Penn State head coach James Franklin talks transfer portal, new coordinator during offseason

Penn State’s roster has already drastically changed since the end of the 2023 season, with the outgoing class being replaced by some of the 2024 recruits. The biggest impact on the team, however, will likely not come from the latest group of freshmen, but rather the transfer portal additions the team has made so far in the offseason.

The Nittany Lions have made multiple additions to their roster, most notably adding three players they previously targeted when they were coming out of high school.

Head coach James Franklin said that history helps when he and his staff are making decisions on transfer portal targets. And this time around, it helped get the deal done with most of the team’s additions.

Those relationships helped the team prevail in recruiting wide receiver Julian Fleming, offensive tackle Nolan Rucci and cornerback A.J. Harris — all former five-star recruits — out of the portal. They also make up three of the team’s four biggest additions, joining former Florida starting cornerback Jalen Kimber.

And while Harris was not an in-state recruit like Fleming and Rucci, the previous relationship still came into play, as did what they learned about him during the process.

“We got on the phone with him the first time, and then we got on the phone with him the second time, and he had done his homework,” Franklin said. “He knew our roster, he knew the coaches, he watched our film, he had studied our film, he looked at the data, where we were ranked and how we played defense. So right away this guy was talking about the things, in my mind, that really matter. That’s what was important to him and his family about choosing the right place from a fit perspective that was gonna allow him to achieve his goals both on and off the field.”

The pitch to get players — like Harris — to Penn State, much like in previous offseasons, did not include the promise of playing time, according to Franklin.

“Whether it’s high school kids or it’s transfer portal, as well, we don’t make promises,” Franklin said. “Guys are gonna have to come in here and compete and earn jobs. We’re not making promises and offers to guys that they’re gonna come in here and start. They’re gonna earn it.”

Fleming’s addition to the roster might be the most impactful given his previous experience. While Rucci, Harris and Kimber are all positioned to compete for their roles and have varying chances of starting this season, Fleming is almost guaranteed to take on an enormous role.

He’s a more proven commodity than the other three while also entering a possession group that has needed an infusion of talent and production this offseason.

Franklin said Fleming’s production in the conference should also ease his transition.

“Obviously his ability to play in this league, I think is helpful,” Franklin said. “He kind of understands what this league is all about. He also has an understanding about the playoffs as well. I think those things are valuable.”

Lustig’s move to Penn State

While the portal additions will making adjustments to life in a new program, so will their coordinators. The Nittany Lions had to replace all three coordinators — on offense, defense and special teams — this offseason. Andy Kotelnicki has taken over the mantle on offense, while Tom Allen has done the same defensively and the latest addition, Justin Lustig, will lead the special teams.

Lustig spoke to the media on Tuesday for the first time since he was hired by Franklin, and said he’d always had one eye on Penn State, even when he was at other schools.

“I’ve always followed (James Franklin) from afar,” Lustig said. “And rooted for Penn State inside, even though I was at other colleges. ... As a coach you finish up a game on Saturday and hit the bus whether it’s an away game, or maybe even if it’s just in the locker room after, you check scores. Penn State was one that was always one that was on my favorites. I was always checking the Penn State score after every game, no matter where I was at.”

The new coordinator has taken over a unit that will have to replace its kicker, with Alex Felkins out of eligibility. It will return punter Riley Thompson, however, along with kickoff specialist Gabriel Nwosu and several options at both punt returner and kick returner.

Lustig will have to wait to get a better idea of how the kicker competition will play out, in large part because it isn’t the type of spots that winter workouts have as much value in determining a starter.

“It’s hard,” Lustig said. “So far I’ve mainly seen winter workouts and conditioning. At that position, certainly how big they are, how fast they are, how strong they are, isn’t as critical. ... But I love the competitive nature of the group, I love the depth. I feel very good about what I’ve seen on tape from previous years.”

Quick hitters

• Lustig will coach the Nittany Lions’ nickels and outside linebackers as well this season. He hasn’t coached a defensive position group since 2005, although he did coach the defense when he was the head coach at Edinboro in 2016.

• The new special teams coordinator will be recruiting northwest Pennsylvania, northeast Ohio and the New England area, among others.