Newcomer impresses in Penn State spring drills
Guard Mike Miranda will be a freshman in the fall. He has ramped up the competition on the line.
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - It's hard to know what to expect from a player who's supposed to still be in high school.
That's one reason coach James Franklin has been impressed by guard Mike Miranda, a 6-foot-3, 295-pounder from Stow, Ohio.
Quarterback Trace McSorley said Miranda is getting a lot of repetitions for a player who has been with the team for only about three months.
"He's doing a great job going against second and third team - sometimes he'll get thrown in with first-team guys to give some of the older guys a break," McSorley said.
Franklin said Miranda is taking advantage of being at Penn State a semester early and is making spring practice that much more competitive.
"I think that's been the best part," McSorley said, "seeing the depth at the offensive line really making strides as well as our first-team guys continue to get better and better."
The quarterbacks
For McSorley and backup quarterback Tommy Stevens, spring practice is different from last year as the two aren't battling for the starting position.
Franklin has seen progress in both, noting that Stevens has gained at least 30 pounds since last year.
On the other hand, sophomore Jake Zembiec hasn't quite developed the way the other two have.
"We've got to figure that out," Franklin said. "We have to navigate what he needs to get a little bit more growth in his body because that is going to help his arm strength. Everybody focuses on just the arm, but if you look at it, a lot of times it's their throwing platform."
Position battle
Sophomore Blake Gillikin and redshirt junior Billy Fessler are fighting for the job as holder on field goals and extra points.
"I think we all know that our kicker [Tyler Davis] can knock the ball through the uprights," Franklin said, "but I think people underappreciate the importance and the consistency of the snapper and the holder."