Sunday was a great day to be (almost) a Nittany Lion

ALTOONA, Pa. -- On the same day Penn State got the unexpected good news of going to a much better than anticipated bowl game, James Franklin was out doing what he does best -- recruiting.

Franklin said late Sunday that he had made three home visits throughout the day. It was easy to see where the coach had been, thanks to tweets from three of Penn State's most prized recruits: QB Drew Allar, RB Nick Singleton and WR Kaden Saunders.

With signing day coming up Dec. 15, Penn State has the No. 6 recruiting class in the nation, according to 247Sports. This is the breakdown:

1. Georgia
2. Alabama
3. Texas A&M
4. Ohio State
5. Notre Dame
6. Penn State

Franklin, who recently signed a new 10-year contract, was asked about the feedback he's received from recruits following some uncertain times about his future.

"I think there's a sense of relief," Franklin said Sunday evening during his Outback Bowl press conference. "But like I said, they were all informed the whole way. But obviously, when you're seeing things in the media and when you also see so many other places and so many coaches say that they're not doing anything and then they d,o and obviously it gives you pause. So, I understand that.

"So, as much as I'm talking to these families and these kids and and explaining to them what's going on in the process, it still makes them feel better when they see it come out publicly (about the contract)."

WILL ANY PLAYERS
OPT OUT OF BOWL GAME?

There could be some Penn State players who decide not to play in the Outback Bowl, opting instead to sit out for health or any other concerns so they can get ready for the NFL draft. And there also is the matter of players who may decide not to come back next year, even if they have eligibility remaining.

"I don't make announcements for players in their situations," Franklin said. "We've typically done that at the bowl site, or or we work with players that are going to put something out through social media. We try to make sure that all those things are coordinated. But I don't I don't make announcements like that for players; I don't think that's my place. But there is obviously ongoing conversations."

FRANKLIN DISCUSSES
PRY'S NEW JOB

Brent Pry is one of Franklin's closest friends in coaching, with the two going way back to their days at East Stroudsburg in the early 1990s. Pry left his job as defensive coordinator last week to become head coach at Virginia Tech, his first opportunity to be a head coach.

"I would say that I'm kind of split on it, right?" Franklin said of his feelings. "Super excited and happy and proud for Brent and his family, and he's a great fit at Virginia Tech. And this is the type of opportunity that we talked about for 12 years. (He) turned down a bunch of opportunities waiting for the right one, and this was the right one. So I couldn't be happier for him, and I think it's a great fit and tremendous opportunity.

"On the other hand of it, a significant loss -- personally and professionally. Brent's one of my closest friends. We've been together for 12 years, been through a lot together, and obviously that's going to be difficult to replace. And then in the process of trying to find coordinators, I'm working on that at the same time of recruiting. ... I'm also making calls and taking calls from people and about people for the for the coordinator position."

Franklin said he'd like to hire a new defensive coordinator "as soon as possible."

"But I want to make sure that we also get get the right person, and that takes time. And then the other challenge is, with as many jobs that are open right now, a lot of people are are fighting for the same guys. So there's a lot of competition out there from that perspective. as well."

HOW DID PLAYERS HANDLE
DISTRACTION ABOUT FRANKLIN?

All season long, there was talk about whether Franklin would leave Penn State for another job. The coach himself seemed distracted at times with how he handled some things, so it's only natural to wonder if the players were distracted and how they handled it all.

"I had ongoing conversations with our leadership council, the guys they were very informed the whole way what was going on, and so I think for the most part we handled it well," Franklin said. "Obviously, that there's no distractions whatsoever, we can't control it completely and entirely. Obviously, a 10-year contract helps with that.

"We probably could have tied it up a lot sooner, but it's just kind of the way the process played out."