BWI Live: A Penn State football podcast from Blue White Illustrated

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BWI Live: Penn State gets Rose Bowl win, Clifford gets his swan song Jan 03, 2023

Show notes

Penn State and Utah played a closely-contested game on Monday night in the 2023 Rose Bowl. If the Nittany Lions proved one thing, it's that they have a dominant running game.

Freshman Nicholas Singleton broke off an 87-yard touchdown run in the third quarter to give the Nittany Lions a 21-14 lead. Singleton had only six carries by the time the decisive fourth quarter started, but he gained 120 yards on those six runs and scored two touchdowns. The budding superstar showed speed, power, and vision during the game in a breakout performance reminiscent of former Nittany Lions rusher Saquon Barkley.

However, the turning point of the game was the next drive when Utah quarterback Cam Rising exited the game with a knee injury after a first-down scramble where he took a hard hit from three Penn State defenders.

The game broke open on the first play of the fourth quarter when KeAndre Lambert Smith broke off an 88-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Sean Clifford.

Clifford, in his swan song, was impeccable. The sixth-year senior exploded during the game for 242 yards and two touchdowns by the time Lambert-Smith hauled in his touchdown. More impressively, Clifford was hyper-efficient, completing 14 of 20 passes with several throwaways thanks to excellent coverage.

Once Penn State went up by two scores, Utah had no answer without Rising. Backup quarterback Bryson Barnes threw a bad interception in the third quarter and took several sacks that ended drives.

Penn State wins its first Rose Bowl since 1994, and head coach James Franklin gets redemption in his second attempt after a loss to USC in 2016. The Nittany Lions finish the season 11-2, and fans that wanted one got a signature win for 2022.

Penn State gets signature victory, Clifford reason why | BWI Live Postgame Show

BWI Daily: Interview with Alex Felkins, Penn State's newest kicker Dec 30, 2022

Show notes

Penn State football's first dip into the transfer portal didn't come at either of their most prominent and public positions. Instead of a wide receiver or a cornerback, special teams coach Stacy Collins struck first, signing Columbia kicker Alex Felkins as a preferred walk-on to the program. Felkins sits down for an exclusive interview with Blue White Illustrated's Sean Fitz to discuss his journey to Penn State and why he chose the Nittany Lions.

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Penn State's kicking situation has been inconsistent for the past two years, with punter Jordan Stout filling all three special teams kicking roles in 2021 before Jake Pinegar retook his job in 2022 and finished the regular season 12-16 on field goals and 52-54 on extra points. With Pinegar moving on and highly-rated freshman Sander Sahaydak yet to earn any playing time, the Nittany Lions pounced quickly on Felkins, a two-time All-Ivy League honoree as a kicker.

While Penn State's need for a kicker with experience is clear, what drew Felkins to Happy Valley? The Oklahoma native shares his reasons for picking the Nittany Lions with Fitz and describes his situation at Columbia. Felkins also described what sort of atmosphere he's looking for and how State College itself drew him to the program.

Next, the duo discussed his time at Columbia and what adversity he faced while with the Lions. He tells Fitz about a significant injury he overcame and how grueling the process of returning to play was for him. He also describes his game and what he thinks he can bring to Penn State.

The senior kicker also explains how Penn State got in contact with him, how his relationship with special team's coach Stacy Collins has developed, and what sort of competition or playing time he's expecting at Penn State next year.

BWI Daily: Bowl practice recap/insider look at December bowl prep Dec 29, 2022

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Nate Bauer and Sean Fitz discuss the latest Penn State football news and recap what happened at Penn State's bowl practices leading up to the Rose Bowl.

BWI Daily: Utah scouting report with Josh Newman of the Salt Lake Tribune Dec 28, 2022

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T-Frank sits down with Josh Newman of the Salt Lake Tribune to discuss Utah's season, players and outlook for the Rose Bowl.

Recruiting Show: Penn State Class of 2024 wish list Dec 27, 2022

Show notes

The dust has settled since national signing day, and Penn State's Class of 2023 is mostly situated heading into the traditional signing period in February. Today on the BWI Daily Recruiting Show, insiders Ryan Snyder and Sean Fitz will discuss the important names and positions to know for the final phase of 2023 and then take the first official look at 2024. Subscribe to Blue White Illustrated on YouTube, so you don't miss the show! https://bit.ly/3KzEcqK

They start with the biggest news coming out of the weekend. Penn State has secured an official visit for one key recruit left in the 2023 cycle. Fitz discusses which player will meet with Penn State before national signing day in February. Next, Snyder discusses why he's hesitant to put too much stock in official visit plans before the new year has started. They discuss how hard it is to land the top players remaining after signing day and how much competition Penn State will have for those players.

Next, they briefly discuss the transfer portal and how Penn State is trying to address the receiver and cornerback positions.

The rest of the show is dedicated to previewing the top players in the next class. While 2024 hasn't officially started, the next batch of recruiting targets is already taking shape. Fitz and Snyder go through each position and list the top players that Penn State may wish to land by this time next year. While some names, like Pittsburgh area athlete Quinton Martin and New England offensive lineman Liam Andrews, are apparent, some other positions are not.

Fitz discusses why hearing names early for specific positions can be an issue. This list is comprehensive for the moment, but he says that more names will emerge as serious contenders over the next six months and which positions this applies to most.

Additionally, they discuss which positions have an early lead on depth in the region compared to last season. Finally, they highlight the top players and debate which players, such as linebacker Aaron Chiles or wide receiver Elijah Moore, could grow out of their current positions.

BWI Daily: Rose Bowl Preview Dec 27, 2022

Show notes

Penn State football faces Utah in the 2023 Rose Bowl on Monday. To get you ready for the game, film analyst Thomas Frank Carr is sitting down for an hour to discuss the game and answer your questions about the Utah Utes. Subscribe to the BWI Daily Edition on YouTube, so you never miss a live show! https://bit.ly/3KzEcqK

Penn State finished the regular season 10-2 and faces a 10-3 Utah team that won the Pac-12 championship for the second straight season. So which team will have the advantage on Monday afternoon in Pasadena? T-Frank will discuss what he's seen from Utah.

First, he'll discuss what he's seen from the Utah defense, which is the bedrock of the team's personality. Next, he will break down the strengths and weaknesses of the team, going position by position with a focus on the standout players. Next, he'll assess how Penn State matches up against this group and what tactics can work against the group. How does the offensive line potentially getting Olu Fashanu and Caedan Wallace change things? What about the absence of Parker Washington? T-Frank will name players that need to step up for the Blue and White to win the game.

Next, he'll discuss what he's seen from the offense. Penn State fans still bear the scar of the Nittany Lions' loss to Michigan in October and are wary of teams that have a run-first identity and a physical offensive line. Will Penn State get run over again? T-Frank will give his thoughts about that group and then examine the matchups that stand out when Penn State has the football. He'll explain how Abdul Carter can change things for Penn State and how much growth the defense has experience in the months since then.

However, you and your questions will drive the bulk of the show. Join at 8 pm on YouTube to be a part of the show!

Finally! It's Rose Bowl Week! Join the BWI Daily live at 8 pm to preview Penn State vs Utah.

BWI Daily: Penn State Class of 2023 superlatives show Dec 23, 2022

Show notes

Penn State's Class of 2023 is mostly in the books and the main players you'll come to know have already signed their letters of intent. Today, T-Frank and Ryan give out seven superlatives for the class on the defacto Christmas Eve show.

BWI Daily: Signing day roundup | What's next for Penn State Dec 22, 2022

Show notes

Penn State football celebrated more than a year's hard work by securing the bulk of their Class of 2023. Today, the Blue White Illustrated Daily Edition recaps the day and looks forward to what is next for the Nittany Lions. Join Nate Bauer and Sean Fitz as they discuss all of that and what's going on in NIL right now.

Subscribe to Blue White Illustrated on YouTube so you don't miss the show.

Penn State's most significant drama from signing day was with four-star safety Conrad Hussey. The Florida native took official visits to Miami and Florida State this fall and didn't sign with the Nittany Lions on signing day. However, he didn't sign anywhere else as of the recording. Fitz discusses the situation briefly before moving on.

Both Fitz and Bauer were at the signing day event held at the newly-renovated Lasch building complex on Wednesday. First, they give their impressions of the event before discussing the building itself. It was the first time that either reporter set foot in the newly renovated space, so they gave their impressions.

Bauer discusses the theme of Penn State head coach James Franklin's comments to the players during the morning before Fitz gave his thoughts on that matter.

Next, they discuss what Franklin had to say during his press conference in the afternoon. Fitz takes the opportunity to look ahead at what's next in the class heading into the traditional signing period and the transfer portal. He highlights the players that Penn State is targeting and which positions need to add more players, thanks to misses in the class.

Finally, Bauer discusses the NIL situation both locally and nationally. He finds several aspects of the NIL conversation, or lack of conversation, around Penn State interesting. He feels like he gained new insight into the Nittany Lion's NIL pitch from recruiting assistants and Franklin, which he shares on the show.

BWI Live: Signing Day Recap Show Dec 22, 2022

Show notes

The bulk of Penn State's recruiting class for 2023 is in the books. After a long year of recruiting coverage on this class (that isn't over yet), the leading insiders in Penn State recruiting sit down to answer your questions. Sean Fitz and Ryan Snyder discuss the Penn State recruiting class of 2023 on the BWI Daily Edition starting tonight at 8 pm. Host Thomas Frank Carr will take them through the class and discuss the individual players, position groups, and storylines that stand out.

They'll also take your questions and interact with viewers live on the show. So subscribe to Blue White Illustrated on YouTube and hit the notification button so you don't miss the show. https://bit.ly/3KzEcqK

To start the show, Fitz and Snyder will give their overviews of the Class of 2023 and discuss what they think of the group on a high level. Next, they'll get into the developing story of the day; Conrad Hussey.

The four-star safety committed to Penn State in the spring and has waivered on that commitment, visiting other schools this fall.

From there, they'll dive into the class breakdown, starting in the secondary. They'll discuss how the Hussey situation impacts the group and what characteristics this group of defensive backs brings to Penn State.

Next, they'll get to the stars of the class, the offensive line. Fitz and Snyder will give their thoughts on Alex Birchmeier and Jven Williams and then comment on what James Franklin said about the duo this afternoon.

Next, they'll transition to the defensive side of the ball to discuss the linebacker trio of Tony Rojas, Ta'Mere Robinson and Kaveion Keys. Penn State head coach James Franklin outlined where he thinks that group will develop positionally, which Snyder and Fitz will discuss on the show.

The next most interesting group has to be the tight ends. With three four-star talents and one jumbo athlete, what does the panel think of this group? Snyder and Fitz will weigh in on Andrew Rappleyea, Joey Schlaffer, and Mathias Barnwell's fit in the offense.

After discussing the team's wins in the class, they'll flip the script and discuss the misses. Penn State needs several positions that head coach James Franklin outlined in his media day press conference. They'll look at those groups in several different ways.

Lastly, they'll finish by discussing the "little guys" in the class at the offensive skill positions. Can receiver Carmelo Taylor and running backs London Montgomery and Cameron Wallace make an impact despite a lack of college-ready size? Fitz and Snyder will discuss that group before rounding out by discussing quarterback Jaxon Smolik.

BWI Daily: Interview with Andrew Rappleyea, four-star Penn State tight end Dec 21, 2022

Show notes

Penn State's tight end recruiting in the 2023 class is nothing short of excellent. At one time, the Nittany Lions had four four-star players cycle through the room, with Mathias Barnwell, Neeo Avery, and Joey Schlaffer as the first three. But the last addition, Andrew Rappleyea, may yield the most results the earliest. Rappleyea sits down with Blue White Illustrated's Sean Fitz in an exclusive interview to discuss his transition to college, his comparisons to former New England prospect Pat Freiermuth, and his desire to play early in his career.

Subscribe to Blue White Illustrated on YouTube, so you don't miss any exclusive content. https://bit.ly/3KzEcqK

Fitz starts the interview by asking Rappleyea to chronicle his journey to Penn State, starting with how he landed at Milton Academy in New England. Rappleyea takes Fitz through his journey from an under-recruited part of the country, through COVID, to his destination at Milton. He also describes when the light came on for him as a recruit and when he started to take football seriously.

The switch to his new school opened up his recruitment and launched him from an unheard-of prospect to one of the top tight ends in the country. Rappleyea and Fitz talk about that journey from Rappleyea's perspective and how it made him a more confident person.

Next, they discuss his game and what sort of things he can do on the football field. The Millbrook, NY native discusses what he does to train, how he embraced the weight room and how that has changed his prospects. All that training and confidence makes Rappleyea not only believe that he can play early in his career but already knows which tight end position he wants to play and is embracing that role.

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