Penn State football will wrap up spring ball with Saturday’s Blue-White game, putting a bow on camp and pushing toward the program’s highly-anticipated 2025 season.
There are a lot of moving parts for the Nittany Lions, both literally and figuratively, entering the Blue-White game. Off the field, fans will navigate an active construction zone at Beaver Stadium. On the field, it’s up in the air which players — due to injury, precaution or the transfer portal — will even suit up and compete.
The Blue-White game kicks off at 2 p.m. and won’t be televised.
Here are five storylines to keep an eye on as spring ball comes to a close.
Wide receiver reset
Harrison Wallace III, Omari Evans and Julian Fleming are gone. Troy’s Devonte Ross and USC’s Kyron Hudson are in. Liam Clifford and Kaden Saunders are returning vets looking to make a bigger impact while Tyseer Denmark, Koby Howard and Lyrick Samuel are younger options looking to break through.
With the spring portal still open, there are moving pieces at the position of biggest concern for the Nittany Lions. But who will stand out during the final spring session? And will it be a sign of things to come for the fall? Safe to say everyone at Beaver Stadium — fans, media, coaches — will be watching the wideouts closely.
Backup quarterback battle
When Beau Pribula transferred to Missouri, he left the Nittany Lions with a question that needed to be answered: who will back up Drew Allar? James Franklin hasn’t given anything away this spring, implying that the battle for the No. 2 job will last a long time. But there are two options.
Ethan Grunkemeyer was a highly-touted signee in the 2024 recruiting class, and everything he’s done to this point has warranted the praise he’s received. Even as a true freshman last fall, he looked like the future of the quarterback position. But third-year Jaxon Smolik has returned from his season-ending injury without any rust.
Who’s the No. 3 back?
We all know Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen are going to take the bulk of the carries in the fall. But Saturday is an opportunity for the backs behind Allen and Singleton to show what they have and compete for the No. 3 running back job.
Third-year back Cam Wallace returned to practice this week after suffering a season-ending injury last fall. Quinton Martin (Belle Vernon) and Corey Smith, a pair of redshirt freshmen, are held in high regard. True freshman Tikey Hayes (Aliquippa) has made a good first impression after graduating early from Aliquippa, with Imhotep star Jabree Wallace-Coleman set to enroll in the summer.
If Singleton and Allen stay healthy, the No. 3 running back role might not mean much in the grand scheme of Penn State’s 2025 season. But these backs are now looking beyond that and ahead to 2026, when Allen and Singleton won’t be around. Every rep matters.
Who’s filling the defensive holes?
Defensive tackle: Zane Durant is back, but Dvon J-Thomas and Coziah Izzard are out of eligibility. Alonzo Ford, a potential starter, is out for now after a late-season, long-term injury. Redshirt freshman Xavier Gilliam is the name to know. But don’t sleep on fellow redshirt freshmen Liam Andrews and DeAndre Cook, as well as Michigan transfer Owen Wafle.
Safety: Jaylen Reed and Kevin Winston Jr. are off to the NFL. Fortunately, Zakee Wheatley — after a stellar College Football Playoff run — returns as a foundational piece in the secondary. Next to him, expect Dejuan Lane or King Mack to emerge with bigger roles in 2025.
Linebacker: If defensive coordinator Jim Knowles runs as much 4-2-5 defense as we expect, losing Ta’Mere Robinson to USC might not be that big of a deal. But beyond Tony Rojas, who’s out this spring, and Dom DeLuca, the linebacker room is lacking experience. Saturday should provide a good look at Keon Wylie, DaKaari Nelson, Anthony Speca (Central Catholic) and Alex Tatsch.
Defensive end: Abdul Carter landed in the first round on Thursday night, Amin Vanover was denied an extra year of eligibility by the NCAA, and Smith Vilbert entered the portal. Someone has to start opposite Dani Dennis-Sutton. This is a showcase for sixth-year Zuriah Fisher, second-year Max Granville and a host of eager pass rushers.