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

The transfer portal has already heated up for the 2021-2022 offseason, with hundreds of football players entering their name, looking for a new home. So with all of that information, how can you know which players are essential? Host of the BWI Daily Edition, Thomas Frank Carr, sifted through the names and positions and came up with a list of players that he thinks are good players and fit Penn State.

He starts by first giving you his observations of the type of players that Penn State has recruited in the transfer portal. They've broken down into two groups of players with a common thread of a valid reason to leave their old program but different age and recruitment profiles otherwise. He also cautions that Penn State has only been active in the portal for one year, so the information about how Penn State operates is a minimal sample size.

Despite that, it's the best information at hand. It's also what the flashlight T-Frank used when plumbing the depths of the portal for players he thinks are both good at football and fit for Penn State. His list breaks into two groups, players that are good but don't quite fit for one reason or another and good fits that he's keeping an eye on.

The first list includes former Duke wide receiver, Jake Bobo. T-Frank thinks Bobo is a good football player and would fit Penn State well from his portal criteria and a cultural perspective. Still, some problems keep him from being a perfect fit. T-Frank explains and gets into his thoughts about the receiver position going forward.

The next player is former FIU left tackle MIles Frazier. Frazier started one year for the Golden Panthers before entering his name in the portal. He doesn't fit some of the critical criteria from Penn State's previous portal activity. Still, T-Frank thinks Frazier is a good football player that will be productive in the future. He's also good at one essential facet of football that Penn State lacks.

His following list of players fit all of the criteria in his search parameters and are good players. First, he mentions a former four-star defensive lineman from Vanderbilt, Marcus Bradley. T-Frank tells Bradley's story, rife with comically lousy timing for the former Maryland native. While Bradley has more than his fair share of concerns, T-Frank provides context to a turbulent first year on campus with the Commodores.

Next, he shines the spotlight on former UCF quarterback Dillion Gabriel. Fans may be familiar with Gabriel's play with Central Florida, but he gives a quick scouting report on Gabriel for those who aren't. The Hawaii native has skills that not only fit offensive coordinator Mike Yurchich's offense but should also remind Penn State fans of a former Penn State quarterback.

According to T-Frank, former LSU quarterback Myles Brennan is the last player and the best fit. Brennan is a nearly perfect fit for the Nittany Lions. His story in Baton Rouge is rife with bad luck and injuries that have stalled and delayed his career. If Penn State is interested in a quarterback this offseason, T-Frank explains why Brennan would be the guy he would target.

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Penn State football is heading into the final two weeks before the early signing period and trying to secure their class. But when news broke on Monday that Notre Dame Head Coach Brian Kelly was leaving the Fighting Irish to head south to LSU, things changed. Head coach James Franklin and the Nittany Lions are routinely in heated recruiting battles with Notre Dame, and there are a handful of commits in the Class of 2022 that have offers from Penn State.

Host Thomas Frank Carr gives you that list and the names on that tally that Penn State is targeting. After he goes through which players Penn State is pursuing, he gives you an overview of the most notable ones and what they bring to the table as football players. As it happens, two of them are offensive linemen, and it's a great time to bring up Phil Tratuwein's efforts to change his unit through recruiting. One key element has been present in most of the recruits Trautwein has gotten a verbal commitment from in '22, and '23 and the players mentioned on the show are no different.

After looking at those players and explaining what other movement on Penn State's scholarship list has happened, he moves into some questions submitted on Twitter. He gives an open invitation for questions and topics of discussion on the BWI Daily Edition for the offseason. If you'd like to submit questions, either sign up to be a member of Blue White Illustrated and ask a question on The Lions Den message board, or tweet @ThomasFrankCarr.

The topics discussed are:

-Should PJ Mustipher come back for one more season? Or was being named to the All-Big Ten Coaches' second team do enough for his draft stock? T-Frank wades through the murky water of that decision where there isn't an excellent answer for Mustipher. But, he also asks for caution and perspective if Mustipher does decide to return to Happy Valley for an essential reason.

-Should Penn State target Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord in the transfer portal if he enters his name? T-Frank gives some reasons on both sides.

-What is more important for Penn State to look for in a transfer portal quarterback? Scheme fit or raw talent? What about a recruit? T-Frank breaks those down separately because the answer is very different in each case.

Monday

BWI Daily edition with Thomas Frank Carr

Tuesday

Recruiting Podcast with Ryan Snyder and Greg Pickel

BWI Daily edition with Thomas Frank Carr

Wednesday

BWI Daily edition with Thomas Frank Carr

Thursday

BWI Daily edition with Thomas Frank Carr

Friday

BWI Daily edition with Thomas Frank Carr 

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Penn State's coaching staff is out on the road recruiting this week and next. Locking up the majority of those who have already committed remains their key focus, but with coaching changes happening across the country, that could have an impact on any potential additions down the stretch.

Of course, the Nittany Lions already lost a key member of their staff, too. On Tuesday it was announced that defensive coordinator Brent Pry would become the new head coach at Virginia Tech, which means Franklin has to replace a very important member of his staff now.

On Tuesday's episode of the Blue White Illustrated recruiting podcast, Greg Pickel and Ryan Snyder get into the impact of Pry leaving and what it may mean moving forward. Pry has already made two hires for his staff at Tech, which could provide some insight on who he'll target, if anyone, from Penn State's staff.

Penn State also lost a member of its 2022 class on Tuesday in offensive lineman Spencer Rolland. Ryan and Greg discuss the impact of that decision and how his scholarship could potentially be used elsewhere. With 25 high school players still committed, potential outgoings from Penn State's roster will have a big impact.

They wrap up the show then with some of the more interesting visits that Penn State has done over the past couple of days. DT Zane Durant was one of the first visits they took after the contact period began on Sunday. They get into the implications of that, plus some notable players that Mike Yurcich is planning to see.

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News broke early Tuesday that Penn State defensive coordinator Brent Pry would be named the next head coach at Virginia Tech. Reporter for Blue White Illustrated, Greg Pickel, and host Thomas Frank Carr discuss the news and how it affects Penn State heading into the 2021-2022 offseason.

Before getting to the Penn State side of things, Pickel briefly discusses his time covering Pry as a defensive coordinator and gives his opinion on the job he did at Penn State. Next, they discuss the situation from Pry's perspective and how Pickel saw this situation break down for Pry this offseason with so many coaching vacancies open up in the mid-Atlantic region. He also gives his thoughts on how Pry will fit in at Virginia Tech and whether Pry is a good hire for the Hokies. Also, Pickel recalls a moment speaking with Pry back in 2016 that is relevant to the discussion now. Next, Pickel discusses how Pry kept his viewed coaching opportunities during his time at Penn State. Finally, he shares the timeline of how all of this news came together.

Next, they discuss how Pry's leaving will affect the recruiting process for Penn State, with only a few weeks left until the early signing period. Pickel says that while Pry is an essential piece of the puzzle at Penn State, he doesn't think it will affect Penn State's recruiting in a significant way. First, he tells you why and how Penn State sets up its recruiting process. T-Frank then asks specific players on the defensive side of the ball who might be more affected by this news. Four-star linebacker Abdul Carter is committed to the program, while fellow four-star linebacker Jaishawn Barham is considering doing the same. Are either of them at risk considering that Pry is also the linebackers coach? Pickel weighs in.

However, Pry isn't the only coach on the move for Penn State this offseason. Could he pluck one of his former assistants to join him in Blacksburg? T-Frank and Greg discuss which coaches make the most sense for Pry and might leave for a higher position on the defense. They also consider which coaches Penn State would fight to keep on the staff if there was a conflict. This conversation then spins off into assessing some of the other assistants on defense and how well they've performed during their time at Penn State.

With that in mind, they discuss which coaches could fill the role internally for head coach James Franklin, with the two apparent candidates being cornerbacks coach Terry Smith and safeties coach Anthony Poindexter. They weigh the merits of each coach taking a more prominent role on the defensive side of the ball. If no one gets promoted, how does that affect the staff? How would an outside hire shake up the staff anyway? T-Frank and Pickel discuss.

They look at the coaching contact period going on right now and how Pry's departure affects how Penn State handles their in-home visits with recruits in the Class of 2022. How will they cover his territory, and how will they deal with the news talking to players in person? Finally, they finish the show considering players who might leave the program to follow Pry to Virginia Tech via the transfer portal.

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The 2022 offseason kicked up a notch on Monday when former five-star quarterback from the class of 2019 Spencer Rattler declared his intentions to enter the transfer portal. Penn State football is in need of fresh blood at the position and will be looking for a player at that position this offseason. So host of the Blue White Illustrated Daily Edition Thomas Frank Carr takes a look at all of the factors that go into how Penn State recruits in the portal and if Rattler would be a fit for James Franklin in the program and Mike Yurcich on the football field.

Before getting into Rattler, T-Frank brings up head coach James Franklin's comments about the transfer portal and how he likes to conduct business in regards to college football's version of free agency. Based on those comments, T-Frank brings up a timeline of when Penn State fans should expect to hear something if the Nittany Lions coaching staff were interested in the former Oklahoma quarterback.

The next area T-Frank examines is cultural fit. Does Spencer Rattler the person fit Penn State's program under Franklin? T-Frank cites comments about Rattler's maturity off the field, while also doing his best to put those comments in perspective based on where most of them originate from. He borrows some quotes from ESPN and ABC commentator Kirk Herbstriet to illustrate the concern about Rattler's maturity and how that may affect his playing style. Does that sort of player, who creates big plays but also big problems, work for Penn State offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich? T-Frank gives his thoughts.

From there he takes a look at the timeline with Rattler at Oklahoma that includes two benching's in two seasons, but also includes incredible production in 2020. T-Frank gives touchdown to interception ratios from both seasons that led to his departure from Oklahoma and some unsettling metrics from PFF that he thinks speak to an unstable playing style. After that he makes the case for Rattler's talent and his ability to change games with prolific, big-play ability.

Finally he takes a look at one final, key piece of the puzzle, familiarity. Did Yurcich or Franklin recruit Rattler? Is there an obvious and common link between the program and the player? T-Frank shares why this is important to understanding the process by which Franklin operates the transfer portal. With all oft that information in hand, T-Frank gives you his final verdict about whether or not Rattler is a fit for the Nittany Lions.

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The Penn State football team lost 30-27 on Saturday to Michigan State amidst a snowstorm. The loss concludes a second-half slide for head coach James Franklin's squad that started 5-0 but only won two games the rest of the way. Not only that, but those two wins came against Big Ten East basement dwellers Maryland and Rutgers.

What should you make of Saturday's loss? What about the season? Join the BWI Live Monday recap crew as they discuss the game, season, and context of Penn State's 7-5 record. Host Thomas Frank Carr interviews senior Editor Nate Bauer and reporter David Eckert to get their thoughts on the situation. The trio also takes your questions and looks ahead to what is next for the team.

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Penn State fell to Michigan State 30-27 on a snowy day in East Lansing to finish the 2021 regular season 7-5. Host of the BWI Daily Edition Thomas Frank Carr is joined by host of the Paydirt Podcast Tom Hannifan to break down the game and what it means for Penn State in the bigger picture.

T-Frank and Tom discuss exactly how the weather affects players' ability to perform as well as what challenges the Penn State team has that Michigan State did not in terms of playing style. They also take a look at how the season and the loss measure up to James Franklin's 75-million dollar contract extension.

Tom and T-Frank also look ahead to what is next for Penn State football and how Franklin, the University and the program can rebound from back-to-back sub-par seasons.

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The Penn State football team enters their final game of the regular season on Saturday against Michigan State with postseason implications on the line not only for the Nittany Lions but the rest of the Big Ten. So what happens if Penn State wins? Which bowl are they likely to be attending? What if they lose? Host Thomas Frank Carr, reporter Greg Pickel and recruiting insider Ryan Snyder give you their insight into how it can all shake out for head coach James Franklin's squad. They list three of the most likely bowl games in order of probability and discuss the merits of each. 

They start by discussing how the selection process works and the current situation for Penn State heading into the game on Saturday. Pickel says that it's not just the win-loss record that decides and explains the politics behind bowl season. With all of that in mind, they discuss the first bowl game, The Music City Bowl. T-Frank takes you through the details of the game when Penn State fans can expect to watch the Nittany Lions on TV and then asks the guys to fill him in on the possible opponents. The game has some exciting storylines with its potential SEC opponents. 

The next game is the Las Vegas Bowl. This particular game has some challenges for Penn State fans based on when it's played, but it's a wonderful holiday getaway location, as Snyder points out. The PAC 12 contest also has some unique advantages for Penn State, according to Snyder. 

According to Snyder and Pickel, the final bowl viable bowl is an outside shot, but the Outback Bowl is still in play for Penn State. While they previously discussed the machinations necessary for each bowl, the Outback Bowl presents an interesting situation for the Big Ten for Penn State to reach a Florida destination. 

During the show, they also break down the race for the Big 10 East and Big Ten Championship game and how they believe that will play out. 

Once they close the bowl portion of the show, the trio gets into Ryan Snyder's Best Bets for the last time in the college football regular season. 

This week's list, with guest sharp Greg Pickel includes: 

ALABAMA (-19) AT AUBURN

OREGON STATE AT OREGON (-7)

WISCONSIN (-7) AT MINNESOTA

OKLAHOMA AT OKLAHOMA STATE (-4)

PENN STATE (-1) AT MICHIGAN STATE

As always, they close the show with a preview of Penn State's game on Saturday. Then, they get into some details about what they expect from Penn State and Michigan State on Saturday. 

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On Wednesday, Penn State Football held its final open practice of the regular season, and senior editor Nate Bauer joins host Thomas Frank Carr to share what he saw and heard. They also discuss what head coach James Franklin said after practice about their health heading into Michigan State. It's also Franklin's first time addressing the media since announcing his 10-year contract extension, so Bauer shares what Franklin said and his interpretation of it. Finally, they wrap up with a conversation about Michigan State and what they see in the game coming up this weekend. 

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On Wednesday, Penn State football had its first transfer of the upcoming offseason when former four-star safety Tyler Rudolph entered his name into the transfer portal. Host of the BWI Daily Edition, Thomas Frank Carr, looks at the impact of Rudolph's exit on the safety position and how the transfer portal affects mid-level programs in college football. 

He starts by setting a baseline of how Penn State head coach James Franklin prefers to deal with the portal from an influx and exit standpoint. Then, he plays Franklin's comments to BWI's Nate Bauer during this week's Tuesday press conference. Finally, Franklin explains how recruiting, transfers and the NFL make the situations challenging to predict. 

After that, T-Frank addresses the reason that Rudolph is likely exiting the program; playing time. He shows just how little the redshirt sophomore has gotten since the start of the season based on the expectations set by the staff and his progress this summer. Rudolph has likely been jumped on the depth chart by a younger player, but T-Frank doesn't think that necessarily means that the Connecticut native would be stuck there heading into 2022. 

T-Frank also thinks this announcement signals the conclusion of one other situation for 2022 at the position. 

The transfer portal presents the real issue for programs that recruit multiple four-star players at one position each year. First, T-Frank explains how it puts pressure on younger players that did not exist before. Then, he lists the likely players that will have to contribute going forward and how razor-thin the margin of error is for the safety group as it stands. 

He wraps up by exploring all the possible options to add depth to the position outside of the portal. Finally, he gives the notable players on roster and the players incoming in the class of 2022. 

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