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By Neil Rudel
nrudel@altoonamirror.com
Penn State held an introductory spring football press conference Tuesday, and it's clear the Nittany Lions are in acclimation mode.
James Franklin, entering his 11th season, said his top priority of the spring is to make sure his three new coordinators -- Andy Kotelnicki (offense), Tom Allen (defense) and Justin Lustig (special teams) -- are "all on the same page."
"We're trying to keep the terminology the same," yet also assess "what are the things we need to change," Franklin said.
He praised the new coaches, saying they've "jumped in with both feet and have done a good job. We're getting to a point of how we're going to move forward as a coaching staff."
Without being too specific, Franklin touched on the "non-negotiables" he discussed with each candidate during the interview process.
"I think you better have enough flexibility to play to the strength of our roster," he said.
He added that "our last coordinator (OC Mike Yurcich, who was fired) was an 11-personnel guy, and that was not our strength."
The 11-personnel terminology includes three wide receivers and one tight end. Franklin felt the Lions needed to be using tight ends Theo Johnson and Tyler Warren together more often.
After Yurcich was let go on Nov. 12, you saw less of the outside receivers -- particularly KeAndre Lambert-Smith -- and more of the tight end packages.
Franklin reiterated Tuesday "you want to get the best athletes on the field. The third receiver is competing with the second tight end (for playing time)."
Expected to emerge as a top receiving threat is Ohio State transfer Julian Fleming, a Southern Columbia High School product who arrived via the transfer portal.
Franklin said he doesn't like to rely too heavily on the portal, but when he does, he favors players the Lions have recruited in the past.
Fleming was Penn State's top recruit when he committed to the Buckeyes in 2020.
"There's familiarity and comfort there for his family and for us," Franklin said. "He understands what this league (Big Ten) is all about. … And, he's an older guy (23), which I also think helps in that room."
The Lions also took another Pennsylvania product, Nolan Rucci, a 6-foot-8 offensive tackle from Wisconsin, whose parents, Todd, were former PSU athletes - Todd an offensive lineman and Stacy a field hockey player.
Franklin thought Rucci played well in the ReliaQuest Bowl against LSU.
Cornerbacks A.J. Harris (Georgia) and Jalen Kimber (Florida) are also expected to challenge for playing time at a position of need.
"Some of them (transfers) we felt strongly about what they did in high school, and other guys were more proven commodities who had already done it," Franklin said of his portal philosophy.
The spring will also be used to build a depth chart, and Franklin said there's enough uncertainty at numerous positions that, "we should have one of the better spring games we've had in a while."
Notes: Lustig was introduced for the first time. He's an Erie native who spent the last three years at Vanderbilt. He has several ties to the Nittany Lions, including Mark Tate, a Nittany Lion defensive back in the 1990s and product of Erie Cathedral Prep ... The Blue-White Game is Saturday, April 13, with kickoff set for 2 p.m. ... Ten Lions have been invited to the NFL Combine in Indianapolis (Feb. 26-March 4). They are: TE Theo Johnson, OT Olu Fashanu, OL Hunter Nourzad, OL Caedan Wallace, DE Adisa Isaac, DE Chop Robinson, LB Curtis Jacobs, CB Johnny Dixon, CB Daequan Hardy and CB Kalen King.