Penn State Nittany Lions College Football Pregame Quote, 01/07/2025

Question: If Abdul Carter can go, will it be a similar rotation as it was in the Fiesta Bowl for the last three quarters and are you confident in those gentlemen? 

Yeah. It’d be fair to say that it would be a good picture of what it would look like. And yeah, very confident those guys, when he went out in the second quarter, I believe they got a first down the rest of the half. Our guys did a great job in all those situations. We got a lot of guys, whether they’re older, younger, everything in between, just have a good plan for that and excited about whatever that creates for them. And if they’re called upon, they’ll be ready.

Carter played his best game since I’ve been here and we gave him the most valuable player of the game, along with Zakee (Wheatley), and just super production from him. Just played so hard, which he usually does, but he was just so productive in a way that we needed some really, really big plays, the play on the quarterback that they ran on run, and then he got the sack at a critical time in the red zone and just played at a high level. So that just shows you a guy like that was given some opportunities, he’s doing everything he can do. So, I know Coach will address that when he speaks tomorrow. So, but yeah, he’s doing everything he can do.

Question: Notre Dame isn’t a team particularly known for their passing game, but how do you balance preparing for quarterback like Riley Leonard and preparing for the run game?

I mean, we’ve faced a lot of good running backs this season, but their backfield is extremely talented and has our respect, without question. I think there’s good as anybody played as a group without doubt, then you mix in the quarterback. The way Leonard can run makes it really challenging. There’s no question that he’s so effective. He’s run for almost 900 yards from nine plus right now. So that always creates a dimension for a defense that’s challenging, just because that guy you got to account for is the extra guy numerically. We got to do a great job up front. We got a good job with our numbers. He does throw the ball effectively. Obviously, they rely on the run game to set things up, but the same time, lot of times, when he drops back and he starts running around, that’s gonna be just as effective as him throwing the ball. So very, very good quarterback, very good player. So we have to do a great job of playing team defense.

Question: What is this year been like for you? You, I remember when you were hired, you said that you were looking forward to getting back to just coaching and I was just wondering to this point, what has this year been like for you? 

I was looking forward to that component, to be able to not have to deal with all the head coaching issues and different things that take away from watching film and doing the things you really enjoy the most. And so, I do feel like that’s been the case. And I think Coach Franklin has created a situation that allows me to do that and would not coach the position which that was initially. And with Dan Connor taking over the linebackers, once the new rule came into play, to have the guys that can do that and then also just to be able to move into the press box, I just think that was a big move, because I hadn’t been up there for a long time, and I just think it helps me do a better job of seeing things. And once again, it’s kind of a small example of just being able to focus on the things that matter most, which is, what do I need to do to be able to spend the most time watching film, getting our players in the best position, and allowing us to get the best call? And that kind of goes with during the week as well. Not being distracted by all the things that head coaches have to deal with, and I’m a big film guy. I love, love getting the film room and studying it and watch it on the plane, all today, gonna watch the bunch tonight, and even tomorrow, all the way till kickoff. And I feel like I have the time to do that. And that excites me, because I number one, I enjoy number two. It helps me do the job I need to do, which is, put our guys in great position and we have a lot of great players, so you get them in the right spot, like the things are gonna happen.