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Times Lead Sports Report: A Holiday Podcast

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JCC preschoolers present program for Hanukkah, other holidays

<p>Mike Gesicki had sworn off social media for 2016. Call it a New Year&#8217;s resolution.</p><p>A tough sophomore season had seen him take plenty of criticism from fans and media alike. So the Penn State tight end vowed after January&#8217;s TaxSlayer Bowl to ignore it all and focus on improving his game.</p><p>Some 11 months later, he had burst onto the national radar with an impressive junior campaign. But the Twitter boycott was still in effect when he had some news to share on Thursday night. Penn State posted it for him, announcing that he&#8217;d be returning to the Nittany Lions for his senior season in 2017.</p><p>&#8220;After some in-depth thought and countless conversations with family, friends, teammates and coaches, I have decided to place all of my focus on the Rose Bowl and the task at hand, which is USC, and put a lifelong dream of mine on hold for one year,&#8221; Gesicki wrote.</p><p>&#8220;I am beyond excited to announce that I will be returning for my senior season at the greatest university in the country and playing in front of the best fans in the world.&#8221;</p><p>At 6-foot-6 with an ability to leap over defenders to get the ball, Gesicki hauled in 47 passes for 668 yards and four touchdowns this season, with the Rose Bowl matchup against USC on Jan. 2 up next.</p><p>There was some question whether that would be Gesicki&#8217;s final game for the Big Ten champion Lions. Though he stopped short of confirming it for sure, Gesicki hinted last Friday that he had applied for an NFL draft evaluation.</p><p>Penn State coach James Franklin also did not divulge any names but said he did have juniors looking into the draft process. Franklin called it a &#8220;distraction,&#8221; perhaps explaining Gesicki&#8217;s reference to putting his focus into prep for USC.</p><p>More than just the Rose Bowl, however, Gesicki&#8217;s return patches what would have been a gaping hole in the lineup. Gesicki remains the only tight end on the roster with any significant experience.</p><p>Backup Tom Pancoast played sparingly this season and the other options were redshirt freshman Jonathan Holland and true freshman Danny Dalton, who took a redshirt himself this season. Another option, Nick Bowers missed the entire year with an injury.</p><p>Before making his decision, Gesicki did acknowledge that he was anxious to see what the Lions could accomplish in 2017 with nearly every starter set to return for offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead.</p><p>&#8220;Coaches are staying in place, a lot of players are staying in place,&#8221; Gesicki said last week. &#8220;For the most part, this team will be staying together. Which I think is awesome for this team, especially our offense. We&#8217;re only gonna improve.&#8221;</p><p>As it is, center Brian Gaia is the only full-time starter on offense who is out of eligibility.</p><p>Gesicki and wideouts Chris Godwin, Saeed Blacknall and DaeSean Hamilton would all be seniors next fall.</p><p>&#8220;I am looking forward to wearing the Blue &amp; White another year and playing with my teammates, best friends and more importantly, my brothers here at Penn State,&#8221; Gesicki wrote on Thursday. &#8220;I truly believe we have a solid foundation and the future is bright.</p><p>&#8220;See you all in Pasadena. Thanks for the memories, and I can&#8217;t wait to make more.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Penn State&#8217;s Mike Gesicki emerged as one of the country&#8217;s top pass-catching tight ends in 2016, but he will put off the NFL for a year to play out his senior season. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/web1_AP1633918022051520161222191753863.jpg</photo0><caption0>Penn State&#8217;s Mike Gesicki emerged as one of the country&#8217;s top pass-catching tight ends in 2016, but he will put off the NFL for a year to play out his senior season. </caption0><photoCredit0>Michael Conroy | AP photo </photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Derek Levarse</p><p>dlevarse@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div>

Penn State tight end Mike Gesicki announces his return for 2017 season