The Blue-White Game is almost here, folks. Penn State football announced its rosters and format for the 2023 Blue-White Game on Friday.

Several players will be competing for both teams. All three quarterbacks — Drew Allar, Beau Pribula, and Jaxon Smolik — will don both jerseys. Offensive lineman Jimmy Christ and running back Tank Smith will do the same.

Penn State’s roster seems to be divided into groups of starters vs. reserves. Outside of the players on both teams, most of the Nittany Lions’ presumed starters will be wearing blue uniforms on Saturday.

Blue Team

Penn State’s Blue Team is highlighted by a number of star players.

Running backs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen make up most of the group’s backfield, while Smith switches between teams. The team will also feature wide receivers KeAndre Lambert-Smith and Trey Wallace, the only receivers who seem to have secured a starting role next season. Tight ends Tyler Warren and Theo Johnson will also wear blue. The pair are expected to compete for the starting role left by Brenton Strange this offseason.

On defense, the Blue Team holds equal firepower. The linebackers are led by Abdul Carter, Kobe King, and Curtis Jacobs, all of whom are presumed starters. At cornerback and safety, expected starters Jaylen Reed, Keaton Ellis, Kalen King, and Johnny Dixon will all wear blue.

The Blue group will be represented well in the trenches. On defense, Hakeem Beamon, Zane Durant, Chop Robinson, and Adisa Isaac will hold down many of the reps. The offensive line will be led by Olu Fashanu, Hunter Nourzad, Caedan Wallace, Landon Tengwall, and Sal Wormley. What will be most important to watch will be which player takes reps at center, a position that James Franklin has been trying to finalize with the departure of Juice Scruggs. Currently, it appears that Nourzad is the leading candidate for the role.

On the sidelines, the Blue Team will have five coaches, including offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich, defensive coordinator Manny Diaz, and new defensive line coach Deion Barnes.

White Team

The Blue Team may have more starters, but the White Team has more youth.

The White Team totes a load of freshmen on both sides of the ball. Offensively, true freshman Mega Barnwell will work in with Jerry Cross at tight end, though, he’ll be the only true freshman at a skill position. Amiel Davis and Tyler Holzworth will hold down the running back position, while the wide receivers will be led by Liam Clifford and transfer Malik McClain.

The White Team has a few solid names on defense, including Storm Duck at cornerback. However, the most important player to watch will be true freshman Tony Rojas at linebacker. Rojas reportedly put on 29 pounds since arriving at Penn State this semester and could be fighting for a starting spot.

The defensive line may be the most talented group wearing white, led by defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton, who is one of the few players on the White Team who may very well start next year. Defensive end Amin Vanover could also be fighting for a starting role next year. However, with only three defensive tackles wearing white compared to the five wearing blue, it’s slim picking for the White Team on the inside of the line.

On the other side of the ball, the White Team’s offensive line will be led by some younger players trying to make an early impact. Alex Birchmeier and J’ven Williams were highly touted recruits for Penn State and could see reps early in the season. Nick Dawkins will also wear white, and he was mentioned as another potential successor to Scruggs early in the spring by Franklin.

The White Team will also have five coaches, including running backs coach and co-offensive coordinator Ja’Juan Seider; special teams, outside linebacker, and nickels coach Stacy Collins; and new wide receivers coach Marques Hagans.

Format

According to a press release, the format for the Blue-White Game is:

• The Blue Team will be on the visitor’s sideline and the White Team will be on the home sideline.
• The game will be four quarters with an 11-minute running clock, with clock stoppages on change of possession and penalties.
• The clock will run during special teams.
• The last two minutes of the second and fourth quarters will be real, game-like timing.
• Each team has two timeouts.
• There will be a 12-minute halftime.