Tuesday, January 12, 2010
As we prepare for the off-season and the dead period for college football, I thought it would be interesting to look into the crystal ball and see what the future might have in store for Penn State football. Here is what I have come up with...
1. Daryll Clark will start NFL games at QB. I think an NFL team will take a chance on Clark as a mid to late-round draft pick and work to develop some of his fundamental flaws. DC17 has definitely shown he has some of the desirable traits NFL scouts look for, i.e. size, vision, arm strength, mobility, ability to throw on the run, and most of all, leadership in the huddle. Give the NFL coaches a year or two to work out the kinks in his footwork and pocket presence and he could have a shot. If Dennis Dixon can play in the NFL, Daryll Clark can too.
PS…The PSU player in the 2010 NFL draft with the highest ceiling might be Andrew Quarless.
2. Gerald Hodges and Michael Mauti will be the next star LB duo at Penn State. Like I have said before, this is the one position at PSU that reloads rather than rebuilds so we know there are some stud LB’s waiting in the shadows. We have heard about how Mauti would have competed with Josh Hull for the MLB job this year had he not gotten injured in camp and Hodges is a big and quick physical presence with a lot of expectations and a high ceiling. Frankly, I don’t know why he didn’t see more action this season with the second unit or even with the first. You could presumably throw Khairi Fortt’s name into this mix too but I am hesitant to anoint any player with a label before he even steps foot onto a college campus (Plus, he doesn’t even have an initials/jersey number abbreviation yet!). Either way, the tradition and excellence at Linebacker U continues…
3. Curtis Drake will be the next Derrick Williams. CD7 might be one of the most versatile and athletic players we have seen in a while at Penn State. He’s not as strong as D-Will and I don’t know if he is quite as fast, but he definitely has the skills to be a big time player. We know he can play WR and in the slot. With Beachum out for 2010, Drake could be in the backfield. If Newsome doesn’t pan out, Drake could even play QB. Regardless, I think the coaches must find ways to get this kid the ball, much like they did with Williams. If they get him the ball in space, he can make things happen. With a dual-threat QB in Newsome, Drake will be an essential component of the Spread HD as we move forward. I think we can run an offense similar to Oregon’s or Georgia Tech’s with all of the athletes we will have in the backfield. I’m going out on a limb here, but…could Drake be the first player in PSU history to score a TD via five different avenues (Run, Catch, Throw, Punt Return and Kick Return)? He already has the toughest one in the bag!
4. Penn State will compete for a National Title in 2011. I am already considering 2010 a rebuilding year (9-4 at best), but come 2011, things begin to heat up. A senior-laden secondary and receiving corp, a rebuilt offensive line with 2-3 years of cohesive experience, re-loaded LB’s, Beachum leading the running attack with Stephfon Green playing his typical supporting role, and Curtis Drake simply being "The Man." The biggest question mark will be the development of the QB. Will Newsome be the guy or will one of the incoming 2010 recruits win the job and, furthermore, how will he develop in 2010 and into 2011? The fact of the matter is the talent is there, the schedule is favorable (Alabama, Ohio State, Iowa, and Wisconsin at home), Guido will be spitting out new pump-up videos, and Beaver Stadium will be filled with a brand new, filthy rich, excited fan base! Start getting psyched!
5. Joe Paterno will sign another contract extension. This idea is somewhat predicated on point #4. With Penn State back in the national picture in 2011 and Joe’s health at an adequate state, I can’t see him calling it quits nor being forced out by the admins after his previously signed contract extension expires. He says he feels good, he still enjoys what he is doing, and he’s about to ink possibly the best recruiting class of his career. I agree with Pete, his longevity has nothing to do with Bobby Bowden or the record. The man just loves being around football and young people. That being said, Joe stays for another 3-4 years and squashes all controversy over who is the winningest coach in college football history as he eclipses 420 wins, a record that WILL NOT be broken. The big question is…will Joe coach till he’s 90?
6. Pitt will continue to be Penn State’s little brother! No big surprise here but until Pitt consistently begins playing games in January, they take a back seat to The State University.
FOR THE FUTURE THAT WE WAIT...
