The Nittany Dispatch: A Penn State Football Podcast

The Transfer Portal has closed and Audrey & Jon are back to discuss the latest news out of Happy Valley including King Mack moving on to Alabama as well as other departures. Plus, the latest on the Beaver Stadium renovations and the approvals that are on horizon as well as what other events you could expect at the venue. Plus, a swirl of wrestling news has taken over Audrey & Jon's lives during the football offseason.

Back from Windy Beaver Stadium, Audrey & Jon discuss everything they saw from the Blue White Game on Saturday. How much can you take away from this scrimmage? Did we learn anything about Andy Kotelnicki’s new offense? Is KeAndre Lambert-Smith done at Penn State and entering the portal? What did James Franklin have to say postgame? Who made a big impression on Saturday and what is the status of the players who didn’t play? A.J. Harris stood out, Julian Fleming had his first showing in a Nittany Lion uniform and we got our first look at Ethan Grunkmeyer in Blue & White. Tune in for the full spring recap.

Audrey & Jon get you ready for the culmination of Spring Football as the Blue White game takes center stage in Happy Valley. Tune in for thoughts on what we expect to see in Beaver Stadium, the new players to watch as well as our first look at Andy Kotelnicki’s new offense. Plus, learn more about the Nittany Lions latest commitment in running back Alvin Henderson who joins James Franklin’s squad from unusual recruiting territory. 

Audrey & Jon are back to talk about offseason news from around Happy Valley including the news that Matt Zollers, in-state QB target, picked Mizzou over the Nittany Lions. What is the state of Penn State in-state recruiting for James Franklin and his staff? Does the portal need to be a bigger priority for the program? Plus, first conversations with Penn State transfer players including Julian Fleming and what it means to him to be representing the Blue & White and how the fans will embrace him. 

James Franklin and the Nittany Lions returned to the practice field for the first time in 2024 and Audrey & Jon got their first look at the new additions to the roster. What are the early signs from Andy Kotelnicki’s offense? How different did this defense appear under Tom Allen? And is Julian Fleming going to live up to the hype at wide out? Plus, hear Jon’s thoughts on Saquon Barkley signing with his beloved Eagles as well as other Penn State NFL signing news. 

Audrey & Jon return to share the latest from Happy Valley as James Franklin addressed the media and players were available for the first time in a month. Tune in for thoughts on what was shared with media as well as first comments from Franklin on transfer players like Julian Fleming, A.J. Harris and Nolan Rucci. How will the transfers fit in with Drew Allar and what have the work outs been like for the team during the offseason.

This episode was recorded Jan. 25 and posted Feb. 1 so excuse any news since recorded. Following the news that Jim Harbaugh left for the NFL Audrey & Jon discuss the impact to the conference and how will the new look Big Ten respond in 2024. Plus, Bill O'Brien heads to Ohio State to be the new offensive coordinator for the Buckeyes and will return to Happy Valley in November. Also, Penn State adds Justin Lustig to add the specials teams to make it three new coordinators for the upcoming season. 

Penn State continued to bolster its roster this week with the additions of A.J. Harris & Jalen Kimber to a secondary that needs depth heading into the 2024 season. Plus, Audrey & Jon catch up on Nolan Rucci’s transfer to the Nittany Lions as well as the news that Nick Saban will be retiring from Alabama and how that impacts the program. Is James Franklin a candidate for the Bama job or is that just extra noise rather than a realistic possibility.

The Nittany Lions had a couple days of news for its maligned receiver group as Ohio State wide receiver, Julian Fleming, transferred in following two years with the Buckeyes as he is back in his home state as a Nittany Lion. On the side, Dante Cephas exited State College following a Peach Bowl where he did not play a snap. Tune in for thoughts from Audrey & Jon on the wide out news and how this will impact James Franklin’s team next season. Dvon Ellies also announced that he is coming back for his sixth year with Penn State. 

Audrey & Jon are back to close out the season following the loss to Ole Miss in Atlanta for the Nittany Lions. What are their thoughts on the game and how do you judge this performance with all the absences from the lineup due to opt-outs, limited playing time and injuries.  Without Kalen King and Johnny Dixon, the Penn State cornerbacks struggled and the offense was the same show we saw all season as it struggled to get anything going throughout the game. Especially the wide receiver group that did not have a catch until the 4th quarter.  What’s next for James Franklin following this loss and how will it impact the offseason, plus Andy Kotelnicki will get to dig in following this game and start building his offense. Tom Allen was on hand and the defense had its moments but will the team add any cornerbacks out of the portal? 

Audrey & Jon discuss the Peach Bowl matchup with Ole Miss heading into the weekend including who will be suiting up for the Nittany Lions and who will be sitting out. There has been a lot of news with Olu Fashanu, Curtis Jacobs, Adisa Issac all announcing they are heading to the NFL while Tyler Warren announced he will return for next season. How will that impact James Franklin’s team’s chances to beat Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss on Saturday. What has Drew Allar had to say about the transition on offense over the last month and can we expect another big bowl game performance from the Penn State running backs?

Audrey & Jon return to discuss the introductory press conference of Tom Allen as Penn State’s latest defensive coordinator and what his addition means to James Franklin’s staff. Can he keep up the defensive success that Manny Diaz brought to Happy Valley, will the tradition of Linebacker U be build upon and did he admit that Penix was short in 2020?  Plus, news from national signing day, find out the details on the class, how the staff kept it together despite departures at the coordinator positions and who could make an impact right away for the Nittany Lions. 

Audrey & Jon return to the discuss everything that came out of a full day of media availability for the Nittany Lions in what was considered Penn State’s media day for the Peach Bowl. News from the transfer portal, opt-outs and NFL draft declarations as Curtis Jacobs announced he will be headed to the next level. Plus, the first comments from Andy Kotelnicki as the new Penn State offensive coordinator and how he views his approach to running the offense. Find out what players had to say about the upcoming bowl game as well as James Franklin’s thoughts on the offseason and what Penn State needs to do to bring in the talent needed to compete with the top of the conference next year. Who else will Penn State add from the portal could former target Julian Fleming be making his way from Ohio State to State College? Did Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen consider their options in the portal or are they committed to the Nittany Lions? 

The rumors were out there but the news broke Thursday that Penn State defensive coordinator Manny Diaz would be leaving the Nittany Lions take the head coach job at Duke. Audrey & Jon discuss their thoughts on his departure, where it leaves the team for the bowl game and who will replace Diaz next season? Could Anthony Poindexter step into the role, Tom Allen, Joe Rossi or a wildcard? Can Penn State keep up its stifling defense without Diaz?  Plus, who is opting out the bowl game beyond Theo Johnson? What other moves can Penn State expect in the next few weeks and how will Penn State handle having a new offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator int he same year for the first time since 2016? 

The Nittany Lions found out their bowl destination on Sunday as James Franklin’s squad will be headed to Atlanta for the Peach Bowl against Ole Miss. Tune in for thoughts from Audrey & Jon on the matchup, the opportunity it presents for Penn State as well as who to look out for on Dec. 30th.  Plus, thoughts on the transfer portal so far, who could the Nittany Lions bring in and who is headed out of Happy Valley. Also, first thoughts from Franklin on Andy Kotelnicki joining the staff as he addressed the hire after the news of the bowl game. What to expect of Ole Miss and what were Lane Kiffin’s first comments on Penn State. Will the Lions have opt-outs that impact the success of the team in Atlanta. Who are the wide receivers that the staff is targeting to bolster the roster for 2024? 

Audrey Snyder and Jon Sauber break down James Franklin's decision to hire Kansas OC Andy Kotelnicki as Penn State's new offensive coordinator following the firing of former OC Mike Yurcich.

The Nittany Lions ended the regular season with their most complete performance of the 2023 season by blanking the Spartans 42-0. The explosive plays finally emerged as Penn State had six in the game including a 60-yard bomb from Drew Allar to Omari Evans to set up a touchdown. Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen both went over 100 yards rushing and the dream offense Penn State fans expected all season finally looked legit against a struggling Michigan State team. Tune in for thoughts from Audrey and Jon on the game as well as how this sets the team up for bowl season as well as 2024.  James Franklin earned another 10-2 season and while Penn State may not be headed to the playoff this team that has been in the top 12 five of the last seven years will be in contention every year in the expanded playoff that begins next season. What will that team look like, will Manny Diaz still be in State College, are there any updates on the Mike Yurcich replacement search? Will Chop Robinson stay for another season? Which players affirmed their commitment to Penn State and will not enter the transfer portal? 

Audrey & Jon return to discuss the upcoming regular season finale in Detroit against the Michigan State Spartans on Friday. Will Drew Allar be healthy for the matchup and if he isn’t will Beau Pribula throw a pass? Can the Nittany Lions win on the ground only and did Nicholas Singleton start to come back to form at the end of the Rutgers game.  Tune in for reaction to James Franklin’s weekly press conference including his Thanksgiving questions to every member of the beat. Plus, what does a 10-2 season mean to this program and how would Penn State address finding a new offensive coordinator and defensive head man if Manny Diaz were to depart. 

Following another deflating loss to a top 5 opponent the question was whether or not James Franklin’s team would have a let down against Rutgers to close out the Beaver Stadium schedule, it was a win but hardly an impressive one as the Nittany Lions won 27-6. In their first game without Mike Yurcich, the Lions offense continued to struggle as they went into the half only up 10-6 and had to once again rely on the defense to carry the team.  Nicholas Singleton had a fumble that turned the game momentarily and kept Penn State from opening up a larger lead but Kaytron Allen would score two touchdowns and help seal the victory. Will this be Manny Diaz’s final game as the defensive coordinator for PSU in Beaver Stadium, what did Audrey & Jon see from this new look Penn State offense and what will Drew Allar’s injury mean for the final game of the year against Michigan State. 

Audrey & Jon return to talk about what James Franklin shared following the news that Mike Yurcich was fired plus how will JaJuan Seider and Ty Howle handle running the offense? Plus, more discussion of who could be the Nittany Lions new offensive coordinator and what type of offense they would bring to Happy Valley.  Tune in for thoughts on the matchup with Greg Schiano’s Rutgers team as well as what we can expect from Drew Allar, Nicholas Singleton, Kaytron Allen and the rest of the offense for the remainder of the season.