James Franklin explains absence of Penn State football stars from spring game

Penn State football wrapped up spring practices Saturday afternoon with the 2024 Blue-White Game. However, the Nittany Lions were without several of their most notable stars on both sides of the ball for the April scrimmage. Following the game, James Franklin provided updates on some of the program’s biggest stars, most notably Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen. 

James Franklin addresses absence of Penn State football stars from Blue-White Game

In some ways, Saturday’s Blue-White Game was just as much about who wasn’t on the field for Penn State football as who was on it. Of course, KeAndre Lambert-Smith’s expected departure from the program has been dominating headlines in recent days. 

But many of the other absences from the action were much less dramatic. Offensive tackle Drew Shelton has been out all spring after undergoing surgery this winter. Quarterback Jaxon Smolik is expected to miss “significant time” with an undisclosed injury.

But among the Nittany Lions not previously known to be out of the Blue-White Game were safety KJ Winston, defensive tackle Hakeem Beamon, offensive linemen JB Nelson and Sal Wormley, and running backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen. His comments spoke to the situation for many others on the roster.

After the White team’s 27-0 victory, James Franklin specifically addressed why Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton did not participate Saturday.

“One of those guys, like a number of guys on our roster, we make decisions no different than we did with Olu Fashanu last year. So, Nick, that was that decision,” Franklin said. “And then Kaytron has some bumps and bruises that didn’t really allow him [to play]…Nothing that is going to be a problem this summer for summer training. Nothing that’s going to be a problem for next year. I don’t think it’s probably a surprise to really anybody in here because I don’t think you guys saw him at any of the practices you came to, either. Nick, we made modifications. He got a little banged up this week in practice, but we were going to modify him.”

With Singleton and Allen out, the Penn State running backs combined for 100 yards. Redshirt freshman Cam Wallace rushed for 36 yards, while true freshman Quinton Martin had 34 and two scores.

“Spring ball for a lot of guys is an opportunity to move up and be evaluated, but also guys that we feel like have established themselves, especially when we got to figure out who the third back is going to be for next year,” Franklin continued. “That was really kind of the main focus. So we’re strategic about that every single year where guys are at in the program and how established they are, and even when they take reps we modify some of those guys reps to get the other guys.

“To be honest with you, you guys know Drew Shelton didn’t go this spring. Well, that was like really valuable for [Nolan] Rucci and J’ven [Williams]. They got 1000 reps this spring, which was great. So some of it is strategic, and some of it’s just how things played out.” 

Penn State football: James Franklin 2024 Blue-White Game Press Conference

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Penn State football: James Franklin 2024 Blue-White Game Press Conference

Transfer portal DT expected back for fall camp

Earlier this week, James Franklin provided an injury update on defensive tackle Alonzo Ford. Ford joined the Penn State football program last spring out of the transfer portal, but suffered a season-ending injury before the start of 2023. While Ford is not fully ready yet, the Nittany Lions expect him to be ready to go by fall camp.

“He’s not back,” Franklin said. “He’s close to being back. I think this summer, he will be a full go. I’m not talking about summer camp. I’m talking about the whole summer training. Besides that, he’s been great. We just haven’t seen a whole lot. His attitude has been great. He’s done really well in the classroom. He’s obviously lived in the treatment room.

“The strength staff has been able to work with him, the trainers have been able to work with him, everybody loves him. There’s just not a whole lot we’ve been able to see up to this point other than the stuff we saw when we recruited him.”

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