Improved depth gives Lions shot to unleash more role players

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Penn State's scout team worked on the far end of the field while freshman Sean Clifford gave them look after look.

The quarterback would grin after a successful play and defensive coordinator Brent Pry would scowl as the defense was instructed to "reload" and therefore line up again. Running the scout team is a thankless job and this week is especially challenging as highly-touted freshmen and others who hoped to land on the three deep had to adjust to their role on the team, one that can be difficult to accept.

"You got some of the guys who get it and that's their role and then you got other guys who are pretty disappointed and think they should be on varsity and that's fine as well," James Franklin said following Wednesday night's practice. "But we got to get those guy to embrace what their role is right now."