Perhaps Jim Knowles was saving one of Penn State’s best for late August. Knowles, the Nittany Lions’ defensive coordinator, has dished out Defender of the Day honors on social media to a number of intriguing players in the preseason.

The Senior Bowl announced its inaugural Top 300 List of the leading draft-eligible prospects in college football. Formerly, the Senior Bowl released a preseason list of 850 players but this year was more selective to "truly spotlight the top-tier talent across the country,” Senior Bowl Executive Director Drew Fabianich said in a news release.

Penn State is considered Linebacker U for its long history of outstanding linebackers. With Jack Ham in the late 1960s, Shane Conlan in the late 1980s, LaVar Arrington and Paul Posluzny in the early 2000s, and Micah Parsons just a few years ago. The Nittany Lions have always produced great linebackers.

The Nittany Lions opened practice for an extended portion Tuesday, offering a look at some competitive periods.

STATE COLLEGE – Penn State has yet to name a No. 2 quarterback with less than two weeks before the season opener against Nevada. Nittany Lions coach James Franklin said Tuesday night after practice that he’s close to deciding whether redshirt freshman Ethan Grunkemeyer or redshirt sophomore Jaxon Smolik will be the primary backup behind Drew Allar.

Penn State’s cornerback room might be the best overall unit on the team. Cornerbacks coach Terry Smith thinks it’s the best group he has had in 12 years. And Pro Football Focus ranks the Nittany Lions’ secondary 10th in college football, largely because of the cornerbacks.

Drew Allar is the established starter, and the backup competition is between Jaxon Smolik and Ethan Grunkemeyer.

The allure of unfinished business outweighed professional prospects for rocket-armed quarterback Drew Allar after Penn State’s down-to-the-wire loss to Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff semif

Penn State's preseason of endless potential continues with a pick for the Nittany Lions in the College Football Playoff title game.

Let’s talk about the west side.” With that, Penn State athletic director Pat Kraft on Tuesday discussed at length what has transpired at Beaver Stadium since early January. James Franklin’s Nittany Lions open their season Aug.

Kraft said the west-side temporary seating was installed by InProduction, which is the largest provider of temporary seating and structure in the United States. Its clients include the PGA Tour, Formula One, Women’s Tennis Association, NASCAR and the Kentucky Derby.

Nevada3:30 p.m., CBS Sept. 6 – Florida International Noon, BTN Sept. 13 – Villanova 3:30 p.m., FS1 There isn’t much to differentiate between the first three games of the season. All three will feature mostly unfamiliar non-conference foes that Penn State should have put away by halftime.