James Franklin frustrated with early-season development of young Penn State players

Establishing depth has been a key priority for Penn State football throughout the start of the 2025 season. The Nittany Lions have perhaps sacrificed style points during their first three for with the goal of developing some of the program’s younger talent for later on in the year.

While there have been several young players who have flashed on film over the month of September, others have left the Penn State coaching staff looking for more.

“I’d say it’s a mix, right?” James Franklin said earlier this week. “It’s frustration with some guys that I think could help us come the middle of the season on, and the coaches seem to have a greater sense of urgency to get them ready than they do.”

Even beyond the stat sheet on Saturdays, there are younger Nittany Lions who are forging valuable inroads toward playing time later this season. Franklin singled out receiver Tyseer Denmark for the second time this month, juxtaposing the redshirt freshman’s drive with that of some of his fellow underclassmen.

James Franklin on Tyseer Denmark last night:

“Tyseer looked like a guy who is very hungry to play and to get on the field and to make a difference…I don’t know when it’s gonna be, but his number is going to get called at some point, and he’ll be ready.”

Seems like it – 🔊 ON… pic.twitter.com/mOGQXNIhe7

— Basic Blues Nation (@BasicBlues) September 17, 2025

“Then there’s other guys that are ready to take that next step. Tyseer looked like a guy who is very hungry to play and to get on the field and make a difference. And guys like that, I don’t know when it’s going to be, but his number is going to get called at some point, and he’s going to be ready.

“And then there’s other guys that are complaining that they should be playing, and their parents are sending the text messages, and they’re going to get in the game and won’t be ready, and then we won’t hear anything from anybody. So there’s a little frustration with that one, but there always is, and it’s a small percentage of what I want to make sure is coaches and myself included, that you don’t get frustrated with the two percent compared to the 98 percent.”

True freshman defender continues to draw praise from Penn State coaches

True freshman DE Chaz Coleman. © Heather Weikel / Basic Blues Nation, 2025.

One Nittany Lion newcomer who has made the most of his early-season opportunities is Chaz Coleman. The true freshman defensive end received high marks from the Penn State coaching staff again this week, this time from defensive coordinator Jim Knowles. 

“He’s jumped off the screen from the time I first got to be around him, and he’s made plays in games,” Knowles said. “He’s just a really disruptive guy.”

With several highlight-reel plays off the edge so far this season, Knowles is looking for Coleman to grow against more ground-oriented teams this fall.  

“His progress is going to have to come against teams that are heavier in the run game and more talented in the run game,” he said. “We’re going to have to see how he can hold up in that.

“I think he can pass rush against anybody. So his development is going to have to come against a team that really tries to run the ball.”

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