March 5, 2015
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - While the Nittany Lion football team is just 15 days from returning to the practice field for the start of spring drills, the group is not thinking about putting helmets back on quite yet.
Led be Director of Performance Enhancement Dwight Galt and his strength staff, the football squad is in the midst of its annual three-day physical testing period to measure the progress it has made since winter conditioning began in January and to set a baseline leading into the summer workout season.
The Nittany Lions kicked off the testing week on Monday by running the 40-yard dash, broad jump and triple jump inside Holuba Hall and maxing out on the bench press in the weight room. Tuesday's testing featured the vertical jump and the power clean max out in the weight room. Following a snow day on the University Park campus on Wednesday, the testing culminated on Thursday with the shuttle run in Holuba Hall and a squatting max out session in the weight room.
When Galt addressed the media one year ago this week, he talked about how pleased he had been with the team's effort. This year, he said the growth has elevated to a different level.
"What a difference a year makes. It has been unbelievable," Galt said. "Fifty-six of the guys in here are guys we had last January...It's been a phenomenal difference. They did a great job last year, but they know the expectations and they are really excited about the 2015 season....It has been a noticeable change."
Roughly eight weeks into the winter conditioning program, Galt is confident in where the team is at during the final week of strength and conditioning before the student-athletes are off for spring break next week. The team has lifted three days a week and conditioned during the early-morning hours the other two days.
While Galt still has some numbers to analyze once the week is over, he has seen a big jump in the team's testing results when comparing this year to last year.
"I went back and looked at some of the records I'd had at previous places where we had older, more established teams," Galt said. "We actually had 56 guys (power) clean 300 or more pounds. The highest I've had in the last five years was 43. This is a young team that is basically one of the stronger team's I've ever had."
Galt said the power clean results translated well into the 40-yard dash testing, which puts explosiveness at a premium. Last year, nine players ran a 4.59 or lower in the 40. This year, 19 players ran 4.59 or lower. Of the 93 guys who tested in the 40-yard dash, 74 ran 4.99 or lower.
On the bench press, the team's max out average jumped from 312 pounds last year to 323 pounds this year. Additionally, seven players topped 35 inches in the vertical test. Galt said the team's overall speed and explosiveness have taken a big step forward in the past year.
"All of those things work hand in hand with one another," Galt said. "The numbers, especially in the explosive moment, have been great."
A few position groups have jumped out at Galt during the winter workout period. He highlighted the defensive ends, which is a unit that had four players power clean 350 pounds or more. Galt also said the offensive line has done a superb job improving its strength and movement capabilities. The third group he singled out for their efforts this winter was the wide receivers.
With the media in attendance at Thursday's workout, junior offensive lineman Derek Dowrey put on a show in the final squat of the team's first lifting group of the day. Dowrey squatted 545 pounds five times with his fellow teammates cheering him.
Now, the Nittany Lions are counting down the days before the start of spring practice, but they have an eye on the bigger picture. The 2015 season is just around the corner, and they have one thing in mind.
"Everybody is so excited about getting back on the field," Galt said. "They want to get better on the field."
"We have a great week going. We are really excited about how much improvement we have made," Galt said. "A lot of that has to do with the work ethic. There's no doubt about. But we have talent here."