Penn State Media Day is held annually on the first day of summer practice.

It’s a time when some important questions get answered as every football team throughout the country has uncertainties coming into the start of the new season - and Penn State is no different.

Over the weekend, head coach James Franklin and his staff were able to lend some insight into where the Nitrany Lions currently stand.

After an impressive stint from 2016-2019 where the Nittany Lions compiled a 42-11 record, the last two seasons have been unimpressive in Happy Valley. Penn State is just 11-11 over that span.

There have been numerous reason for Penn State’s struggles the past two seasons, but the biggest issue has been it’s problems in the running game.

The Nittany Lions averaged 107.8 yards per game on the ground last season, which put them at the bottom of the Big Ten in rushing and near the bottom in all of Division 1 FBS.

The days of Saquon Barkley and Miles Sanders breaking off explosive runs seem like a distant memory, and it’s something that could continue to be a detriment to the Lions’ record if they don’t make some immense strides in that department in 2022.

Highly-touted recruit Nicholas Singleton out of Governor Mifflin High School near Reading figures to help the rushing game, and reports out of spring ball and preseason camp is that he looks the part.

“Obviously, based on, again, production between the O-line and the running backs, the running game in general will probably be another question mark,” said Franklin. “But we have different people in that room. We’ve got some guys returning, and some new faces in that room that’s created really good competition and depth.

“I think the biggest thing is potential for big plays in the running game. That’s going to be really important for us. Your numbers are always going to be impacted if you don’t have any of those long runs to affect not only field position, but also averages.”

The run game is impacted by offensive line play - an area which has certainly been inconsistent during the Franklin era. Penn State returns some talented starters from a season ago, but it will be their physicality and road-grading mentality that needs to drastically improve this season.

“On offense, one of our question marks for a couple of years has been the offensive line,” said Franklin. “So, again, I’m not going to sit here and pound the table about “this is the year,” because that hasn’t necessarily played out in a way the last couple of years.

“I’m going to take a more measured approach there and let them and let us prove that to you along the offensive line.”

The other big question mark entering the 2022 season for the Nittany Lions seems to be the middle linebacker position, which is known historically to be a very productive position for Penn State. That looks like a battle between local product Tyler Elsdon out of North Schuylkill High School, and redshirt freshman Kobe King. After the very productive Ellis Brooks moved onto the NFL after last season, it will be an interesting camp battle to watch between Elsdon and King to see who gets the start in Week 1 at Purdue.

“When you talk about defense, I would say it’s at middle linebacker and maybe linebacker in general, but specifically middle linebacker,” Franklin said when asked about the biggest questions on the defense. “But I do think right now, Elsdon and King have done a really nice job there.

“I think that’s a legitimate competition. I think we feel good about how those guys are operating the defense right now.”

Stay tuned to the Times News in upcoming weeks for more Penn State football content, including a depth chart breakdown, as well as a game-by-game prediction on how the season will play out.