On this episode of Podward State, host Samuel Brungo is joined by associate producer and Onward State editor Will Pegler to chat with former Penn State and UMass tight end Adam Breneman.

Breneman starts off the show by talking about his recruiting process. As a four-star prospect and the second-highest ranked tight end in his class, he was highly touted and sought after by top programs such as Notre Dame and Alabama. Bu after receiving an offer from Joe Paterno’s staff, Breneman knew he wanted to play for his hometown team.

Amid the wake of the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal, Breneman talks about the wild turn of events that occurred during his recruiting process, leading him to commit to Bill O’Brien. He chats about why he chose to stay and be a part of the program despite the sanctions and what it means for him to be a part of that special group of players who stayed.

Breneman then dives into his college career, noting the ups and downs. He talks about his breakout freshman year, his injury issues, the coaching change, all leading up to his retirement and transfer to UMass years later. Breneman tells us some great stories about his teammates, specifically about his good friend and roommate, Mike Gesicki, and his wild eating habits.

After his second and final retirement from football following two All-American seasons at UMass, Breneman took a shot in the media. He discusses what that experience was like, hosting his own podcast and some of the guests that he had on that show.

Finally, Breneman talks about the journey that led him to Arizona State University, making him the youngest position coach in the country. He talks about what it is like to coach alongside some popular football minds in former NFL head coaches Herm Edwards and Marvin Lewis, as well as former Pro Bowl linebacker and Super Bowl Champion Antonio Pierce.

Podward State is an Onward State-produced podcast that will release weekly episodes this spring on Spotify and YouTube. Each will feature discussions about all things Penn State, including sports, news, student life, and entertainment, and more.

You can catch this week’s episode using the YouTube or Spotify links below.