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Penn State Football: 5 things to look for in August

By Alec Whitaker

STATE COLLEGE, PA - SEPTEMBER 25: Head coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions in action before the game against the Villanova Wildcats at Beaver Stadium on September 25, 2021 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA - SEPTEMBER 25: Head coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions in action before the game against the Villanova Wildcats at Beaver Stadium on September 25, 2021 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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Dowling Catholic Quarterback Jaxon Smolik throws a pass during the Class 5A state football quarterfinal on Friday, Nov. 5, 2021, at Southeast Polk Stadium in Pleasant Hill.1105 Dowling Sep 007 Jpg
Dowling Catholic Quarterback Jaxon Smolik throws a pass during the Class 5A state football quarterfinal on Friday, Nov. 5, 2021, at Southeast Polk Stadium in Pleasant Hill.1105 Dowling Sep 007 Jpg /

2. Finding a quarterback for the 2023 class

Penn State football is working to replace Marcus Stokes, who flipped from Penn State to Florida back in July.

The Nittany Lions were put in a bad spot as they assumed Stokes was their guy and they stopped recruiting other quarterbacks. That led to the other nine quarterbacks Penn State offered committing to other schools.

A new name has thankfully emerged.

Tulane commit Jaxon Smolik was up for a camp at Penn State this past weekend. This was the first time that quarterbacks coach Mike Yurcich saw the 3-star in person and hopefully he liked what he saw.

Smolik turned a lot of heads after he was named to the Elite 11 finals after a strong performance at the camp. National interest in him is starting to pick up, so it’s important for Penn State to try to lock him up quickly (if they like what they saw).

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