Franklin: Pair of Penn State freshmen competing to be ‘the next guy’ on defensive front after injury

In light of recent turnover along the defensive line, Penn State football is now looking to several young defenders to provide critical depth for Saturday’s regular-season finale. Addressing the media on Wednesday for the last time before the Nittany Lions take the field against Maryland, James Franklin explained how true freshman Xavier Gilliam and redshirt freshman Ty Blanding are battling to be the next man up following last week’s injury to defensive tackle Alonzo Ford.

“I would say Blanding and Xavier are kind of the next two that we’re letting compete this week to see who’s going to be the next guy,” Franklin said. “But both are going to have to be ready to play.

“You know, both have put on a significant amount of size since they’ve been here. I think they both showed up probably in the 265-270 [weight] range. Xavier is probably 303-304, somewhere in that range. And Blanding is like 295. So, both have put on enough size to be able to get in and play.

“They’re learning every single day. I know the vets have done a really good job with them all year, but even more so this week. It’ll be a really good opportunity for them, and I think they’re ready. But it’s one thing to do it in practice; it’s another thing to do it in games.

“So Xavier got a little bit of time. One game as a D-End, which wasn’t ideal. But both have played a little bit. So this will be an important step for both of them.”

Want to stay informed on all the latest news in Penn State athletics? Subscribe to the free Basic Blues Nation newsletter for breaking news, videos, and editorials sent directly to your inbox!

On Monday, James Franklin announced that redshirt senior Alonzo Ford had suffered a “long-term injury” in last Saturday’s win over Minnesota. The room has already seen attrition this season, after veteran Hakeem Beamon abruptly left the Penn State football program earlier this month.

A former three-star prospect, Ty Blanding was the No. 2 player from New York in the 2023 recruiting class, according to the On3 Industry Rankings. He made one appearance as a true freshman and has one tackle in four games played this season.

A three-star in the 2024 cycle, Xavier Gilliam was the No. 13 recruit out of Maryland in On3’s rankings. The Quince Orchard product has appeared in two games this fall.

As of Wednesday evening, Penn State football is a 25-point favorite over Maryland per DraftKings Sportsbook. Kickoff between the Nittany Lions and Terrapins is set for 3:30 p.m. on the Big Ten Network.

Thank you for reading Basic Blues Nation, one of the fastest-growing outlets covering Penn State athletics. Part of the Full Ride network, we are an alumni-owned and operated, credentialed media outlet dedicated to providing you with updated and reliable insights for all your favorite Nittany Lion sports. Whether it’s Penn State football, basketball, wrestling, or anything in between, you can find it all on Basic Blues Nation!

Please follow us on our social channels, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube, and subscribe to our newsletter on Substack for breaking news and notifications. For feedback, questions, or concerns, please email us at [email protected] or direct message us on social media.