Posted March 28, 2024 | Article by Amanda Vogt | Photo by Emmy Vitali
There are just about two weeks before Penn State takes the field in its Blue-White spring game. Slowly, the newly adapted schemes from new coordinators Andy Kotelnicki and Tom Allen are being installed.
During the early stages of the spring ball process, the foundation is being laid. James Franklin said that the identity gets developed later as comfortability and familiarity within the system are established.
As for the offense, there’s an eagerness to know what it’ll look like when the first game rolls around on August 31 when the blue and white travel to Morgantown to square off against West Virginia.
“I spent time talking to them all one-on-one and asking them what do they want from their offensive coordinator, what did they want their offense to look like,” Kotelnicki said after last week’s practice. “And players are buying in because they are yearning to perform at a high level.”
In practice, Kotelnicki carries a strong presence: staying active and wearing the arm shields and trying to catch them off guard during ball security drills, chirping at his guys when they make a mistake and praising them when they execute.
“I think our offense has responded really well with just him as a coach and his mentality that he brings — it kind of refreshing as an offense and I think we’ve adapted it well,” Tyler Warren said after Tuesday’s practice.
The tight end is back in the blue and white for year five and chose to stay because he trusted the Penn State coaching staff.
Throughout the spring, Warren said guys want to play for Kotelnicki and they’ve “got his back.” The confidence under its new offensive coordinator is because he immediately fostered relationships with players and collectively manufactured a standard to uphold.
Each position group has its expectations and for the running backs, it’s to be the No. 1 RB room in the country. Kaytron Allen focuses on getting “one-percent better every day” and Kotelnicki’s energy impacts the process.
“You never see him down,” Allen said. “[I’m] just always trying to stay high, stay smiling, just doing the thing that’s needed to be done.”
Players are excited about playing under Kotelnicki and trust his process. When Franklin went through the hiring process, he wanted someone who would treat the coordinator position like the head coach of the entire offense.
“[He’s] not just running plays,” Franklin said Tuesday. “He’s talking about what we have to do big picture-wise to be successful in understanding the why.”
Amanda Vogt is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, email amandaevogt@gmail.com
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