Tracking Penn State's Offensive Plan for the Peach Bowl
Penn State coach James Franklin's plane landed just in time Sunday for him to join a Zoom press conference regarding the Nittany Lions' first Peach Bowl appearance. The Peach Bowl background hid the airport terminal from which Franklin spoke, part of his hectic December schedule during which several forces collide.
Franklin just hired an offensive coordinator, is visiting prospects in the 2024 recruiting class who sill sign their Letters of Intent this month and also is diving into the NCAA Transfer Portal that opens Monday. Meanwhile, the Nittany Lions have begun practice for the Dec. 30 bowl against Ole Miss. So forgive Franklin for not having a true grasp of the Rebels, whom Penn State will play at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
"We'll be trying to balance recruiting as well as these bowl practices that we have right now that are more kind of like spring ball practices, program development practices, while we take the time to come up with a game plan and get into the specifics of Ole Miss," Franklin said. "But we're not ready to do that yet. Then we obviously have finals week as well. So we're kind of still in that recruiting/information gathering period on Ole Miss, but we will get a little bit of work in too."
Early December is one of the busiest times of year for college football coaches. Here's where James Franklin's head is at as the Lions juggle this season and next.
Will any Penn State players opt out of the Peach Bowl?
Penn State had just one player, cornerback Joey Porter Jr., opt out of the Rose Bowl last season, an upgrade over the 2021 Outback Bowl, which six starters chose not to play. Franklin said conversations regarding the Peach Bowl are "ongoing," though no players have opted out yet. Names to watch are potential first-round NFL Draft prospects Olu Fashanu, Chop Robinson and Kalen King. However, Penn State could bring a full, or near full, roster to Atlanta.
Meanwhile, Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin said he did not expect any opt-outs, since the program is "not in one of those years where we really have some first-rounders that are coming out that are concerned of injuries and so forth."
Who is Penn State's offensive coordinator for the Peach Bowl?
Interim co-coordinators Ja'Juan Seider and Ty Howle, who helped Penn State to wins over Rutgers and Michigan State, will continue in the role for the Peach Bowl, Franklin said. New offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, who arrived over the weekend from Kansas, will join the team through practices and the bowl trip.
Franklin employed the same strategy upon hiring Manny Diaz as defensive coordinator in 2021. Diaz joined Penn State on the bowl trip, but safeties coach Anthony Poindexter served as defensive coordinator for the game.
"Andy will be here more just taking everything in, getting a feel for how we operate, the culture, very similar to when we hired Manny," Franklin said. "[He'll] be able to be here, be around our players, be able to sit in all meetings, be able to see strengths and weaknesses so that literally the day the bowl game ends, he can jump in with both feet and get going."
How familiar is James Franklin with Lane Kiffin?
The Peach Bowl marks the first meeting between Penn State and Ole Miss and Franklin and Kiffin. The two have crossed paths in recruiting circles and coaching conventions but not on the field.
"Me and Lane have known each other for a long time," Franklin said. "Obviously I've followed his career from afar. We have a lot of friends in common as well. It's been great to watch those guys play when I've had the opportunity this year as well. He's always played an exciting brand of football."
Lane Kiffin on Penn State
The Ole Miss coach didn't know that Franklin had fired his offensive coordinator and admitted he has some catching up to do on the Lions.
"It seems like we need to prepare a lot for the last two weeks [of the regular season]," Kiffin said. "... I don't really get to watch much football, so I don't get to see great teams like Penn State in other conferences play. I got an early report from my personnel people that [Penn State has] phenomenal players, great starters on defense. I was hoping Coach Franklin was going to announce they're opting out. That would help us with that, too."
More Penn State Football
James Franklin, Lane Kiffin discuss the College Football Playoff
Penn State to face Ole Miss in the Peach Bowl
Penn State hires Andy Kotelnicki as its next offensive coordinator
How Andy Kotelnicki's offense will fit at Penn State
Scouting report from Kansas on Andy Kotelnicki, Penn State's new offensive coordinator
Report: Manny Diaz a candidate for head coaching job at Duke
AllPennState is the place for Penn State news, opinion and perspective on the SI.com network. Publisher Mark Wogenrich has covered Penn State for more than 20 years, tracking three coaching staffs, three Big Ten titles and a catalog of great stories. Follow him on Twitter @MarkWogenrich. And consider subscribing (button's on the home page) for more great content across the SI.com network.
