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What Penn State head coach James Franklin is saying ahead of Week 1

Franklin talked about the team's freshmen, a speedy wide receiver who scares defensive coaches, and that there's nothing like a "clean" locker room.

James Franklin says this year's locker room is kept spotless by the players.
James Franklin says this year's locker room is kept spotless by the players.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer

Here are some highlights from Penn State football coach James Franklin's weekly Tuesday teleconference:

On a freshman starting out in college:

"People forget they're 18 years old. Some of them are very mature. Some of them are very immature. Some of them are silly. Some of them have put a major emphasis on academics early in their career because that's the family they came from. Some of them have a wakeup call and understand how important their education is after they get here and show up for a little bit of time. There's a journey. That's kind of our entire freshman class."

>> READ MORE: No surprises on Penn State's first depth chart of season

On wide receiver/returner K.J. Hamler:

"When you talk to our defensive coaches about guys that scare them when they got the ball in their hands, K.J. is one of the guys at the top of the list. He's an explosive player and he's also been a really good leader. What I mean by that is maybe not the leader that you think of when I say that, but a guy that brings enthusiasm and energy to meetings and the locker room, similar to the way Marcus (Allen) did for four years for us."

On a "clean" locker room:

"It probably doesn't sound like a big deal, but our locker room is as clean as it's ever been. A few years ago, we bought our leadership council and the coaches the book Legacy, one of my all-time favorite books. In that book they talk about leaders sweeping the sheds, basically cleaning the locker room out, and that no role is too big or too small for anyone, whether it's the head coach or the captain or whoever it is, to pick up something that's on the floor."

>> READ MORE: Manny Bowen off the team again — for good

On passing up a long field goal with a young kicker:

"We manage these young kickers and put them in advantageous situations early in the season so that we can continue to build their confidence and they have a chance to be successful. So you'll probably see us maybe punt or go for it on fourth down early in the season on some field goals that, late in the season, we're hoping to be able to go kick and go kick consistently."

On possibly playing true freshman tight end Pat Freiermuth:

"Those guys have a hard time playing young in their careers, kind of like how we saw Mike Gesicki go through growing pains early on. We are at a different point as a program now. I do think Freiermuth can factor in partly because of how talented he is and how poised he's been, but also that he's 258-260 pounds, and I think that helps the physical aspect of his game."