Reaction: Penn State's Jameial Lyons & Kaveion Keys are suspended, takeaways from training camp

Intro with Jamal lions and kbon keys both serving in interim suspension it brings more questions and concerns about the depth charts at defens of end and linebacker you are locked on nitty Lions your daily podcast on the Penn State nitty Lions part of the locked on podcast Network your team every day Lyons Keys suspended Kavon keys and Jamal lions are serving an interim suspension is Nick Dawkins is not a locked to be the starting center and just some other news and notes from the first day of Penn State training camp this is locked on nitty Lions I'm your host Zach Seiko and thanks so much for making us your first listen and watch every single day we are free and available wherever you get your podcasts including YouTube and today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel make every moment more as the playoffs wind down the Sports Stop sportsing like we all want them to but this summer FanDuel is hooking up all of its customers with a boost or a bonus daily that's right there's something for everyone each and every day all summer long visit fel.com to get started and we will begin with keys and lions as they are not with the team they are suspended and more Intel is beginning to be released about the situation and initially it was tough to gauge okay what's going on here Penn State spokesperson just kind of Ambiguously says that hey they're not with the team they're on an interim suspension and we don't have a comment further than that but any and all suspensions are going to be serious just because of regardless who involves but what had happened to where Penn State and the coaching staff felt it was necessary to take this kind of action I'm not here to discuss any rumors or make any judgments about the situation especially given that we just don't have any information media days on Saturday James Franklin and Company will be asked about it further so we will get more information but there is from what other information has been discussed by on three 247 Rivals that there is an ongoing investigation to figure out this situation between lions and keys they are not with the team presently they are away from the team and it could be something that is serious don't know what's going to happen don't know when these players will be back but that this is something that is an ongoing situation and it's not going to be resolved immediately and I'm just hoping for the best out of the situation I hope that there is a resolution I hope that the appropriate actions are taken for whatever the case may be from a football standpoint though as I pivot from a football standpoint this is a big deal as well because Penn State doesn't exactly have the same kind of depth that it did at defensive end and linebacker as it normally would like too and the impact that J lions and Kon keys were supposed to have Kon keys and lions have received rave reviews I I've said that before and I'll say it again we've heard it in interviews that have been posted on this channel from coaches from fellow teammates that say that Lions was ready to have a breakout Kavon Keys is someone that is going to be a household name for for the future and that's just put into doubt with a situation like this and I know that again the situation is separate and you need a resolution there but I'm talking specifically now about the absence of keys and lions if this was obviously a situation away from football but what if this was an injury case this is how I would speak about them if they were had happen to be injured and not being able to practice keys and lions were expected to make an impact they were crucial pieces to this depth chart both at linebacker and defensive end Lions was expected to be from what I gathered that third defensive end be that rotational player between Abdul Carter and deny Dennis Sutton and then Kon Keys was supposed to be just a backup linebacker would see what kind of role that would be because there's only two linebacker spots in a 4-25 defense so he would be backing up either Kobe king would he emerge as that backup to Kobe king would he rotate in behind ad deuca Tony Roos right how far down the depth chart would he be in that instance now we don't know what's going to happen with that impact because of these off the- field issues that have to be taken care of and whatever the case is Penn State took the action that it did for a reason and we are hoping for a best case resolution regardless so what does the depth chart look like moving forward at linebacker and defensive end if keys and lines aren't available for an extended period of time again we are still waiting for the information the Intel to figure out just what is going to happen with their their availability but let's say they are unavailable for week one against West Virginia what what would this look like I want to begin with linebacker because that was one of my concerns in the off season going into training camp linebacker just has a lot of unproven talent Keon Wy dealing with an extended injury you now have Kon keys in this suspension Dom delca is back Tony roas has a lot of potential Kobe King's your anchor there's been you know a lot of criticism again around Tyler ellon in his play from a season ago so you really needed somebody to step up and the more people that you have available to do that I think Tony Roos and Kon keys in terms of potential had a lot to prove this season like this was their opportunity to break out because a Curtis Jacobs ends up moving on they're running a 425 most likely with the two linebackers set because of what you have at linebacker as far as unproven players and what you have at safety and proven Talent right KJ Winston should be a first round pick in next year's NFL Draft Jaylen Reed I think is going to be a draftable player and could play his way into a higher selection and then Zach he Wheatley as we've heard from James Franklin that the light bulb has turned on that he's figured out and he is going to be a full-time starting safety so now you can run more safeties on defense and Penn State has said they will use the talent that they have at their disposal so it doesn't matter that's a 43 a 34 425 whatever that's going to look like based on the available players that you have and since linebacker was already in question you have the situation with Kon Keys it makes a little more sense and then at defensive end don't forget about Abdul Carter he's going to rotate back and forth between defensive end and linebacker again Penn State likes to take its defense and mold it to the talents of the available players J allons was supposed to be a significant contributor and I think more so than kbon keys if either those guys aren't available now over at defensive end zah Fischer kind of like Keon Wy is expected to be back but is dealing with that injury and has to go through a recovery process you have Carter and deny Dennis Sutton as your defensive ends that next one up was supposed to be Lions but this is an opportunity for Smith vilbert to have a you know comeback career and make an impact since that three sack performance against Arkansa you also have Zariah Fischer again returning from injury and then there's me and vanover as well so van over's been in the program for a long time he's I would say more of a a run stuffer a run stoer than a pass rusher but they wouldn't have him at at defensive end if he wasn't able to get after the quarterback I'm just saying what he's better at from what we've seen on the football field so that's going to be the defensive line room moving for the defensive end room anyway moving forward again we'll wait for more information and we'll talk about it as it happens but at this very moment l and keys are serving an interim suspension for a personal matter that is still going through an ongoing investigation now still to come more takeaways from the first day of training camp Nick Dawkins is supposed to be starting its Center but is there an open competition for that spot we'll discuss that more coming up next year in lockon nney Lions Today's Show is brought to you by eBay Motors eBay Motors passion drive and patience formula for winning championships is also what keeps your number one ride or die alive eBay Motors has everything you need to maintain your vehicle and level it up to its Peak Performance from superchargers to roof racks exhaust kits LED headlights and more whether you are into speed power or style eBay Motors has got you covered and with over 122 million parts for your number one ride or die you'll always find exactly what you're looking for and with eBay guaranteed fit your part is guaranteed to fit your ride every time or you get your money back because with eBay Motors you're burning rubber and not cash with all the parts you need at the prices you want it's easy to make your car into that mvp and bring home huge wins so keep your ride or die alive at ebaymotors.com that is ebaymotors.com eligible items only exclusions apply eBay guaranteed fit is only available to us customers Nick Dawkins a red shirt Nick Dawkins senior is supposed to be the starting center for this group seeing a lot of rotational play playing time when he was available he's battled injuries throughout his Penn State Career but I like him to be the starting center for this group I like his personality I like his leadership style he's uh you want your Center to be vocal and it's not that anybody else that would step in and be a center isn't for Penn State but for this season's team I think Nick dokins gives you exactly what you need from a talent standpoint and a personality standpoint to be the starting C but that doesn't mean that Penn State isn't going to create some insurance so there there's always been the the rumors the discussions that oh the center spot isn't safe I think it is I mean Nick Dawkins has always been that backup center it would make sense for him to take over with Hunter NORAD moving on now I mean this he's been with the program long enough he knows what he's doing so I think Penn State is essentially creating an insurance plan here and why I say that because a training camp there we've seen we've talked about and coaches have talked about how s Wormley has taken snaps at Center well yesterday at practice uh VGA vanga Yuan was taking reps snapping the ball to Drew Aller Bo Pula and Cooper cousins in the spring was also taking reps at Center snapping the football behind Nick Dawkins so there there's a common theme here you need players being comfortable snapping the ball making the reads and the adjustments that a center needs to do Nick Dawkins as much as I would like to sit here and guarantee that he's going to play 12 plus games in a regular season he has had that trouble in the past staying on the football field and has battled injuries I'm not saying that's going to happen this time but you never know he might have to take a playoff he might have to there's a chance that he would be unavailable because it's the game of football so I think Penn State is doing the right thing by just having any of its interior offensive lineman sou Wormley Vana Yuan Cooper cousins the true freshman any of those guys need to prove their versatility and be available at any M moment's notice because you don't want to just have Nick Dawkins and the no backup plan you need those guys to be able to rotate in at anytime and that's good if you can have a starter so I expect vuan to be a starting guard I if he needs to move over to Center then there's that comfort and you still have that starter caliber player in the middle of the offensive line so I think that's what the real competition is the real competition isn't that Nick Dawkins Center job is at risk I think the competition is who's going to be the person that moves over if Nick Dawkins were to be unavailable I still want to keep an eye on both of those tackle spots this was something that I pointed out in the initial training camp battle preview I am not sold now Drew Shelton was taking reps at left tackle when we got to see the first training camp there for Penn State but I don't know that his job is safe either Javin Williams is a former five-star tackle but I think this battle is between Shelton and JB Nelson JB Nelson was taking reps at guard but James Franklin has talked about the versatility of Nelson and that he can play tackle Drew Shelton hasn't proven himself as that true left tackle yet they moved him over to right tackle to back up Kaden Wallace right I know that he came in as a true freshman when only fashion who was hurt and was out for the remainder of the Season that he did an acceptable job for a true freshman he did an admirable job for a true fresh but I don't have enough confidence to say that okay Drew Shelton is the left tackle of the future prove it prove that you are and then I will change my stance but I think there is quietly a competition between a JB Nelson and a Drew Shelton and then a Nolan Ruchi or an Anthony danco again I don't think it's about who's going to be on the left side and who's going to be on the right side it's going to be who are the two best available tackle players and we're going to put them there and as far as Javin Williams goes I've mentioned his name in passing about okay he's he's a left tackle he's a former five star but I am concerned with his development if you watch the spring game closely he did not have a good performance and that's what I am basing this commentary solely off of because we don't have a lot of other tapes since he isn't actively playing in games but you're going up against comparable Talent again a guy that you see at practice week in and week out and J Lions I know he's serving the suspension but in regard to the spring game had a really good performance against Javin Williams and Javin Williams just made egregious mistakes in that game looked off balance looked confused Lions was able to use basic pass rush moves didn't really handle the blitz very well so people might say in the comments hey don't sleep on Javin Williams and I don't have any intention to because I don't think he's I don't think he's the next man up at left tackle at the moment I think you're looking at Drew Shelton Anthony Dono Nolan Ruchi and JB Nelson as your four best tackles available there's also Alex burm we'll see how he continues to develop and don't forget that coer cousins has the versatility to move outside to tackle as well so it's not going to be well Javin Williams is a left tackle okay that's fine and well but who are the best available players to move outside of JB Nelson even though he is actually a guard first if he's better as a left tackle than the next man up on that dep on that part of the depth chart then so be it they are going to play who is best available in that case so the offensive line is is a project moving forward kind of just like linebacker you have a lot of question marks this is my biggest concern the only one that I think the only two spots that I think are surely up that are sure fire are center with Nick Dawkins and at guard with s wormly because I don't know what their plan is at guard and Tackle based on who's available so keep an eye on that competition moving forward as they approach West Virginia and how about some other observations from c training camp the first day of practice Andy C Nikki is everything that Penn State could have asked for in an offensive coordinator Max Granville is officially with the team and suited up for a in full pads for his first practice as well some other observations we'll talk about those on the other side of this break FanDuel today's episode is also brought to you by FanDuel I love sports and I love them so much that I never want them to stop but as the playoffs wind down we get fewer games and the sports aren't exactly sportsing like I want them to but FanDuel lets me keep the sports going whenever I want them to 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home run with Andy codal Nikki and as we finish up this edition of locked on nney lions he is vocal I like his energy I like his spirits the way that he's just he he communicat hates he gets everybody involved he he criticizes and says things to you know where where necessary but I just like the vibe seriously that's what I'm going off of here I'm going off of The Vibes of Andy cotal Nikki but cotal Nikki is is he makes practice fun he makes practice enjoyable again involves everyone and briefly what we saw okay Mike uch didn't exactly do that I'm not saying that and Mike Mike such is gone there but you can tell there's an absolute difference in terms of the exchange of energy between the coaching staff and the players and just the how practice is conducted I just like the way that Andy cotal Nikki operates I think he enjoys being there I think he likes what he does a lot and he and he said that he just he's a student and now a teacher of the game so he enjoys his job quite a bit cotal Nikki just from that alone I think just makes him because players will want to gravitate to that players will respond to that accordingly if you have this offsetting energy and this isn't specific to Mike yuch either if you just have an offsetting energy you don't really again you're not being communicative with the players that are around you you're going to have a difficult time resonating with them and I think that Andy codal Nikki from a short period of time even though they haven't played a game yet is already getting that kind of response back where the player resonate with him and they respond to him in a positive way and it builds a form of trust and it's going to want it's going to create a desire to go into battle go into these football games and do what you can at the direction of James Franklin's the same way he's a high energy guy Andy cotal Nikki is a high energy Guy Tom Allen's also a high energy guy but seeing it because you just gravitate to the quarterbacks the wide receivers and running backs when you walk into practice they're all broken up into their position groups it is easy it's easy to find Andy cotal Nikki because he is one of the loudest on the football field and in a good way it's it's not he's not yelling at anybody he's just very vocal he's very loud he's communicating constantly you can hear his voice the second you walk onto the practice field already address just some Offensive line thoughts about the offensive line again I think there is going to be a competition for that second wide receiver I'm not just chalking it up to Julian Fleming I don't know that he's a guaranteed spot starter I know why you brought him in but I think Amari Evans is going to have something to say about that second starting wide receiver spot and you need you just need anybody and everybody to step up at wide receiver if you rotate them so what maybe there's not maybe Fleming starts one week and Evans starts the other week but I don't want people to think that there's this pecking order that oh Fleming's going to get 90% of snaps and Evans will rotate in periodically no you might see a 50/50 time share Fleming just might happen to be in the first formation and Evans will be in the second one that's just how it's going to be I think the same case for the slot wide receiver spot between Kaden Saunders and Liam Clifford which is a good thing the fact that you have multiple receivers that can go out and you're confident in their playmaking ability at any time is a good thing but you can't have six seven wide receivers all in the field at the same time same goes for running back number three I've already addressed this in a training camp preview Quint Martin and cam Wallace keep an eye on that battle I think Quinton Martin can quietly overtake cam Wallace but cam Wallace has done so well since he's been on campus in Happy Valley and I I would I think he can start and be that backup behind Singleton and Allen but that's going to be an ongoing thing where Martin I think progressively will close the gap and Penn State's going to have to consider if they want to burn his red shirt or not and give him those four games Max Max Granville Granville was there true freshman that is in rolling early he's definitely a red shirt candidate I don't see him playing more than three I think the maximum game that he can appear in are four unless that's changed again the NCAA continues to change its rules and everything scholarship counts so we'll see but I know from what I remember is that it is four games could Granville appear on special teams late in the game maybe play some defense to get them some in-game action action absolutely but this is with the intention of hey we want you to get here develop train as quickly as you can so that you're ready to make a true impact in the 2025 season at least be a part of the rotation I view him as a starter a future starter they had anybody LaVar Arrington II Jaden Woods committed Cortez Harris right they had all these available players to say hey can you enroll early and be at Penn State now instead of signing and being in the class of 2025 and they chose Max Granville to do that he was there in full pads and taking in a full practice and I just want to point Tyler Elling out Tyler ellon is that guy Tyler Ellen I hope to see that he's improved and more of a playmaker in in 2024 again criticized him a bit on this show back in 2023 but ellon took off his helmet and revealed a pretty cool pretty nifty haircut I should say had the top the mimicked the helmet Stripe from the Penn State uniform and and dyed the the middle part of his hair blue to mimic that stripe on the helmet so Tyler ellon is that guy and hopes to be a gamer this season based on just the the attitude that you can get from somebody that nobody else had done that just Tyler ell and he's a veteran so hopefully he's setting the tone early for this season so that's one training camp practice media day is this weekend where we actually get to talk to the players and coaches a little more in an interview style and then there's going to be practices for the following week and then the next week and the next week leading up to West Virginia for all that information reaction an Anis and so much more it's all going to be right here on locked on nney line so if you're not already be coming everyday or subscribe to the show on YouTube and wherever you get your podcast leave a like on this episode and let me know down in the comments your first takeaways from this training camp and we'll have more to come here on locked on nitty lions and again thanks for making lockon nitty Lions your first listen and watch every single day for your second listen you got to check out lockon college football Spencer mlin get is getting you ready for an exciting season of college football I've been a guest on that show multiple times now but if you want more discussions on all of college football outside of just the Penn State nitty Lions check out his show he talking about the changing landscape of College athletics n transfer portal the new expanded college football playoff and so much more again that is locked on college football hosted by Spencer mlin now available on YouTube and wherever you get your podcast part of the lock on podcast Network your team each and every day okay