Read some Penn State football extra tidbits from preseason camp in between Olympic events

Take a break from the Olympics to read some extra tidbits from Penn State’s preseason camp practice today.

My story on the QB battle (yes, still) and the receiving corps will be in tomorrow’s paper (and online, obvs), but here’s some stuff that didn’t fit.

As far as that other position battle, that of middle linebacker of course, coach James Franklin said both junior Jason Cabinda and redshirt senior Nyeem Wartman-White are still competing for the job. Franklin said there’s not a whole lot of difference between the two, except that Wartman-White has a renowned football IQ (apparently), and Cabinda did a good job coming in clutch last season at mike when Wartman-White endured his season-ending knee injury in the season opener.

“To be honest with you, it’s really a situation right now where we think we have two guys that could play mike linebacker and that we could win with,” Franklin said. “Really the way we do it, those two guys are primarily box linebackers anyway. Typically, you’re on a hash in college football. You’re in the boundary. That guy’s typically going to hug the box anyway. ... We really look at those two positions really similar, but we feel good about it. We feel like it’s interchangeable.”

Franklin also talked about the interior defensive line and said it’s still ongoing as to who those starters will be. He mentioned redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Antoine White as someone who has jumped out at him. He also talked about redshirt junior DT Parker Cothren as someone who has had many reps this offseason. And while the coaching staff has heaped a lot of praise on redshirt freshman DT Kevin Givens in the past months, Franklin said Givens still has a lot of room for growth.

Junior DT Tyrell Chavis, the junior college transfer who joined the team late just ahead of camp because of academic issues, is settling in well, Franklin said. But Chavis isn’t in the same shape as the rest of the team who have been working out all summer with the Penn State staff.

“Trying to get him caught up as quickly as we possible can,” Franklin said. “It’s a difference, but we have no choice but to get him ready.”

All right, that’s all I’ve got for you right now. Also, I started this new feature called my #YouveGotMailbag (lmao, do you get it?). So every week, email or tweet me your Penn State football and other questions, and I’ll answer them every Thursday.

Ok, go back to the Olympics now.