The page is flipping toward spring practice with Penn State having wrapped up its winter workout program on Thursday. A late end to the Nittany Lions’ season left strength coach Chuck Losey modifying his traditional workout schedule. But despite the revamped format, the Nittany Lions kept up the intensity throughout Losey’s gauntlet.
“When we came back from the break, normally, we would hit it pretty hard. But we took a little bit of a different approach,” Losey on March 6. “We concentrated a little bit more on recovery, regeneration for those first two weeks, really getting their bodies back under, getting their legs back under them and getting them primed up for what was going to be another four aggressive weeks.”
Losey met with the local media during the fourth week of winter workouts, providing key offseason updates, and position coaches gave recognition of their own in weekly “Competitor of the Day” honors, posted to social media after each of the six workout sessions. Who impressed coaches over the past month?
DOMINANCE FROM ELLIOT WASHINGTON II
Penn State cornerback Elliot Washington II dominated unlike any other player in this year’s winter workout program. He earned all six “Competitor of the Day” honors from cornerbacks coach Terry Smith, who will have a decision to make in the fall regarding who he’ll start in place of Jalen Kimber. Washington should be the favorite for Kimber’s vacancy entering the spring.
“Elliot Washington, he’s always been a high horsepower guy for us, but I think he’s also a guy who understands the role that he needs to be in for us this year, and I’ve seen a difference in him,” Losey said.
INTRODUCING A FRESHMAN WR
There’s an obvious need for improvement in the Nittany Lions’ wide receiver room, and new faces are bound to emerge early into the fall. One name to keep an eye on is freshman Koby Howard, a former four-star recruit who earned two-of-six winter workout shoutouts from wide receivers coach Marques Hagans.
Losey told reporters in March that the 5-foot-11, 185-pound Howard is “unbelievably strong, powerful guy from the jump for us.” Penn State will need transfers Kyron Hudson and Devonte Ross to make an immediate impact, and Howard’s emergence as a game-ready threat could only help.
CLEAR SUCCESSOR FOR TYLER WARREN
Luke Reynolds burst onto the scene with a game-sealing, fake-punt rush in a 26-25 win at Minnesota on Nov. 23. Now, he’s again being asked to step up in a big moment. Reynolds, a four-time winter workout winner, is beginning to solidify himself as the clear successor for Mackey Award-winning tight end Tyler Warren.
“He’s got a template set out in front of him with Ty Warren for the past four or five years. He’s following it to the tee so far,” Losey said of Reynolds. “This has been outstanding.”
DEFENSIVE LINE POSITION BATTLES
There are two vacancies on Penn State’s defensive line, one on the edge and one on the interior. Zuriah Fisher, who missed this past season with an injury, is starting to make a case for the defensive end spot. Xavier Gilliam, a highly-touted redshirt freshman who appeared in just five games this past season, shouldn’t be ruled out for the defensive tackle spot.
“Zuriah Fisher, another one. He’s a vet. He understands the expectations,” Losey said. “We got a little bit of a void to fill out that defensive end position. We got a lot of good people to do it, and he’s the eldest of the group, so I think he understands that and takes a lot of pride in that.”
COMPLETE LIST OF WINTER WORKOUTS WARRIORS
Quarterback: Jaxon Smolik (3), Drew Allar (2), Ethan Grunkemeyer
Running back: Quinton Martin Jr. (3), Tikey Hayes, Tyler Holzworth, Amiel Davis
Wide receiver: Kyron Hudson (2), Koby Howard (2), Devonte Ross, Peter Gonzalez
Tight end: Luke Reynolds (4), Khalil Dinkins, Joey Schlaffer
Offensive line: Vega Ioane (2), Drew Shelton, Nick Dawkins, Alex Birchmeier, Henry Boehme
Defensive line: DT Xavier Gilliam (3), DE Zuriah Fisher (2), DE Dani Dennis-Sutton
Linebacker: Dominic DeLuca (2), Kari Jackson (2), Ta’Mere Robinson, Anthony Speca
Safety: Zakee Wheatley (2), Vaboue Toure, Kolin Dinkins, Lamont Payne, Jashaun Green
Cornerback: Elliot Washington II (6)
Special teams: P Riley Thompson (3), LS Tyler Duzansky (2), Chase Meyer
