It was just before the beginning a strength conditioning session this winter when Gregg Garrity learned of the news.
A former walk-on from Pittsburgh, Pa., who has fought for playing time in each of his first three seasons, that's when he heard head coach James Franklin yell, "Pook!" As Garrity walked toward the front of the room, ready to lead the team breakdown, Franklin made the announcement.
"Garrity," Franklin added. "You're on full scholarship."
A third-generation Penn Stater – Gregg Sr. (1980-82) and grandfather Jim (’52-54) were three-year lettermen for the Nittany Lions – the reward was received well from the Garrity family. “After the workout was done I called my dad and I told him about the news,” Garrity said. “It was just a special moment that we had together. It’s something I’ve been dreaming about since I was kid.”
It’s an honor of his determination during his first few seasons at PSU, one that he was OK basking in temporarily. But now entrenched in his final preseason camp, Garrity wants little with resting on his laurels. Instead he’s in a hotly contested battle for the starting punt return job with a host of young up-and-comers who came to PSU on full-rides, and Franklin has upped the ante on all of their responsibilities. “We need to find dynamic punt returners and kick returners,” he said.
At 5-foot-10 and 165 pounds, Garrity has seen action in each of his first three seasons, including as a true freshman when he played in three games and returned one punt for 9 yards. He played three more as a sophomore and five as a junior. Then by the bowl game against Georgia last winter, Garrity was PSU’s starter at PR.
Sure-handed and with the highest vertical jump of the team (37 inches, measured during spring practice), Garrity has the catching ability and first-step explosion that can make for an ideal PR. They’re also good tools for a slot WR, so although Garrity has only one career reception for 4 yards, the coaching staff found necessary value in order to scholarship him for one and final season.
“Whatever they ask me to do – whether it’s receiver, special teams, punt returner – I just try to put this team in the best position to win,” Garrity said. “Whatever my role is, even if it's practice squad, whatever they’re asking me to do, I’m going to give it my full effort, I'm going to have a positive attitude and I'm going to give it my best shot.”
An added responsibility for Garrity as a senior is to help the newcomers adjust, even though some of them are also his staunchest competitors. Many of Franklin’s recent four- and three-star signees have proven experience at the high school level with punt and kick returns. The next step is transitioning it to the college game.
That’s where Garrity comes into play. Although he’ll fight to maintain his post as Penn State’s starting PR, he’s also open to helping younger athletes who are vying for time, like he was a few seasons ago.
“Absolutely,” Garrity said. “Three years being here, you learn certain things, from being coached and just playing in games as well. You learn little things that can really help you – whether it’s the rotation on the ball, the wind, looking up and using your peripheral [vision]. Just little stuff like that, that can get really give you a slight edge and give you another 5 or 10 yards in punt return. I enjoy teaching the younger guys these special little secrets, if that’s what you want to call them.”
Secret, however, probably isn't the best word, since Garrity openly shares his advice.
“You’ve got 11 guys running after you,” he tells them. “You might get a little nervous, a little afraid, but you just have to be smart, you know? Just make sure you catch the ball first and then everything after that is just a positive.”
Once the ball is in hand, Garrity added, “You don’t want to make too many moves laterally. You just want to get up the field, get as many yards as you can. But, yeah, definitely catch the ball first. If you don’t catch the ball, you’re going to find a quick path to the bench.”
Garrity ended spring practice and entered preseason camp at No. 1 on the PR depth chart.
He'll be pushed in earnest this season. Others who figure to factor in at PR are RB Saquon Barkley, RB Mark Allen, CB Nick Scott, WR DeAndre Thompkins, DB Zech McPhearson, RB Miles Sanders, among others.
