Penn State Football Shows Out for Weight Max Out
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - A weight room under construction in the Lasch Building did not halt Penn State Football’s training regimen on the cusp of spring practices.
Holuba Hall’s far side transformed into a makeshift weight room on Thursday afternoon with numerous squat racks positioned strategically beside stadium speakers.
Newly-appointed Assistant Athletic Director of Performance Enhancement Chuck Losey oversaw the “max-out” lifting operation.
“I get consumed with thinking about what they’re doing,” Losey said, referring to his athletes over resounding cheers just a few feet away.
Losey’s promotion took the place of Dwight Galt III, who retired after working with Head Coach James Franklin during his eight seasons with the Nittany Lions. After previously coaching alongside Galt and Franklin at Vanderbilt University for three seasons, Losey reunited with the pair at Penn State in January 2014.
Losey’s established relationship with the program allowed him the opportunity to jump in immediately with winter training. Two notable signees seen together during the session were freshman quarterbacks, Drew Allar and Beau Pribula.
Five-star and three-star prospects respectively, Allar and Pribula arrived on campus for the spring semester and began training immediately. Losey noticed nuances in each quarterback’s strength and training progress.
“Drew has got a quiet confidence about himself so far. Really happy with both of them,” Losey said, “He’s not quite as advanced from a training standpoint as Beau Pribula is, but he’s getting there.”
Allar and Pribula shared a squat rack with redshirt freshman Christian Veilleux and redshirt super senior Sean Clifford. Clifford did not max out during practice.
Also in attendance benching for the freshman class were five-star running back Nicholas Singleton and four-star defensive lineman Zane Durant. Singleton’s commitment to Penn State over offers from Alabama, Notre Dame, Wisconsin and Texas A&M buzzed around college football circles.
Singleton’s track and field background warrants hope of improvements to Penn State’s running game. Losey expressed his satisfaction with where Singleton and Durant stand in training.
Losey addressed the return of defensive end Adisa Isaac and defensive tackle Hakeem Beamon, who both missed playing time in the 2021 season. Beamon, who amassed 7 total tackles in the 2020 season, has been making steady progress in his return.
“He’s exactly where he left off from a physical standpoint,” Losey said. “He’s always been a really good strength and power…dynamic athlete for us.”
Losey said that while Isaac missed the 2021 season due to injury, he continues to make strides in his return.
Super senior defensive tackle PJ Mustipher suffered from an injury that shortened his 2021 season. Losey emphasized Mustipher’s leadership and presence within the program.
“Regardless if he’s on a modified plan or if he’s doing the same thing as everybody else, he’s got a voice that carries,” Losey said about the second-team All-Big Ten honoree, “When PJ speaks, everybody listens.”
Penn State’s transfer strategy brought in super senior Mitchell Tinsley to the wide receiver room. A grad transfer from Western Kentucky University, Tinsley recorded a career of 1779 total yards, 18 touchdowns and a season-high 75-yard reception with the Hilltoppers.
“He’s shown really good leadership, really good maturity. Really what you would expect from a grad transfer,” Losey said about Tinsley, who ranks No. 9 in NCAA wide receiver receiving yards.
The “max-out” work did not stop at the final practice whistle for Losey. Analyzing the stats and personal record sheets lies ahead for the former defensive end at Vanderbilt.
“I’ll look through it,” Losey said, “My next few days will be just numbers and data-driven.”
Emma Holtz is a second-year majoring in public relations. To contact her, email exh5337@psu.edu
