STATE COLLEGE — Nyeem Wartman worked throughout the spring at middle linebacker, and his linebacking cohorts after the game talked about that being his position when things get going in August.
But he was limited in practice the past few weeks due to an undisclosed injury, and he watched Saturday’s scrimmage in warm-ups.
Tight end Adam Breneman, who missed last season after surgery on his left knee, dressed but didn’t play. QB Trace McSorley and redshirt freshman receiver De’Andre Thompkins also missed the game with undisclosed injuries.
Coach James Franklin said he expected none of the injuries would hold any of those players out of fall camp in August. But he added that getting healthy would be important for each of those players.
“That’s also going to be part of our decision-making process,” Franklin said. “When we have to decide on the 105 (players) who are coming to camp, we’re only going to bring the guys to camp that are able to play.
“If they could go, they went today. If they couldn’t, they were held out.”
Great Scott?
The Blue-White Game affords players a chance to take a look at the players on the opposing team more closely because, well, they’re also teammates.
So if Blue running back Akeel Lynch celebrated a bit when the White team scored its only touchdown, forgive him. He’s just that big a fan of Nick Scott, who rushed for a game high 77 yards and scored on a 51-yard touchdown run on which he broke a tackle attempt by defensive tackle Anthony Zettel.
“I know Nick, and I hope he does well,” Lynch smiled. “I know how he feels, because in my first spring game, I had a run like that. It gives you confidence.”
The mighty Toe
Little known sophomore Tyler Davis kicked just as well in the pregame kicking competition, drilling a few 55-yard attempts. But the kicker Franklin talked about most after the game was Joe Julius, a 5-foot-11, 244-pound redshirt freshman nicknamed “The Toe.”
Julius kicked off three times, and every attempt went through the end zone — and that might be a determining factor in the race to replace beloved Sam Ficken.
“I’ve been very, very pleased with his leg strength,” Franklin said. “But he has a lot of things fundamentally to clean up.”
And the award goes to...
Penn State handed out its annual spring awards at halftime.
The Jim O’Hora Award went to defensive end Garret Sickels.
The award is presented to the player who shows loyalty, attitude, interest and improvement on defense. It is named for O’Hora, a Dunmore native who served as a defensive line coach and defensive coordinator at Penn State for 16 seasons under Rip Engel and 11 more as a member of Joe Paterno’s staff from 1966 through 1976.
Guard Brendan Mahon took the Red Worrell Award, basically the offense’s answer to the O’Hora award. Julius earned the Special Teams Award.
The Frank Patrick Award for total commitment to the program was presented to tight ends, Adam Breneman and Dominic Salamone.
Bring on the Owls
The last word this spring goes to defensive end Evan Schwan, who recorded two sacks, thought he got close enough to Hackenberg for a few more, and still seemed a tad upset after the game that the official closest to those plays didn’t blow the whistle.
“I kind of got a little angry when I looked back at the ref and he was shaking his head,” Schwan said. “Honestly, I can’t wait. In the spring, we’re not allowed to touch the quarterbacks, because we have to keep ours safe. But I can’t wait for that first opportunity to come off the edge against Temple and just level someone.”
That comes Sept. 7 in Philadelphia.