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

We're one week away from the start of the 2022 season for Penn State football. To get fans ready for the upcoming festivities, the BWI Daily Edition is taking questions from viewers of the show. If you'd like to get your question on the show, the best way is to sign up for Blue White Illustrated and access the Lions Den Message Board. Sign up for just one dollar and get 12 months of insider access.  

Today, host Thomas Frank Carr and reporter Greg Pickel answer questions ranging from Penn State's sack total in 2022 to whether or not transfer Chop Robinson will play linebacker. 

They start the show with a question from a message board member about the plan of attack for the Penn State defense. After years of sack totals that led the nation, Penn State's defense took a step backward last year in that category. Will new defensive coordinator Manny Diaz and starting defensive end Adisa Isaac surpass the numbers from last season? And can anyone replace what Arnold Ebikeite did for the team? First, T-Frank and Pickel set the scene with what they know about Diaz's approach. Next, they give a prediction of how Penn State would exceed those numbers in 2022. Also, T-Frank points out the need for a player, or players, to set up and provide a replicable presence of what Ebiketie did last year for Penn State. 

Next, they discuss Penn State's decision to play Olu Fashanu and Landon Tengwall beside one another on the left side of the line. Is there a reason for that? T-Frank gets into the history of offensive line skills and where coaches have traditionally played players with specific abilities. Next, he explains how all of that has changed over time and what skills are needed in a modern football game. 

From there, they dive into a discussion about Purdue and safeties coach Anthony Poindexter. Does he have additional insight into the Boilermakers after spending several seasons there as a coach? T-Frank and Pickel debate the merits of that thought. 

The duo covers other viewers' topics, such as where Maryland transfer Chop Robinson will play this fall. T-Frank explains the difference between Penn State's linebacker room this year and in previous years. The commenter also suggests that Alabama has 250-pound linebackers and cites that as a source of weakness for Penn State. T-Frank tries to dispel this myth by explaining the difference between an edge rusher and an off-ball linebacker. 

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Penn State defensive tackle PJ Mustipher injured his knee on Oct. 9 of last season. He was back and ready to participate in training camp in just around nine months. So, how did that process go, and how was training camp for the senior defensive tackle? That's what the BWI Daily Edition discusses today after Mustipher spoke with the media on Tuesday night. Host Thomas Frank Carr breaks down what happened, how impressive Mustipher's return to play timeline is and shows you what Mustipher had to say about his readiness to face Purdue on Sept. 1. 

T-Frank starts the show by reviewing where Mustipher was at the start of camp and what milestones he had passed on his way back from injury. But now that he's had a month of football, where is he physically? Finally, we hear from Mustipher about how the camp went and how he thought he performed. 

Next, T-Frank explains why that's such an impressive feat. He also explains why he's confident Mustipher tore his ACL against Iowa last October and how hard it is to be ready in nine months for a player like Mustipher. What went into that? Mustipher explains what he learned about himself and adversity. 

Finally, the Penn State team leader gives an upate on what he can and can't do against Purdue. He also hints at how the Penn State defensive line will rotate players this season.

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Penn State football is still searching for several important pieces for the class of 2023, but with football season drawing closer, those conversations may be on hold for the moment. The BWI Daily Edition: Recruiting Show is back to discuss a new offer, preview an exciting week of high school football, and more. 

Host Greg Pickel and recruiting insider Ryan Snyder start with Penn State's latest offer this month. St. Francis defensive lineman Sam Greene is the latest defensive line prospect that the Nittany Lions have reached out to recently. Snyder discusses what he knows about Greene and his relationship with the staff. 

Next, they discuss notable regional and national high school games coming up this weekend. Several include prospective targets for 2024, such as Rico Scott, Omillio Agard, and Tyseer Denmark. Others have 2023 committed prospects like St. Joes Prep taking on King Mack, Conrad Hussey, and St. Thomas Aquinas in Florida. Finally, Pickel gives Penn State fans the time and YouTube channel to watch three-star quarterback Jaxon Smolik face rival, Southeast Polk, in the first game of the season. 

Finally, the pair discuss which committed 2023 prospect they're most interested in watching play this fall. Several players need to take important field steps to round their recruiting profiles. So, which analyst is interested in seeing what progress Anthony Donkoh has made? What about J'Ven Williams? Hear their thoughts to end the show. 

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Penn State held an open practice on Saturday and as always, Blue White Illustrated was there to give you insights into which players are standing out and which groups are making progress through the summer. Today, host Thomas Frank Carr and senior editor Nate Bauer focus on the offensive and defensive lines to give Nittany Lion fans a snippet of practice. 

They discuss the pass-rushing drills both T-Frank and Bauer watched on Saturday. It was a longer session than normal for the media, so the pair took in one-on-one drills with the offensive and defensive line. A battle between Dani Dennis-Sutton and Drew Shelton was the highlight for Bauer, while T-Frank paid attention to left tackle Olu Fashanu's performance. 

Next, T-Frank and Bauer discuss Maryland transfer Demeioun "Chop" Robinson and his progress through camp. T-Frank got a chance to watch him work in drills and has a verdict on whether or not he'll be a major factor to begin the season at Purdue. Bauer backs up what T-Frank saw with some of his insight into the situation. 

Finally, Bauer throws out several other names, like freshman linebacker Abdul Carter that stood out to him in practice. T-Frank does the same. 

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The Big Ten just announced its long-awaited media deal that resets the college football landscape with a massive payout for the conference. So, the natural question for Penn State fans is how that will affect the athletic department of their favorite school. First, senior Editor Nate Bauer covers the new deal and shares what he knows from his conversations with sources at Penn State. Then, he and host Thomas Frank Carr talk about the impact not only on Penn State but the individual programs, the conference landscape, and college football. Finally, after discussing the day's breaking news, Bauer and T-Frank answer questions from fans in the BWI Mailbag. 

First, Bauer and T-Frank discuss how the numbers stack up for individual teams in the Big Ten in the new media contract that will last for seven years. Then, Bauer explains where he thinks Penn State might focus its new additional revenue, based on his conversation with new athletic director Pat Kraft earlier this summer. He also explains what the money won't do for Penn State or another Big Ten team. T-Frank pushes back on that notion. 

After discussing some of the fine points to the matter, they focus on a larger picture and discuss what's next for the Big Ten. For example, why hasn't the conference been more aggressive in expansion? Finally, Bauer and T-Frank offer differing thoughts on what the end goal of the conference should be. 

After wrapping up that discussion, they focus on the BWI Mailbag. Some of the questions this week include a discussion on how many points Penn State needs to be ahead by to see quarterback Christian Veilleux in the game. They'll also discuss how important tackles Olu Fashanu and Caedan Wallace are to the success of the team in 2022. 

They preview Penn State's matchup against Purdue Week One, discuss Manny Diaz's interest in staying at Penn State, and how many points his defense gives up in the first year at a new program. 

One viewer wants to know how many players will rotate in the front seven, and T-Frank uses that as a chance to update fans on what James Franklin said about the middle linebacker competition between Tyler Elsdon and Kobe King earlier this week. 

Finally, they'll touch on various recruiting topics, including a five-star defensive end who decommitted from Notre Dame and what Penn State plans to do at defensive tackle in the Class of 2023. 

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Penn State football is hard at work getting ready to face Purdue in Week One of the 2022 season, and so is film analyst Thomas Frank Carr. Today, he and senior editor Nate Bauer flip spots on the BWI Daily Edition so Bauer can ask questions of T-Frank and find out what he saw on film. 

To start, T-Frank and Bauer asks T-Frank to describe the overall scheme for Purdue and how the defense functions for the Boilermakers. However, T-Frank takes a different approach by describing the players that Purdue lost and how that changes what they might want to do on defense. Then, he follows back up to explain how the scheme flows from the defensive line. Without first-round edge rusher George Karlaftis bringing the heat on quarterbacks, can Purdue be as successful in 2022? T-Frank points to Murray State transfer Scotty Humpich as a potential solution and gives his thoughts on the talents of the transfer edge rusher. 

Next, they discuss the secondary and what Purdue likes to do defensively. T-Frank describes how conservative or aggressive the team is and what coverages they like to play. 

From there, he talks about the strength of the Purdue defense, which is up the middle. He is impressed by senior defensive tackle Branson Deen and his ability to cause havoc on the interior. But can Penn State control Deen and fellow returning starter Lawrence Johnson? Bauer digs deeper into that group, and T-Frank gives his thoughts. 

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The Blue White Illustrated Daily Edition has brought you interviews with several committed players in the class of 2022, 2023 and other top prospects in Penn State recruiting. Today, host Thomas Frank Carr interviews a special guest in preferred walk-on quarterback AJ Locke. Locke shares his inspirational story with T-Frank about his journey through football with cerebral palsy and how he got the opportunity to walk on at Penn State. 

"I have been playing football since I was five years old, so it's never really stopped me. I always wanted to be that one guy on the team that everyone wanted to be after and to give motivation to the team to show that if I can do it, you should be able to do it too," Lock told T-Frank.

Locke describes his journey to Penn State and how he got connected with the Nittany Lion's staff. He also chronicles his journey as a football player and what he's learned traveling to camps all across the east coast to play football. T-Frank also shares what he saw of Locke at Penn State's last prospect camp on July 29 and how he was impressed with Locke's abilities. 

Finally, Locke tells T-Frank where his motivation and indomitable spirit come from. Locke tells him how family members pushed and inspired him to keep going.  

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Penn State football is now through two weeks of training camp, and players are starting to generate real buzz heading into the beginning of the 2022 season. The good news for Penn State fans is that the five-star freshmen, quarterback Drew Allar, running back Nick Singleton, and defensive end Dani-Dennis-Sutton are among that group. Penn State insider Nate Bauer joins host Thomas Frank Carr to discuss which players have gotten the staff's attention. 

They start the show with quarterback Drew Allar. Bauer tells T-Frank what information he's gathered from his sources about the young signal caller and how he's performed after a summer studying the playbook. T-Frank and Bauer then call back to the spring where Allar was behind the group to illustrate this significant change. 

Next, they continue the conversation from last week about cornerback Johnny Dixon. The former South Carolina transfer has continued to take steps forward. How does that change the topography of the cornerback room? Bauer and T-Frank discuss the wealth of talent at cornerback and how that can help Penn State. 

The last group of players they discuss is the freshmen running backs. Just how good have Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen been? Bauer gathers what he knows and presents it to the audience. 

T-Frank then shifts gears to discuss the news from the weekend that former four-star running back Caziah Holmes is no longer on the roster for Penn State football. T-Frank points to a critical date that probably crystallized the picture for the Nittany Lions. Finally, Bauer gives his thoughts on the situation. 

The last piece of news the duo discusses on the show is the breaking development this morning where three-star defensive end Ken Talley entered his name into the transfer portal after just two weeks on campus. While there isn't much known about the situation, Bauer and T-Frank detail the rocky road that got Talley on campus this summer. 

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This week's focus is on the class of 2023, with Penn State landing four-star receiver Carmelo Taylor and three-star quarterback Jaxon Smolik. Yet August is a typically slow period for recruiting in the current cycle so it's also a good time to discuss the next class. Host Thomas Frank Carr and recruiting insider Ryan Snyder finish up their look at the Penn State prospects in the class of 2024 by focusing on the defense. 

They start up front with the defensive line. Edge defender is once again deep in the region with several nationally relevant players. However, according to Snyder, the name to know for the Nittany Lions is four-star defensive end Dominic Nichols. After that, Snyder and T-Frank go through the top names, including Brian Robinson and Jaylen Harvey. 

The defensive tackle board is less clear at this point, but DeMatha Catholic lineman Emmett Laws is a name to know at the position. 

Next up is the explosive group of linebackers in 2024. Several players already have made names for themselves, including Pittsburgh Catholic's Anthony Speca and Good Counsel's Aaron Chiles. Snyder mentions several other names that are key to the group. 

Philadelphia natives Kenny Woseley Jr and Omillio Agard are critical pieces to the pictures at cornerback. Still, the group needs to shake out more in the months to come, according to Snyder. 

Finally, a deep and long list of safeties rounds out the show. 

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Penn State football held an open practice on Wednesday night before head coach James Franklin and several members of the team and staff spoke with the media afterward. Today on the BWI Daily Edition, host Thomas Frank Carr and senior editor Nate Bauer discuss what they saw and heard last night before opening the BWI Daily mailbag and answer questions from fans. 

Bauer and T-Frank start by offering their impressions of practice and what Franklin said when speaking to media members after practice. Bauer points to the young players and their development so far. He comments on Franklin's assertion that the group collectively "hit a wall" in installation this week. T-Frank picks up on that thread and points to the Nittany Lion's Week one matchup with Purdue and how important it is for the team to be ready early in the season. 

Meanwhile, T-Frank focused on the players returning from injury and how they are progressing in the second week of camp. He observed defensive linemen PJ Mustipher and Adisa Isaac going through drills and gives his feedback. Next, they discuss Bauer's conversation with Ji'Ayir Brown and how the senior safety discussed his fellow teammates in the secondary. Does he see each of them progressing in the necessary areas? And does Bauer believe that to be the case if he does? 

After wrapping up with some final thoughts, the pair moves on to the mailbag portion of the show. The first question deals with Penn State's other freshman running back. How much are fans or media overlooking four-star freshman Kaytron Allen? Bauer rejects the notion that Blue White Illustrated has overlooked Allen but details what he's heard that indicates the question is correct in spirit. 

They also take on the interior of the offensive line and the position battle between Hunter Nourzad and Sal Wormley. Who is the starter? Which players are trying to get snaps where? T-Frank pushes the conversation past Wormely and Nourzad to include center Juice Scruggs and left guard Landon Tengwall. 

Bauer and T-Frank also discuss the intricacies of the new Big Ten media right deal from both a football and basketball perspective. Does college basketball in the Big Ten take a hit with the move away from ESPN? T-Frank wonders aloud how television stations that don't have four of five dedicated channels like ESPN will broadcast games. He speculates that streaming could be a future but Bauer points to the reality of the situation. 

Next, they tackle the new deal from a football angle. What happens to the White Out now that Fox has the rights to marquee games? Fox's plan of playing big games at noon ruins the atmosphere of one of the iconic scenes in sports. Bauer has a strong opinion on the type of question asked, while T-Frank enjoys a moment speculating. 

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