation they start with is something asked by fans of the show that didn't make the mailbag. T-Frank and Bauer explain why there has been less talk and less evaluation of the Penn State offensive line this spring. Next, Bauer describes how the practice works and how the media is limited in some capacities by the setup in Holuba Hall.

Next, they discuss the transfer portal's impact on college football rosters. It's a problem not just for Penn State but also for the rest of the country. They discuss how the offensive line has limited numbers this spring and how Penn State uses the portal to find defensive ends. Finally, T-Fanks points to immediate real-world ramifications of NIL and the transfer portal ono Penn State this spring.

They discuss Penn State linebacker Curtis Jacobs's comments after practice and how he's adjusting to his new position as the Will linebacker. How has the transition gone? What is he looking for in his own game? Bauer had a chance to talk to him and gave his thoughts.

Finally, they get to the viewer's questions in the BWI Mailbag. First, they discuss Penn State's linebacker situation and depth and contingency plans for injuries at key positions. Next, they discuss Franklin's comments about Hakeem Beamon from Wednesday and what they mean.

Next, they have an extended conversation about the situation around guard Saleem Wormley. First, Bauer discusses how the media overlooked his injury last season and why that happened. Then, he discusses how big of an impact and how important of a player he could be for the Nittany Lions next season if he can return to his previous form.

After a quick discussion about the Penn State basketball portal activity, T-Frank and Bauer discuss a long-held trope by a large section of the fanbase. Is James Franklin a great recruiter and an average coach? T-Frank challenges the notion not to defend Franklin but to deconstruct an either-or scenario that isn't realistic in college football. That conversation spins into several about philosophy, program structure, team building, and more.

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After a hot start to the year, Penn State football went dark in recruiting but came back in April by flipping tight end Andrew Rappleyea from Michigan. Now that they've secured one spring commitment from the four-star tight end, who is next? That is what the host of the BWI Daily Edition, Thomas Frank Carr, on today's edition of the show. He uses Penn State's top prospects and their announced unofficial visits to give a barometer of when a commitment might come. Finally, T-Frank looks at the class breakdown and examines where Penn State needs to land a commitment.

Three Penn State prospects to watch this spring.

The first prospect that T-Frank mentions is four-star receiver Rodney Gallagher. The Pittsburgh native announced five dates this month where he'll visit some of his top schools for unofficial visits. From that list, T-Frank points out the schools that Penn State will have to compete the hardest against to earn Gallagher's services.

From there, he explains why Gallagher is such an essential prospect in this class and why T-Frank thinks he's a "must-land" for the Nittany Lions.

The second prospect that T-Frank shows is four-star linebacker, Tony Rojas. The speedster linebacker has an impressive list of unofficial visits lined up for the coming month, many of which are in short order. T-Frank notes that several are early NIL heavy-hitters, and one is a perennial powerhouse. Finally, he tells you and then mentions a common thread between Rojas and Gallagher about how their visits line up.

The third and final prospect is an under-the-radar player in McDonough defensive end, Mason Robinson. The unranked edge rusher has an offer from Penn State, a short list of schools, and a high track record visiting the school. Is he the most likely player to commit? T-Frank gives a quick scouting report on Robinson because fans might not be familiar with him in a crowded class of edge rushers in the region.

Finally, T-Frank brings up a dark horse candidate to commit to the Nittany Lions. Check out the show to hear which player was on campus Wednesday and what that player could mean to the Class of 2023.

Finally, T-Frank examines the class by position and side of the ball. Where does Penn State need to secure a commitment? Howx do their class numbers and ranks stack up? Lastly, he gives an outline to end the show.

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Penn State football took a two-month hiatus between commitments, but they finally snagged another player for the Class of 2023 in four-star tight end, Andrew Rappleyea. Recruiting insider Ryan Snyder joins host Thomas Frank Carr to discuss how the New England product landed at Penn State. 

After that, T-Frank discusses something interesting James Franklin said last week that piqued his interest. Franklin mentioned that the Penn State staff uses zoom to communicate with committed freshmen that aren't enrolled early. How does that change who can play early in their career? T-Frank dives into that. 

First, Snyder digs into what happened with Raappleyea, who flipped his commitment from Michigan to the Nittany Lions on Sunday morning. Snyder tells T-Frank the story of how Penn State had four tight end prospects and how Raappleyea, through no fault of his own, found himself on the outside looking in. 

Next, he goes through the events that happened since then that have opened the door for Rappleyea to join the Class of '23. Snyder also gives some insight into his conversation with the senior tight end this weekend and how he finally decided to flip schools. 

Lastly, T-Frank gives his initial impressions of Rappleyea's skills as a football player. He's incredibly impressed and even compares him to an early version of a former New England tight end who found success at Penn State. 

After thanking Ryan for joining him on the show, T-Frank goes solo to discuss something Penn State head coach James Franklin said last week. Franklin mentioned that the team uses Zoom to communicate with freshmen who don't enroll early. The goal is to teach them the offense and the schemes that they need to know along with the team in spring football. 

How does that change which players T-Frank thinks can contribute early in their career? 

Drastically. 

So, T-Frank gives five freshmen who aren't on campus right now that can contribute next fall if they can learn the things they need to via Zoom. But, of course, he isn't counting the players already on campus. 

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Penn State football enters its third week of spring football today, which is the focus of the BWI Live show. Host Thomas Frank Carr, senior Editor Nate Bauer, and reporter Dave Eckert discuss the notable players and topics of the week at noon and other topics related to Penn State's spring practices. 

Join the show at noon on YouTube to get your questions in and participate in the show! 

Penn State head coach James Franklin spoke with the media late last week and discussed several topics.

One of the most revealing topics is the development of transfer wide receiver Mitchell Tinsley. The former Western Kentucky Hilltopper drew high praise from head coach James Franklin. What did he say, and what can it mean for the Nittany Lion's passing attack next season? The BWI Live crew discusses the impact he has had this spring. 

Franklin also gave new insight into new defensive coordinator Manny Diaz's defense. How much of a learning curve are players on that side of the ball this spring? The panel will tackle that topic as well. 

Next, they'll stay on the defense and break down the veteran leadership situation. So who is stepping up as a team leader? Where can more leadership develop? That's a question that Franklin did not have an answer for last week, so BWI will sink their teeth into that topic as well. 

Finally, they will discuss standout Penn State players so far this spring that Franklin brought up. Which young Nittany Lions are ahead of expectations? And is there any update on the offensive line situation for Penn State? 

You'll also hear from Penn State offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich and his thoughts about the freshmen on his roster. He had rave reviews for the Penn State running backs and explained the learning curve for the quarterbacks. 

As always, join the show and ask your questions or suggest topics you'd like to hear BWI discuss on the show. But you can only do that if you join the BWI Live show at noon on YouTube! 

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Every Friday, the BWI Daily Edition looks at the key visitors on the weekend for Penn State recruiting. Recruiting insider Ryan Snyder joins the show to break down the names to know for April 1-3. He and host Thomas Frank Carr also discuss the receiver group for the Class of 2023 and the players who made their way to Happy Valley over the last week as well.

Snyder starts the show by discussing the players making their way to Happy Valley over the weekend, comprised chiefly of standouts in the Class of 2024. The first name he brings up is offensive line prospect Kyle Altuner. Last weekend, the Good Counsel offensive lineman was a standout at the Under Armour camp in Baltimore and now visits the Nittany Lions a week later. Snyder explains what he saw at the camp and his strengths as a prospect. 

The next important player in the group is Mekhai White, a 6-3 receiver from King George, VA. Once again, White is a player that stood out at the Baltimore camp and has multiple offers from schools in the region. So, where does he stand with the Nittany Lions? Snyder explains that and the other schools vying for his services. 

After discussing several other prospects in the Class of '24, Snyder brings up two names for the weekend that will be significant factors in the Class of 2025. Check out the video to hear who they are. 

Finally, T-Frank wants to get Snyder's perspective on how spring practice plays into recruiting at this time of the year. Snyder explains that it's not just the on-field work that is important but also the meetings for players.

Next, they move on to the players that visited Penn State this previous week and Snyder's conversations with them. T-Frank starts with Texas wide receiver Kyle Parker, who has an interesting and unique recruiting story with the Nittany Lions. 

From there, they transition from Parker to offensive lineman Amir Herring, a four-star prospect from Michigan and a part of the On300. Penn State already has four offensive linemen, so why are they still courting Herring? Snyder explains. 

Finally, they discuss the wide receiver board. That's because four-star receiver and in-state product Rodney Gallagher announced that he would visit the school on April 30th. How important is that visit? Snyder says it's not about the visit to Penn State but other critical visits to advance Gallagher's recruitment. T-Frank and Snyder then discuss Gallagher's importance to the Class of 2023 and the receiver board this cycle. 

Lastly, they preview the month ahead and what happens when the NCAA calendar flips from the quiet period into the evaluation period in the middle of the month. 

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Penn State football held their second open practice of the spring period, and Blue White Illustrated was there to see it. Host Thomas Frank Carr and senior editor Nate Bauer share their impression of the 20 minutes that media was allowed to view Wednesday night and then take viewer questions for their weekly mailbag show.

As always, if you'd like to get a question on the show, the best way is to sign up for Blue White Illustrated for just one dollar and get 12 months of access. Check it out here.

Bauer starts the conversation by discussing what he saw from the special teams period of practice, which made up the bulk of the viewing experience. While it's easy to overlook, the punter and kicker positions are vacant this offseason after the graduation of specialist Jordan Stout. So was there anything to be gained? Both T-Frank and Bauer were intrigued by some of the players they saw returning punts.

After that, Bauer discusses what he saw from the all-important quarterback position while T-Frank gives his thoughts on what he saw from the skill positions, including receiver. Then, after bringing up third-year wide-out Malick Meiga, T-Frank transitions into the mailbag portion of the show.

One viewer asks if Meiga's prominence this spring is real or hype. Bauer gives his thoughts that Meiga's hype is real this spring. According to Bauer, the Canadian receiver was not a part of the picture last season for an important reason, and the positive feedback has been growing all year. On the other hand, T-Frank says that the hype is noise despite his earlier praise. Finally, he explains what he needs to see to understand what sort of player Meiga is.

Next, they answer a pair of roster-based questions about the strengths and weaknesses of the team coming into the spring and which starters might have their spot in jeopardy next year.

From there, they have a lengthy discussion about the situation and the state of the Penn State football program. If not "on the hot seat," what pressure should head coach James Franklin and his staff feel after two seasons below expectations?

Bauer and T-Frank debate what another sub-par season would mean for Penn State's perception with a critical group of individuals. They also discuss how fans and media pressure don't affect college coaches the same way professional ones do. Finally, they wrap up the show with their picks for the underrated player to break out in 2022 and their way-too-early running back depth chart.

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