Locker room guys are huge for team chemistry and building organizational morale. Coaches can get on their soapboxes and preach their philosophy but unless the players buy into this culture and live by these values the team won’t adapt. At Penn State, James Franklin has done a tremendous job with installing his four core values. Which includes, attitude, work ethic, compete, and sacrifice. Without the proper leadership, these are just words, not true values.
So, what Coach Franklin and his staff have done is selected the correct team captains to hold players accountable. These players from the 2022 team included QB Sean Clifford, DT PJ Mustipher, and S Ji’Ayir Brown all three players have moved onto their NFL careers which leaves Penn State with a gap in the leadership department.