NORFOLK, Va. -- Next to the one-on-one drills and in front of a group of high schoolers, James Franklin pulled a handful of kids aside, one by one.
These were the select few football players whose technique, physical build or both made the Penn State coach point to -- or in some cases walk to the other side of the field and grab -- one of his Nittany Lions assistants, encouraging them to take a closer look.
The players smiled and nodded in agreement as Franklin, a whistle around his neck, talked with them. He told them he wanted to see more of the same dominance that caught his attention in the first place.