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Nittany news and notes: A $25 million donation, James Franklin names captains, and more

In his second season as Penn State's starting quarterback, Drew Allar has been named a first-time team captain.

By Josh Yourish

Fireworks go off overhead prior to the game between the Minnesota Golden Gophers and the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium.
Fireworks go off overhead prior to the game between the Minnesota Golden Gophers and the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. / Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports
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Last Wednesday, Penn State announced that it had received a $25 million donation from the Misitano family and PAM Health to help pay for the Beaver Stadium renovations that were announced in the spring. 

The gift is reportedly the second-largest in Penn State Athletic’s history, yet it is somehow only about 3.6% of the estimated $700 million budget for the project. 

Drew Allar named a team captain

Penn State’s Week 1 matchup against West Virginia is fast approaching and with the end of fall camp, James Franklin decided to name the captains for the Nittany Lions this season. Of the six captains, two come from the offensive side, three come from the defensive unit, and one is a special teamer. 

The six captains are junior quarterback Drew Allar, redshirt senior offensive lineman Nick Dawkins, redshirt junior linebacker Dominic DeLuca, redshirt junior linebacker Kobe King, junior safety Kevin Winston Jr. and punter Riley Thompson.

DeLuca previously served as a captain in 2023. This is the first year for Allar, Dawkins, King, Winston, and Thompson as team captains. 

More: DaKaari Nelson makes a preseason position change

Redshirt freshman DaKaari Nelson has made a position change during fall camp, transitioning from safety to linebacker. At 6-foot-3 and 203 pounds, Nelson was a four-star safety recruit in the class of 2023 but played just three defensive snaps for the Nittany Lions last season. 

Now, at 217 pounds, Nelson is making the move to linebacker, a position where Penn State’s depth has been tested since Abdul Carter moved to the defensive line and Keon Wylie was lost for the season because of an injury during spring ball. 

Beyond Carter’s move and Wylie’s injury, Penn State also lost Kaveion Keys who was dismissed from the program.

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