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

Instead of re-airing the BWI Daily audio from yesterday, T-Frank and senior editor Nate Bauer do an audio exclusive discussion about the Purdue offense and what T-Frank has seen on film from Penn State’s first opponent of the 2022 season. 

The conversation, hosted by Bauer, centers around quarterback Aidan O’Connel, who broke out in his fifth-year with the Boilermakers. T-Frank, Blue White Illustrated’s film analyst, breaks down what he’s seen, good and bad, from O’Connel and how he elevates the Purdue passing attack. 

Bauer and T-Frank discuss the strengths of the offense, playcaller Brian Brohm, and what they can do to threaten Penn State. Next, they discuss what the best plan of attack might be for the Nittany Lions under new defensive coordinator Manny Diaz. 

Finally, they wrap up with how T-Frank thinks the game will play out.

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Penn State fans know their program inside and out. They know the players, the staff, and sometimes, even the Xs and Os. But where do the Nittany Lions sit in the national perspective? To answer that, the host of the Hard Count, J.D. PicKell joins Thomas Frank Carr on the BWI Daily Edition. The Hard Count is the flagship program of On3's national YouTube channel. If you're interested in checking out more from J.D. click here. 

T-Frank and J.D. start by getting PicKell's perspective on Penn State and explaining what the Nittany Lions' reputation is on a national level. Are they still seen as a borderline elite team after two unsuccessful seasons? Then, PicKell gives his expectations for the program this fall.

From there, they dive into his thoughts on quarterback Sean Clifford. Will he return to form and play like the winning quarterback he was in 2019? Or will he continue to underperform expectations? First, PicKell points to the offense and the running game to answer that question. Next, they discuss the running game in more detail and how that changes the picture for the quarterback before transitioning into a discussion about offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich. PicKell explains what he sees on film when he watches Yurcich's offense and how it helps the quarterback from a schematic point. 

Next, they discuss Manny Diaz and his defense. But first, PicKell discusses Diaz's motivations as a former head coach coming to Happy Valley after being fired at Miami. How will that motivate him? They discuss that and then which players stand out to PicKell on defense. He points to cornerback Joey Porter Jr. as a player who can get national attention if he plays up to his potential in 2022. 

Lastly, they discuss the Big Ten and Penn State's chief competition. T-Frank asks where the Nittany Lions sit in the pecking order and how Ohio State and Michigan compare to what they were last season. Then, PicKell gives his early favorites to make the college football playoff. 

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Penn State recruiting got more bad news on Tuesday afternoon when four-star defensive end Tomarrion Parker decommitted from the Nittany Lions. Reporter Greg Pickel and host Thomas Frank Carr break down the impact of the move and what led to the decision by Parker. For more on the situation checkout bluewhiteillustrated.com

Parker is the third player to decommit from the program, following quarterback Marcus Stokes and Yazeed Haynes at wide receiver. Pickel and T-Frank discuss how big of a blow this is for the Nittany Lions, and where they can go from here. They also discuss the impact of NIL on the situation, and how the timing of this move hurts Penn State.

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Tomarrion Parker decommits from Penn State: BWI Breaking News

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Penn State football enters the second week of training camp for the 2022 season and insider Nate Bauer has an update on how things are going for the Nittany Lions. He and host Thomas Frank Carr discuss Penn State's top training camp battles, the linebacker depth chart, and players standing out in camp. To get full access to this insider information, join Blue White illustrated at bluewhiteillustrated.com. 

For many Penn State fans, the middle linebacker competition is the featured event for fall camp. First, Bauer has an update about which player, between Kobe King and Tyler Elsdon, has a lead at this point. Next, T-Frank and Bauer discuss what James Franklin's comments about freshman linebacker Keon Wylie mean for fellow freshman Abdul Carter. They wrap up their discussion about the position with how positive Penn State feels about the position. 

Next, they discuss Franklin's comments about cornerback Johnny Dixon. The lead man for the Lions said that Dixon was coming on strong and even pushing for starting reps. While that says one thing about Dixon, what does that say about the players ahead of him? Finally, T-Frank and Bauer discuss the nuances around Penn State's cornerback spot opposite Joey Porter Jr. 

Next, they tackle the offensive line. Bauer spoke to offensive line coach Phil Trautwein about the competition between Sal Wormley and transfer Hunter Nourzad. Bauer got a straight answer about who is the starter and which player is the backup from Trautwein when he discussed the situation. First, however, Bauer chats with T-Frank about the underlying competition and how that might change over time. 

Lastly, they round out the show by discussing players that are flashing positive plays during camp and which players are sticking out for their positive contributions.

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To prepare Penn State football fans for the 2022 season, the BWI Daily edition pulls two-a-days to preview each positional group. Today, they conclude their look at the team by focusing the spotlight on the cornerbacks. Then, host Thomas Frank Carr and senior editor Nate Bauer break down the position and preview which players will make an impact for penn State this fall. 

They start with a look at the three starters. Veteran cornerbacks Joey Porter Jr and Daequan Hardy pair with sophomore Kalen King to form one of the most talented groups in recent memory for Penn State. They discuss the heights this group can achieve before T-Frank asks if we’ve seen enough from King to assure he’ll take a second-year leap. He also wants to know if the group is good enough to carry the defense if they have to. With questions at other positions up front, the secondary may be on an island at times this fall. 

Next, Bauer and T-Frank discuss the depth players behind King and Porter on the perimeter of the defense. Johnny Dixon and Marquis Wilson provide veteran depth, which T-Frank is high on. Was Wilson’s year away from cornerback, when he played receiver, detrimental to his development? Bauer and T-Frank debate that before moving on to the X-Factor for the group. 

Before wrapping up the show by looking at the freshmen on the roster, T-Frank and Nate give their stock up/stock down predictions. 

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Recruiting is never over in any class until it’s signed, but things have slowed down for Penn State football’s class of 2023. August is typically a slow month for the current recruiting cycle, so today, the BWI Daily Edition looks ahead to 2024. Host Thomas Frank Carr and recruiting insider Ryan Snyder go through the top names to know on offense that Penn State is interested in and vice versa. For Penn State fans that follow the show, some names are reviewed, but some are emerging heading into the fall. 

T-Frank and Snyder start at quarterback for 2024. However, unlike the 2023 cycle, Penn State has some common interest with several top quarterbacks in the country. Jayden Bradford tops the list, but Snyder has six other names that Penn State fans should keep an eye on. 

Athlete Quinton Martin isn’t just the most essential running back on the list; he’s the most important recruit in the class. Snyder considers him even more valuable than that. Outside of the five-star talent, BWI’s recruiting insider identifies several other players and highlights St. Thomas Aquinas runner Jordan Lyle as a name to know. 

The receiver group is a deep and talented list, as it usually is. But which players represent must-gets? Several to choose from, but Snyder stays in-state and highlights four-star Tyseer Denmark and Rico Scott. Scott of Bishop McDevitt has major offers, including Texas A&M and Alabama. Denmark also draws national interest from teams like Alabama, Oregon, and Georgia. Can Penn State keep the Roman Catholic player in Pennsylvania? 

Grabbing one top recruit from PA is critically important, according to T-Frank. He explains why. Moving on from the receivers, there’s one primary name to know at tight end. Rochester, MI, native Brady Prieskorn has separated himself from the group in this cycle, and Snyder explains who else is in the picture. 

The offensive line, particularly tackle, is a sore spot for Penn State recruiting. Snyder and T-Frank discuss the compiled list of names determining offensive line coach Phil Trautwein’s success in this cycle. Malvern Prep’s Peter Jones tops the list, and Snyder has some insight about his game to lead off the conversation. In addition, Deontae Armstrong of Ohio recently camped at Penn State and impressed T-Frank, who discussed what he saw from the prospect at Penn State’s final summer camp last week. 

Finally, Snyder and T-Frank arrive at the final position, the interior of the offensive line. Four-star lineman Cooper Cousins stands as the lone committed player in the class. Alongside him, Liam Andrews commands an essential spot in Penn State’s recruiting efforts this cycle. Snyder compares him to an offensive line commit in the class of 2023, thanks to his importance. 

T-Frank wraps the show by asking Snyder to assess the depth of the region and how optimistic Penn State fans should be about this class. 

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The Penn State football safety room might be the deepest on the team. But with the loss of second-round pick Jaquan Brisker, will Penn State's high-end play reach the same heights it did a year ago? BWI Two-A-Days are back to preview the Penn State safety position for 2022.

Today, host Thomas Frank Carr and senior editor Nate Bauer break down the players, scheme, and position battles in the middle of the Penn State secondary. One of the first questions of the group is if they can gather as many turnovers as they did a year ago. Senior safety Ji'Ayir Brown led the nation with six interceptions a year ago. Bauer doesn't think that the former Lackawanna transfer will reach that goal but does have a strong feeling about the group.

After T-Frank introduces the four players at the position, including Brown, Zakee Wheatley, Jaylen Reed, and Keaton Ellis, he asks Bauer why Ellis is overlooked in this group. Next, they discuss Ellis' role and position on the team before moving on to how Penn State can best use all four players.

Next, the duo discusses the newcomers to the group. Freshmen Mehki Flowers and KJ Winston join Lackawanna transfer Tyrece Mills in the crowded secondary. Can one or more players find a role behind Jonathan Sutherland at the Striker? Bauer and T-Frank dip into the new position for the Nittany Lions.

Lastly, they determine an X-Factor for the group and give a stock up or stock down rating for the unit.

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Each week the BWI Daily Edition opens up the mailbag to answer questions of Blue White Illustrated's staff. Today host Thomas Frank Carr and reporter Greg Pickel tackle questions about Manny Diaz's scheme, Penn State football's identity, and more. 

One of the questions they take to start the show deals with the quarterback situation. Penn State struggled last year to get two players at the position ready and faced the consequences of that in the team's loss to Iowa. How do they fix that this year? Penn State has three young quarterbacks in Drew Allar, Beau Pribula, and Christian Veilleux, representing a positive future for the program. T-Frank and Greg take different approaches to the question and how Penn State can approach the situation on the field and in practice. 

Another BWI message board member wants Pickel and T-Frank to pick a player they think will be most improved from last season. The writer picks tackle Caedan Wallace and Coziah Izzard as their offensive and defensive nominees. To make things interesting, the duo selects different players, despite agreeing with the pick of Wallace. 

What are reasonable expectations for Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen? That's what another message board member wants to know. Is the hype too much? Or can the duo be the starters in the season's first week? Pickel and T-Frank agree that they'll have a role but don't think either will unseat starter Keyvone Lee right away. Though, Pickel is high on their collective impact. 

They field other questions dealing with everything from Penn State's identity to Manny Diaz's scheme and even get a question about major league baseball. 

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The 2022 Penn State football season is fast approaching, so Blue White Illustrated is getting you ready with BWI Two-A-Days. Each day host Thomas Frank Carr and senior editor Nate Bauer discuss a position group and give a season preview for fans. Today they focus on the linebackers. 

The linebacker group might be the most interesting positional breakdown of any heading into the fall. On the one hand, the team has linebacker Curtis Jacobs leading the defense. But, on the other hand, Tyler Elsdon and Kobe King are fighting during camp to decide which inexperienced player will get his first start at middle linebacker. Throw in the positional ambiguity of the third linebacker spot, and the Nittany Lion fans have a wide variety of topics to discuss with the group. 

T-Frank starts with the "starters" for this group, looking at Jacobs, King, and Elsdon. To start the show, T-Frank and Bauer discuss how vital that battle is in the middle of the defense. Next, T-Frank wants to know why Jacobs isn't getting the same hype as some of his predecessors despite producing more at similar points in his career than they did. 

Next, the duo discusses Jonathan Sutherland's role in the defense and the nature of Manny Diaz's defense. There's still confusion about which players are playing behind Sutherland or can potentially see snaps at that linebacker spot. T-Frank assumes that only safety-type players are playing at the new "Striker" position, but he asks Bauer if he's missing something. 

After discussing that position, they shift their focus to the young players at the position behind the starters. T-Franks comments on the staff's excitement in freshman Abdul Carter and wonders out loud about another player on the roster. Will Carter pass more experienced players on his way to a role in the defense? Bauer points out a critical fact that might shift the conversation. 

Lastly, they wrap up the show with their X-Factors and indicate which way they think the stock is heading for the Penn State linebackers. 

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Penn State football is currently in the first week of training camp and will cap it off with media day on Saturday. To prepare you for what you will learn and what ot expect, reporter Greg Pickel joins host Thomas Frank Carr on the BWI DailY Edition to preview the event. The duo will go through the top five questions that Pickel wants to have answers for from head coach James Franklin, along with other news and notes we might learn on Saturday. 

They start with the top five questions that Pickel would ask James Franklin if he could have a one-on-one interview instead of a press conference. Pickel begins his line of questions with the safety battle beside returning starter Tig Brown. Several names are vying for the opportunity to play the field safety position in Penn State's defense but will it be Keaton Ellis, Zakee Wheatley, or Jaylen Reed? Next, T-Frank throws a fourth mystery name into the competition and asks for Pickel's thoughts. 

The next question on Pickel's mind centers around incoming transfer Chop Robinson at defensive end. Pickel's question sparks a conversation that T-Frank wants to have about the defensive end group. So he asks Pickel about not just Robinson but where he thinks that position will land during the 2022 season.

Question three (in ascending order) that Pickel would ask Franklin deals with Penn State's top camp battle. How is the competition shaping up between Tyler Elsdon and Kobe King? The center of the defense won't be stabilized until one of those players takes command of the position, so finding out which player is ahead after the first week is essential. 

The second question on Pickel's mind deals with the health of PJ Mustipher. The senior defensive tackle was present and participating during the opening portion of Penn State's practice on Monday, which is a good sign. But how much and what type of participation does Mustipher have during team periods? The senior defensive tackle's health will go a long way to determining the defensive line's success. 

Finally, the top question that Pickel would ask Franklin deals with the opposing units in football. Is the offense ahead of the defense or vice versa? While this is a common question for the media to ask during camp, Pickel has a specific reason he wants to know this time of year. 

They also discuss the offensive line situation and the training camp timeline. Finally, Pickel gives T-Frank an update on Penn State wrestling. 

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