Penn State-West Virginia preview: Keys to the Nittany Lions’ 2024 season opener

what's going on everybody Max Ralph and Johnny mcgonagal here on the pen live blue white breakdown we are just days away from the season opener it's kind of crazy that it's almost here Johnny I know Max I feel like you know we spend all off season you know even going back uh winter workouts spring camp uh you know those random availabilities that we would have in the summer uh I know you enjoyed LIF for Life uh right in the middle there in July you know Big 10 media days the list goes on uh of things that we've been covering you know we've been talking to the players to the coaches for months now and uh and finally now we're just a couple days away from kickoff uh from the season that we've been previewing now uh forever we finally have some real football uh to talk about in a couple days we're still in that preview stage though uh Max I know that we'll be you know giving our picks and previewing uh this Penn State West Virginia game what Penn State and how Penn State um looks going into to week one season opener uh of a season with you know high stakes highly anticipated 12 team playoff new Big 10 uh a lot to be excited and interested in yeah absolutely week one is always so weird because you spend so much time with your the team you're covering and then they play someone else so you know you really everybody everybody loves their team in preseason right so um every everyone's in the best shape of their lives everyone is as explosive as they've ever been you know Hope Springs Eternal all that good stuff but finally we have some football to watch yeah absolutely so last night uh I was out at practice uh we had our our 15 minutes just a couple of quick news bits before we preview the game Kaden Saunders wide receiver in the starting punt returner he's dealing with bumps and bruises as uh you know James Franklin loves to call it he was out there but he was pretty Limited in drills um khil dinkin was not out there who might be Penn State's number two tight end this year um but in return we're going to see a lot of Andrew Raper and a decent amount of Luke reyolds which is interesting because we've heard great things about those two young tight ends and then the last thing that isn't really a huge deal but was just interesting Jackson smolik who had a significant injury through the spring you know he's he's probably the number four quarterback because of that this year even behind grun Meer The Freshman but he was back out there uh and doing some throwing so some interesting stuff there I think the uh I think the Kaden Saunders and the in the tight end news is worth some discussion because of the guys who we might see in their step yeah definitely uh pertinent when we talk about week one Jackson smik good the you know good for him uh you to be back out on the field after like you said max a significant injury uh dorant Spring ball that um might have stunted his development or growth on the field but we heard all off season uh starting from the top with James Franklin that uh he was really pleased with how Jackson smik had progressed from a mental standpoint so good to see uh for the reserve quarterback but uh more specifically um and and of Greater importance really for this weekend are those wide receivers and tight ends uh just start with wide receiver and Kaden Saunders because you know he's a guy who was one of the highest rated players in the 2022 recruiting class um I just did a bigger story on the 22 class and the importance of that group you know Singleton Aller Abdul Carter the whole you know Deni Dennis Sutton and how they're really angling and pushing towards a playoff birth in their junior Seasons but a lot of contributors from that group but Kaden Saunders hasn't really been uh that consistent contributor yet uh and I say yet because uh there's still potential in there and uh I mean he's starting the season really as a backup wide receiver but the starting punt returner uh and and good to see him back on the field but um intrigued to see what kind of role uh has on the offense not not just week one but you know as the season progresses and uh you know if he's dealing with bumps and bruises still uh you know how how that might affect things as he gets healthier yeah it's it's interesting um and if he can't return punts because he's kind of been the guy for so long not really sure who else they might throw out there you know I think there's a few young guys who who had been doing it but you know it just doesn't really seem like James Franklin would trust a freshman to go out there and do it in week one on the road um so that that'll be something to keep an eye on but we've mentioned the wide receivers a ton all summer and and I think it's I think it's worth talking about the way James Franklin has talked about his wide receivers and kind of trying to manage expectations for them um you know Trey Wallace and Liam Clifford have been the two guys that he has just been pounding the table for over and over again uh in this camp and I think I think the takeaway there is that he's confident that they're GNA be good this year like James Franklin usually won't say things like the things he said about those two guys unless he know he knows that he that they're gonna deliver you know what I mean yeah yeah Max I mean it's very easy for James to you know fall back on kind of how we handled the offensive line a couple years ago uh when he was like yeah I I talked in the previous off season about how good they were going to be um and and you know what I'm just not going to do that now like we'll just let you guys see and you know whatever he he James Franklin has been known uh in press conference settings and post-practice availability settings to be vague when he wants to be vague uh and so the fact that he's been abundantly clear uh really over the last couple weeks you know throughout preseason camp and now into gameweek uh that it's been Harrison Wallace and it's been Liam Clifford uh as as pen State's two top receivers I I don't think that's something anyone should ignore um and I don't necessarily think that means oh Julian Fleming is not going to have a role on this team but I do think maybe expectations should be reset a little bit uh on on what Julian is going to provide uh this offense at least early you know again we're talking about week one it's a 12 game regular season and as the players and coaches have said all offseason they're hoping it's a 17 Game season with a conference Championship game and a playoff run in them uh but for right now it is Harrison Wallace and it is Liam Clifford and I think we should take that at face value from James Franklin yeah I'm with you and the Julian Fleming thing you know it's just he was that five-star Prospect out of high school and everybody's excited that he's here but if you're expecting him to be that like you're just you're misguided at this point because you know he's in his fifth year he's dealt with the injuries uh it's just not what you can expect from him but James has also said that they expect a good year from him it's just been a little bit more it's just been a little bit more vague like you said it's it's been less pound the table like it was with the other two and to some extent with Omari Evans as well um because Omari he talks at length last night about Omari and it's like hey this guy's speed and everything can really flip the conversations we're having about him so if Annie coton Nikki can unlock Omari Evans that might be a number three guy who we're really talking about a ton but you know with with Fleming again I think Penn State really appreciates what he brings to the locker room and you know the other things that he can do on the field besides just catch the ball and I think that he's valuable I think he's going to play but yeah you just can't expect him to be like the number one receiver or to just break out like like some people are certainly going to hope that he will yeah I mean he's 23 years old uh you mentioned the injuries Max I mean when I talk to him back in April at the end of spring camp you know he was just thrilled that it was his first spring camp he made it through in his college career without a significant injury or or a surgery uh so you know he is not the same you know springy Prospect he was you know back at Southern Columbia when he was a festar but uh there's still there's still you know something to be tapped or I guess maybe untapped there uh with Julian Fleming and it's interesting you mentioned Amari Evans because you know we saw the the the straight line speed on full display against Michigan State uh last year at times elsewhere throughout the season but uh he's another guy in that 2022 recruiting class uh the wide receivers Kaden Saunders Amari Evans Anthony Ivy has and Tyler Johnson as well a couple of reserves um you know it's it's time for you know couple of those receivers or at least one of them you know to provide a real spark and and a consistent um consistent production you know for this team because we've seen it at every other position you know we've seen it at quarterback running back um you know offense defensive line on the defensive side of the ball uh and I think if Pence can get something consistent you know from Amari from Kaden even if it's just consistently One play a game from Amari Evans and it's a big play if it's an explosive play I think Penn State's offense with especially looking at how it was last year with explosive plays I think they would take that and so I think Amari has the speed uh to be a Difference Maker and I'm really intrigued to see how Andy coton Nikki decides to utilize him uh in the offense whether that's more uh vertical shots or more you know close to the line of scrimmage and let him kind of go and and get going into the open field uh we'll see but yeah it's we can't talk enough about this wide receiver room Max because no you know it's it is it's funny because we've been talking about him for well over a year now I mean especially all offseason um but as we you know pick up little nuggets here and there from James the players and the other assistant coaches uh better forms uh our thinking on this group that is very clearly the number one question mark uh for this team going into the season yeah absolutely it it doesn't get old to be honest and and I just think I think analyzing the way that coaches are talking about him is is the best thing about him I mean the receivers um is just the best way that we can kind of advance that conversation right now because it is interesting but I also got to do a little bit of a self-plug had a pretty big story on Trey Wallace uh this week talked with his parents as high school coach just just uh how much he's he's ready to kind of take that leap after the injuries last year um certainly an interesting guy yeah it was an excellent story uh pen live readers uh listeners subscribers if you haven't already uh check that out Trey Wallace is you talk about a guy who who can be explosive and and in many areas his vertical is absurd um the guy just has to stay healthy um I do think though and it was in and we can get to this in a second Max but uh you know we published our uh Penn State West Virginia you know picks or predictions and we always have little subsections aside from just the pick and mine was you know for don't be surprised if dot dot dot and it was if Harrison Wallace shines because we saw last year in the opener against West Virginia before he dealt with those injuries seven catches 76 yards or 72 yards um he can be a reliable presence kind of a catch hog ball hog if you need him to be uh but also you can take the top off a defense so uh you know hoping that he can stay healthy um not only you know for Penn State's offense and us watching Penn State's offense uh but for Harrison Wallace more specifically yeah yeah go uh just go look up his high school basketball highlights because every single one of them is him dunking it's it's kind of insane um but yeah he's he's he's a fun guy uh certainly one to watch let's let's talk West Virginia that's a good segue um let's get into the game here uh I mean just just first thing like like what's what's on your mind about this one Johnny I I just think it's going to be well first of all the the atmosphere environment I'm just excited as a as someone who grew up just a huge college football fan and still a huge fan of the sport excited to be at a new stadium new environment uh one that you know me and Bob talked about this earlier this week on the podcast but one that is going to be Juiced and energized and they're going to be jumping down there so yeah just excited for that and excited for the season to start in such a cool environment uh but the game itself I'm looking at we just talked a lot about pen State's receivers and the offense uh I'm looking to see what the defense looks like under Tom Allen and more specifically what the run defense looks like under Tom Allen because this is a West Virginia team that I mean if all stays the same from last season which they bring back a lot of pieces from last season so you would think they would lean on those strengths again it's going to be a heavy running attack I mean West Virginia had the six most rushing attempts uh in the country last year they returned their top two tail backs who each had over 700 yards rushing uh Garrett green who you know is a solid passer but you know certainly can use his legs and put defense in Conflict uh especially those defensive ends are going to have to you know keep you know keep the edge and and hold the edge and and do a good job there uh everyone else is GNA have to swarm in run support that's what I'm really looking forward to seeing because you know if West Virginia is able to come out and pop you in the mouth early with the running game and and establish that I I hate saying establish run but it is um especially in a week one game I think really important uh and and if they're able to do that uh this is going to be a four quarter game yeah I'm with I mean that's the key to any upset is be physical early uh running the ball you know the the one thing that's in Penn State's favor is that a couple of really good offensive linemen are gone from last year's West Virginia team namely Zack Frasier the center uh leader up there in the middle who's over with the Steelers now but the running backs are really good green is is a solid player he's going to make some mistakes passing the ball you know he's going to miss some throws but his legs are legit I asked Kobe King about him last night and he was just like well we have bow in practice so it's kind of Bo Pula kind of the same thing so they feel prepared for it um yeah I'm looking at the secondary of both of these teams because West Virginia has a couple of transfers coming in just like Penn State you know nobody really has a ton of seniors in that defensive back field um obviously Penn State safeties are very good but The Corner Room is a little bit more uh inexperienced in that boat so knowing that Garrett green is going to throw the ball around the yard a little bit um certainly curious to see how those cornerbacks play um and then I mean it just tags on to what we've been talking about is Penn State's receivers against a West Virginia unit that is you know missing a couple of guys who went last year again another Steeler beanie Bishop is is kind of the big name I think of but the Steelers just love their West Virginia guys lately but um yeah that's that's I digress but uh yeah so the the quarterbacks on both sides interesting for me in this one yeah and not only from a Penn State perspective not only just how they do but who it is out there at corner because we've heard all off season after kin King Johnny Dixon dayquon Hardy move on you know we heard from Terry Smith we've heard from James Franklin uh you know praising Terry Smith for his ability to reload uh in The Corner Room they've got a lot of guys and maybe ultimately maybe by the end of the season we're talking about a more talented Corner Room uh than Penn State had last year but we still don't really know exactly who's gonna be the two that that walks out on the field first on on the first team defense you've got cam Miller returning he's got the most experience among returning Penn State Corners uh but they bring in AJ Harris from Georgia the former festar younger guy uh we we saw him flying around the blue white game and pretty impressively uh Jaylen Kimber who has a lot of experience you know he started I think it was 11 games for Florida uh last year and then transferred in along with AJ Harris uh you Elliot Washington uh Zion Tracy you know two guys who had a lot of run in the Peach Bowl and then Al davan Collins who and and you talk at Max about you know listening to the coaches and when they're hammering home something and when they're being very obvious about something uh it's worth writing down and worth keeping in the back of your mind Al Daven Collins it's been said about him several times throughout the offseason that he was one of the most improved players not only just in the corner room but in the entire program I mean he won the most improved uh defensive player uh award I believe it was uh you know with spring camp and so you have all these different pieces it's just a matter of putting together the puzzle you know and and figuring out the right combination and it's gonna I think that's going to take some time just like right tackle uh will which is another spot that I'm really intrigued by Dono and Ruchi uh you know competing there um but you know on the road uh you know in in a really hostile environment um intrigued to see what those rotations and that that start those combinations look like at corner yeah me too the lack of experience is going to be tough in that environment that you mentioned and that was my don't be surprised if you mentioned yours with Trey Wallace mine was if West Virginia moves the ball through the air a little bit because yes these Penn State Corners are very talented and by the end of the year I think they're going to be dang good but week one new defensive coordinator a lot of new faces it could take some time to gel so that's that's kind of that was my thing that I pointed out but I also think they're going to get an interception and maybe two of them um and and then I I would Peg KJ wion for one of those I think I just think KJ Winston you know we've talked about him I wrote I wrote a pretty uh you know pretty big feature on him last week I just think that he is he's one of the best defensive players in the country I believe that and certainly one of the best safeties in the country last year he made his name uh being all around the ball and and you know making some plays you know through the air but being so not only violent but sureh handed in uh in run support and tackling uh I think he is due for a huge season and and this is I I mean as good a stage as ever to announce yourself again to a national audience uh and and make a big play and that's that's kind of my bold prediction is that I think AJ Winston gets a pick he could be a first-rounder next year pretty easily uh in my opinion and I'm with you I think zachie Wheatley might be the guy who who gets one the takeaway King the takeaway K that if zachie Wheatley is nothing else he gets turnovers and like it's kind of the thing that we've heard from coaches and it's like it maybe sounds like drinking the Kool-Aid but like we saw it I mean literally two years ago he came on the field barely played but like every time he was out there there was a turnover so that Auburn game at at Auburn he I believe it was he forceed the fumble yeah a big one yeah yeah it was him and him and Jaylen Reed uh combin on that yeah yeah which is a whole another aspect to that cornerback discussion is that Penn State wants to have three safeties on the field a lot this year which limits what we'll be able to see from those other guys um let's let's do real predictions we we said we said we wanted to keep this tight and you know I think we could just talk forever as always but let's do our actual predictions now so so Johnny lay it on me sorry you cut out there a little bit Max uh you throw it to me yeah yeah yeah lay it on me for your for your actual prediction all right so I I've got Penn State winning this game uh 34 uh to 23 like I mentioned the environment I think is gonna be something to deal with for Penn State three new coordinators will be something to deal with uh for Penn State just getting um you know knocking off the rust and getting used to you know how Andy cot Nicki calls a game and Tom Allen and uh you know even Justin lustig and just the the logistics behind everything I think it's something that we can't ignore but I I think Drew Aller is going to hit on a couple of big plays I think the running game you know after lacking th those explosive plays last year I think we're gonna see one or two uh from Nick and KRON that that really you know maybe turn a drive or or make a you know turn a drive from you know kind of stagnant into into electric if that makes sense uh and I think penate ultimately pulls away and I say pulls away I mean I think they win by 11 I think they put this thing to bed about Midway through the Midway through the fourth quarter and able to uh get a Wrangle on it but I do think it's going to be a tight game at Halftime um and uh and pennate ultimately though I think ends up one and0 I think the second half the second half team thing is is probably sticking with us here this week in Morgantown just because of the environment and those factors you mentioned but I do think in the end I agree I think Penn State's going to win pretty pretty Cas comfortably uh is the word I'll use I had 34 to 20 um I just think that running the ball is going to be almost easy for Penn State there's there's a young sophomore linebacker on the other side for West Virginia cutter who was really good last year but besides him they are missing just about every guy who put up any kind of numbers for them uh they did not get after the passer very well uh I just think Penn State's going to be more physical and win in the trenches and the great thing about that is it means Drew Aller and those receivers don't have to be Allstars um so I think I think they'll make just enough plays I think that the Penn State offense um looks good in the second half and has moments in the first half defense will take a little bit to get going probably give up two touchdowns or an early touchdown and then you know kind of buckle down until a late one I got 3420 I think I think the Lions handle business I like it I I think Bob you know looking at uh our looking at our predictions staff wide uh our guy Bob flounders has Penn State winning 29-2 uh Joe hermit excellent photographer uh the best in the biz pen State winning the goat truly the goat I mean the only man who was willing put put his leg on the line ankle on the line at northw himself with a monopod I mean Joe Herman has Pence winning 30 to 20 uh and so yeah it's a pen live sweep um you know I'm just excited for college football Max I'm I'm pumped that it's back uh I'm not necessarily uh stoked for the drive uh to to the Morgantown area I think we're just outside Morgantown um I it's it's going to be a beautiful drive uh but I am I am very excited for the season I know you are as well yeah me too um tired of you know the hope hope runs Eternal uh stage of college football preseason is enjoyable for about two weeks and then it's just like all right bring me some games and you know I'm tired of them being on the Playstation only so that's funny awesome man well hey um this has been the blue white breakdown presented by pen live max rph Johnny mcgonagle uh will be there in Morgantown on Saturday as well as Bob flounders and Joe Hermit the whole pen live team will be there for Penn State season opening game uh at West Virginia follow our coverage on pennlive.com follow us on Twitter subscribe to our Tech subscriber base uh where you know we give you know tidbits and Nuggets of information that we don't otherwise put out there you know things that we're hearing and seeing um opinions analysis all that good stuff so uh be sure to do that and and obviously subscribe to pen live if you don't already no better time than right now uh before the season starts uh but Max looking forward to seeing you down in Morgantown and uh looking forward to week one yes sir see you [Music]