IUP Football reached the halfway point of its spring practice schedule yesterday and coach Paul Tortorella visited with Jack Benedict at Miller Stadium. IUP is coming off a 6-5 campaign a year ago and will welcome a freshman class of 17 or more signees plus five mid-year transfers and possibly one or two more.
Tortorella says IUP and the other PSAC schools were forced to scramble last week when Mercyhurst announced that it is leaving the PSAC and moving to Division I. It creates a big hole in IUP’s schedule and it’s probably too late to find a replacement.
The coach says spring practice has gone well and he’s liked what he’s seen on both sides of the ball.
The transfer portal has been a quick fix for schools that have found the need to reload their rosters, and while IUP has used the portal, it’s not the route that Tortorella would prefer to take.
For the first time since the Lenny Williams era, IUP will welcome back its quarterback, Karst Hunter, and Tortorella is looking forward to it. Overall, he likes the depth of his roster, especially its experience.
IUP opens the football season September 5th at Ashland.
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