Latest news with #Blue-WhiteGame
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Previewing the 2025 season for Penn State DT Xavier Gilliam with his player profile
Previewing the 2025 season for Penn State DT Xavier Gilliam with his player profile Going into the 2025 football season, Nittany Lions Wire will examine each player listed on the Penn State roster. Over the preseason, each profile will cover the player's background, how recruiting websites rated them coming out of high school, and what role they will play for James Franklin this season. Over the last couple seasons, Penn State's defensive tackle unit has been led by seasoned veterans, including a handful of sixth-year players. Entering the 2025 season, redshirt freshman Xavier Gilliam could shake that up as he battles for a starting role. He earned praise from Franklin, as well as teammates Dvon J-Thomas and Zane Durant, throughout the offseason and was a starter for the blue team in this spring's Blue-White Game. Here's a brief overview of Gilliam entering the season. Preseason Player Profile Hometown: Montgomery Village, Maryland Height: 6-2 Weight: 300 lb Class in 2025: Redshirt freshman Recruiting Rankings Class of 2024: Consensus 3-star recruit, No. 50 defensive lineman per 247Sports Gilliam was offered by Texas A&M, Ole Miss, West Virginia and others out of high school. Career Stats Games Tackles Tackles for loss Sacks Forced fumbles 2024 5 1 0 0 0 Depth Chart Overview With the departure of Dvon J-Thomas and Coziah Izzard to the NFL, Zane Durant is the only proven commodity at defensive tackle. Gilliam is expected to battle sixth-year Alonzo Ford Jr. for the second starting role in 2025.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Previewing the 2025 season for Penn State DE Enai White with his player profile
Previewing the 2025 season for Penn State DE Enai White with his player profile Going into the 2025 football season, Nittany Lions Wire will examine each player listed on the Penn State roster. Over the preseason, each profile will cover the player's background, how recruiting websites rated them coming out of high school, and what role they will play for James Franklin this season. Defensive end Enai White was a member of Texas A&M's historic 2022 recruiting class, which still ranks as the best class of all time per the 247Sports rankings. White had a promising start to his college career but sustained a knee injury midway through the 2023 season, which kept him sidelined for all but one game in 2024. After three seasons with the Aggies, he entered the transfer portal and landed at Penn State, where he's seemingly recovered. Here's a look at Kemajou entering the 2025 season. Preseason Player Profile Hometown: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Height: 6-5 Weight: 264 lb Class in 2025: Redshirt junior Recruiting Rankings Class of 2022: Consensus 4-star recruit, No. 47 player, No. 4 edge rusher and No. 2 Pennsylvania native, per 247Sports White, a near 5-star recruit and one of Pennsylvania's top talents, was brought back to the Keystone State by Franklin through the transfer portal, continuing the trend of returning in-state players like Julian Fleming from Ohio State and Nolan Rucci from Wisconsin. Career Stats Games Tackles Tackles for loss Sacks Forced fumbles 2022 7 8 2 1 0 2023 5 3 1 1 0 2024 1 0 0 0 0 Depth Chart Overview The two-deep at defensive end is expected to consist of Dani Dennis-Sutton, Zuriah Fisher, Max Granville and Jaylen Harvey, but if there's one player who could throw a wrench into that, it's White. His recruiting pedigree and early trajectory at Texas A&M indicate he could be a contributor, but his injury status is a major question mark. For what it's worth, White appeared in the Blue-White Game, signifying at least some level of health.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Previewing the 2025 season for Penn State DE Yvan Kemajou with his player profile
Previewing the 2025 season for Penn State DE Yvan Kemajou with his player profile Going into the 2025 football season, Nittany Lions Wire will examine each player listed on the Penn State roster. Over the preseason, each profile will cover the player's background, how recruiting websites rated them coming out of high school, and what role they will play for James Franklin this season. Defensive end Yvan Kemajou wasn't viewed as one of the top recruits in Penn State's 2025 class, but the early returns have been promising. Kemajou earned a starting role opposite Zuriah Fisher for the blue team in Penn State's annual Blue-White Game and was called a "monster" by strength coach Chuck Losey, leading to optimism entering the season. Preseason Player Profile Hometown: Burtonsville, Maryland Height: 6-3 Weight: 244 lb Class in 2025: Freshman Recruiting Rankings Class of 2022: Consensus 4-star recruit, No. 18 defensive lineman and No. 5 Maryland native per 247Sports Kemajou ranked as a 3-star when he committed to the Nittany Lions but quickly shot up the rankings after displaying strength and explosiveness in his senior season of high school ball. Depth Chart Overview Kemajou likely won't crack the two-deep in 2025 but may see the field in garbage time or on special teams during his freshman campaign.
USA Today
27-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Previewing the 2025 Season for Penn State OL J'ven Williams with his player profile
Previewing the 2025 Season for Penn State OL J'ven Williams with his player profile Going into the 2025 football season, Nittany Lions Wire will examine each player listed on the Penn State roster. Over the preseason, each profile will cover the player's background, how recruiting websites rated them coming out of high school, and what role they will play for James Franklin this season. Offensive lineman J'ven Williams was the top ranked recruit in Penn State's 2023 class, redshirting his first season on campus while appearing in three contests. Last season, Williams increased his role, appearing in all 16 games, mainly on special teams. It's clear the coaching staff likes what it has in Williams, who started at right tackle in the Blue-White Game, but he'll have to compete with proven veterans for snaps. Preseason Player Profile Hometown: Reading, Pennsylvania Height: 6-5 Weight: 310 lb Class in 2025: Redshirt sophomore Recruiting Rankings Class of 2023: 5-star by 247Sports, No. 5 offensive tackle Williams was the top in-state recruit in his class and chose the Nittany Lions over offers from Michigan, USC, Ole Miss and others. Depth Chart Overview Williams hasn't been able to crack the starting rotation, and with Drew Shelton, Nolan Rucci and Anthony Donkoh - three players with starting experience - all returning, it's likely Williams will have to wait another year. Williams also has the ability to play guard, but the Nittany Lions are deep there as well.
USA Today
25-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Previewing the 2025 Season for Penn State OL Eagan Boyer with his player profile
Previewing the 2025 Season for Penn State OL Eagan Boyer with his player profile Going into the 2025 football season, Nittany Lions Wire will examine each player listed on the Penn State roster. Over the preseason, each profile will cover the player's background, how recruiting websites rated them coming out of high school, and what role they will play for James Franklin this season. Offensive lineman Eagan Boyer quickly found the field as a true freshman, appearing in four games while maintaining his redshirt status. His size and physicality are key traits that allowed him to earn snaps in a deep position room loaded with talented upperclassmen. Here's a preview of Boyer heading into the 2025 season. Preseason Player Profile Hometown: Cornelius, North Carolina Height: 6-8 Weight: 290 lb Class in 2025: Redshirt freshman Recruiting Rankings Class of 2024: Consensus 3-star recruit, No. 45 offensive tackle per 247Sports Boyer may not have had the recruiting status of some of his peers, but he held offers from Clemson, Michigan, Florida, Tennessee and others during his recruitment. Depth Chart Overview Penn State's depth is deep at offensive tackle, returning three players who started five or more games last season (Drew Shelton, Nolan Rucci, Anthony Donkoh). While the starting roles are seemingly locked up, Boyer can work his way into the two-deep in 2025 and play meaningful snaps. He missed the Blue-White Game while wearing a sling on his arm, but he'll likely be healthy in time for the season.
