UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Just days removed from a 38-15 win over West Virginia, which featured the fourth-largest crowd in Beaver Stadium history, Penn State has its sights set on Delaware. The Nittany Lions will take on the Blue Hens for the first time in program history.
Saturday in Happy Valley is set to be a special day with the 1973 team in attendance to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its 12-0 campaign.
Saturday's showdown airs on Peacock and it will also be the annual THON game. With an exciting Saturday on tap, James Franklin took questions from the media on Tuesday afternoon.
Malik McClain Making an Impact
Junior wide receiver and Florida State transfer Malik McClain has made his presence felt within the program since day one. A long and lengthy receiver with a 6-foot-4 frame, McClain has become a difference maker with his play on offense, special teams and unique level of happiness and joy that's left a lasting impact on everyone around him.
Garnering Special Teams Player of the Week honors from the coaching staff, the Daphne, Alabama, product stood out in multiple facets of the game and announced himself to the Penn State faithful with 58 receiving yards and a touchdown.
McClain's influence can be felt in ways not measured by yards or touchdowns. As outlined by Franklin, McClain has played a key role from a "cultural standpoint" and has been a valuable teammate.
"He's been just a wonderful addition to our football family," Franklin said. "The guy has got a smile on his face all the time. I mean, literally all the time, in the weight room, walking around campus, going to class. He's done very well academically here and is trying to help the team be successful in any way."
KeAndre Lambert-Smith Building Confidence
Wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith is building the confidence to have his strongest season yet. He capped last season with the longest receiving touchdown in the prestigious history of the Rose Bowl Game. The 88-yard score on the biggest stage in college football set the tone into the offseason.
Embracing a difficult journey in Happy Valley, Lambert-Smith has recorded 247 receiving yards in his last two games in a Penn State uniform. The junior wideout is playing with palpable energy and has learned to believe in his abilities as he develops his connection with sophomore quarterback Drew Allar.
Franklin has watched Lambert-Smith develop as a leader and standout wide receiver over the past four seasons. Franklin indicated how he's "proud" of the Norfolk, Virginia, product for developing "really good habits."
"I'm probably just most proud of him in terms of his maturity, both on and off the field, his growth as a leader, his growth as a football player and his growth as a competitor," Franklin said. "His steady, consistent approach, when it comes to being a mature teammate and a football player, I'm really proud of him. He is thriving academically, he's thriving as a football player, he's earned the respect of the locker room and the coaching staff."
JB Nelson Rises to the Occasion
Protecting Allar's blindside on the left side of the offensive line is headlined by standout left tackle Olu Fashanu. However, at left guard looms redshirt junior JB Nelson, who has elevated his game and grown into his own as a key catalyst at left guard.
Standing at a physically imposing 6-foot-5, 334 pounds, Nelson began his collegiate journey at Lackawanna Community College. In 2022, Nelson showed flashes of being a key contributor in four games on the offensive line but is finding a home at the spot in 2023.
Nelson won Penn State's Offensive Finisher of the Week award for his ability to play with consistent effort and energy after the win over West Virginia. Nelson's ability to provide an instant spark plug in pass block and run block packages gives the Nittany Lions a noticeable "presence" as put by Franklin.
"He is a physical dude who can play guard and tackle, so there's flexibility there," Franklin said. "There's still a lot of areas where he can grow and get better but he gives us a presence out there that I think we need."
JB Nelson (left) and Olumuyiwa Fashanu (right)