Nittany news and notes: Former Nittany Lion threatens the football program and more

Robert Windsor, a Penn State defensive lineman from 2016-19, who finished his four-year collegiate career with 14.0 sacks and 121 total tackles, is threatening to reveal the “dark side of college football” in a video posted to X last Tuesday. 

In the video, Windsor references the lawsuit that was settled earlier this offseason regarding a former Penn State doctor and the football program. 

In his video, Windsor said, “I cannot tell you how many teammates I have had reach out to me and tell me how happy they are for what I did. So, once college football kicks off, get ready for me to launch my story on Penn State.” 

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Penn State fans and even some of Windsor’s former teammates jumped to the defense of the program and James Franklin. Former Penn State linebacker Jason Cabinda was perhaps the most outspoken of the bunch. 

After Cabinda went after Windsor, his former teammate, he praised the program, arguing that the problems Windsor experienced weren’t Penn State problems, but football problems. 

Windsor is planning to release multiple videos to “expose” the Penn State football program but is waiting for the start of football season for more attention because, really, it seems like that’s all he wants. 

Freshmen standouts at Penn State fall camp

Fall camp is the best chance to rise up the depth chart and two freshmen are currently making their case for some significant playing time in their first season of college football. While it’s no surprise that Cooper Cousins, the five-star interior offensive lineman from Erie, PA has been a standout in camp, there aren’t many three-star freshmen who caught the eye of the coaching staff quite like Tyseer Denmark has. 

Denmark, from Imhotep Charter in Philadelphia, didn’t enroll at Penn State until June, unlike most of the 2024 recruiting class that arrived in January, but since he’s shown up in Happy Valley, he’s impressed.

Franklin has told reporters that Denmark has, “flashed,” elaborating, “It’s route running, it’s being competitive, it’s his confidence with his hands and catching the ball, it’s his ability to retain information.” 

With the departures of KeAndre Lambert-Smith and Dante Cephas, the Penn State wide receiver room is largely unproven, so there is an opportunity for Denmark to become a regular contributor for Drew Allar and new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki. 

Cousins on the other hand, though he has rare five-position versatility on the offensive line, could struggle to crack the starting unit at any point this season. Drew Shelton is likely the starting left tackle with Nolan Rucci and Anthony Donkoh battling for the right tackle spot. Then on the interior, Nick Dawkins is projected to replace Hunter Nourzad at center with Vega Ioane and Sal Wormley flanking him at the guard spots. There is simply too much experience for the youngster to begin the season as a starter, but he could be the primary backup at almost every interior position. 

More: James Franklin flips elite 2025 in-state linebacker

Penn State was struggling to recruit in-state players in the 2025 class, but lately, that’s turned around some. Penn State is still after the No. 2 player in PA, Ohio State commit Zahir Mathis, and on Thursday, the Nittany Lions were able to flip four-star linebacker and the No. 9 player in the state, Cameron Smith.

Smith was committed to Duke, his allegiances following former Penn State defensive coordinator Manny Diaz to his new head coaching job down in the ACC, but Franklin was able to pry Smith back to Penn State, which brings a much-needed boost to the 2025 recruiting class that is currently No. 15 in the country.