Spring football is back.
The Penn State football team has begun spring drills in preparation for the Blue-White Game, which will be held on April 24 at Beaver Stadium. In today’s edition of Morelli OnLion, we’ll have a few more spring questions and feature another member of the Class of 2010. First though, we’ll start with some wrestling news.
Pataky Fares Well at Nationals
Clearfield Area High School graduate Brad Pataky had a solid showing at the NCAA Championships, which were recently held in Omaha, Neb. He did post some nice victories, but finished one win short of All-America status.
Pataky, who entered the tournament unseeded, was the victim of some unfortunate draws. He upset the Nos. 9 and 8 seeds in his first two bouts to advance to the quarterfinals. In the quarters, he dropped a 15-0 technical fall to No. 1 seed, and eventual third-place finisher, Angel Escobedo of Indiana.
Then, in the consolation bracket, he met No. 2 seed and defending champion Troy Nickerson of Cornell. Pataky scored two takedowns on Nickerson, but was reversed to his back for a deciding five-point move in a 9-5 loss.
It was the second consecutive season that Pataky has fallen one win short of All-America status. He ended his season with a record of 28-10. He will carry a career mark of 74-29 into his senior season.
“I thought he wrestled well here. He took the defending national champ down (two) times. He just got reversed to his back, which was the decider in that match. He wrestled well. He’s got a lot to be proud of, too. He’s got a lot to build off of,” Sanderson said.
Spring Questions: Part II
As Nittany Nation readies for the Blue-White Game, we take a look at some pressing questions facing the Penn State football team.
Q: With the graduation of Mickey Shuler, Jr., and Andrew Quarless, who will step up at tight end?
A: Make no mistake about it, the losses of Shuler and Quarless leave a gaping hole at tight end. Last season, Quarless caught 41 balls for 536 yards and three touchdowns. Shuler hauled in 11 balls for 89 yards and two scores. We’re guessing the Nittany Lions will lean on Andrew Szczerba, who played in 11 games last season, but caught just one ball for 6 yards. After Szczerba, it’s anyone’s guess. Players to watch in the Blue-White Game include Mark Wedderburn and Garry Gilliam. New recruit Kevin Haplea could also make an impact at tight end. Stay tuned.
Q: What will the offensive line look like?
A: The offensive line will certainly have a different look with the graduation of Dennis Landolt and Ako Poti. However, center Stefen Wisniewski anchors the line and that’s a very good start. There are plenty of experienced bodies back in Lou Eliades, Doug Klopacz, Quinn Barham, Chima Okoli and De’Ontae Pannell. Some of the younger offensive linemen like Mike Farrell, Matt Stankiewitch, Mark Arcidiacono, Nate Cadogan and Frank Figueroa could also work their way into the starting lineup. With a young quarterback taking snaps behind Wiz, it’s important for the line to jell quickly.
Class of 2010: Alex Kenney
Penn State coach Joe Paterno always likes getting hometown kids to suit up in the Blue and White. Now, he has another hometown boy.
On July 14, 2009, State College Area High School’s Alex Kenney gave Penn State a verbal committment.
“At first, I kind of wanted to get out of town, but then I was thinking about it, and I got to know the coaching staff and the newer recruits,” Kenney said. “I felt like this was home.”
Kenney is a burner, evidenced by the fact that he holds the State College school record in nearly every sprint. He was clocked at 10.64 seconds in the 100-meter dash last spring and won a silver medal at the PIAA Class AAA Championships.
In December, Kenney led the Little Lions to the PIAA championship game. He ran for 1,165 yards on 152 carries and 20 TDs. He was also on the receiving end of 24 passes for 427 yards and three TDs. On the defensive side of the ball, he recorded 29 tackles and had 12 interceptions.
He was an all-state and all-conference selection, and was in the running for the Gatorade State Player of the Year award. He was recently selected to play in the Big 33 Classic this summer.
Chris Morelli is an award-winning writer/editor who lives in Centre County and covers Penn State athletics. He is also a regular on “Sports Central,” which airs on ESPN Radio in Altoona and State College. E-mail him at morellionlion@gmail.com.