Episode Details

Penn State fans know their program inside and out. They know the players, the staff, and sometimes, even the Xs and Os. But where do the Nittany Lions sit in the national perspective? To answer that, the host of the Hard Count, J.D. PicKell joins Thomas Frank Carr on the BWI Daily Edition. The Hard Count is the flagship program of On3's national YouTube channel. If you're interested in checking out more from J.D. click here. 

T-Frank and J.D. start by getting PicKell's perspective on Penn State and explaining what the Nittany Lions' reputation is on a national level. Are they still seen as a borderline elite team after two unsuccessful seasons? Then, PicKell gives his expectations for the program this fall.

From there, they dive into his thoughts on quarterback Sean Clifford. Will he return to form and play like the winning quarterback he was in 2019? Or will he continue to underperform expectations? First, PicKell points to the offense and the running game to answer that question. Next, they discuss the running game in more detail and how that changes the picture for the quarterback before transitioning into a discussion about offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich. PicKell explains what he sees on film when he watches Yurcich's offense and how it helps the quarterback from a schematic point. 

Next, they discuss Manny Diaz and his defense. But first, PicKell discusses Diaz's motivations as a former head coach coming to Happy Valley after being fired at Miami. How will that motivate him? They discuss that and then which players stand out to PicKell on defense. He points to cornerback Joey Porter Jr. as a player who can get national attention if he plays up to his potential in 2022. 

Lastly, they discuss the Big Ten and Penn State's chief competition. T-Frank asks where the Nittany Lions sit in the pecking order and how Ohio State and Michigan compare to what they were last season. Then, PicKell gives his early favorites to make the college football playoff. 

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