First Glance Preview: Hoosiers Host Penn State to Close Out October Homestand on Oct. 20th
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IU will have their hands full when Penn State rolls into Bloomington Image: Cam Koenig Hoosier Huddle
Written By Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)
In week eight the Hoosiers will welcome in another beast from the east in the Penn State Nittany Lions. Penn State has dominated the series with a 20-1 record, Indiana’s lone win (44-24) came in 2013 in Bloomington. Last year saw the Hoosiers lose in Happy Valley 45-14, but the last time to Bloomington in 2016 the Hoosiers were a tough out, losing 45-31. This will close out a two-game homestand in the month of October.
Week Eight: Penn State Nittany Lions
Date & Time: Saturday October 20, 2018, TBA
Venue: Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, IN
TV: TBA
Nittany Lions at a Glance
Head Coach: James Franklin
Entering his 8th Season Overall and 5th at Penn State
Overall Record: 60-32
At Penn State: 36-17
Iowa Last Season: 11-2 (7-2) Defeated Washington in the Fiesta Bowl 35-28
Nittany Lions Returning Leaders
Passing: Trace McSorley (66.5 pct. 3,570 yards 28 TDs 10 INT)
Rushing: Trace McSorley (144 att. 491 yards 3.4 YPC 11 TDs)
Receiving: Juwan Johnson (54 rec. 701 yards 13 YPR 1 Total TD)
Tackles: LB Koa Farmer (48 tackles 4.5 TFL, 1 Sack, 1 Pass Defensed)
Pre-Season Predictions
Athlon’s: 3rd in the Big Ten East
Lindy’s: 3rd in the Big Ten East
Street & Smith’s: 3rd in the Big Ten East
Phil Steele: 3rd in the Big Ten East
Impact Newcomers for the Nittany Lions
1. Micah Parsons, LB-
The Nittany Lions will be replacing two starters in the middle of their defense at linebacker. While there are some veterans who can step in, true freshman Micah Parsons will be lurking to seize his opportunity. Parsons is a former five-star recruit from Harrisburg, PA. He came out of school as a defensive end but has been moved to linebacker. He has the frame to fit Linebacker U at 6’3” 241 pounds and has the high school resume (U.S. Army All-American, 17.5 TFLs, 10.5 Sacks as a senior) to warrant the hype.
2. Justin Shorter, WR-
Another position that Penn State will have to find some young talent to fill in for is at wide receiver. Shorter, out of Monmouth Junction, NJ, is another five-star recruit (number one WR in the country) and brings a 6’4” 215-pound frame to the offense. He did it all in high school gaining 844 all-purpose yards and scoring 11 touchdowns as a senior. Don’t be surprised if he beats out junior Brandon Polk for a starting spot.
3. Ricky Slade, AP-
There’s a theme here. Penn State has weapons to replace and highly-touted freshman to help ease that burden. The most talked about loss for Penn State is running back Saquon Barkley, who is now in training camp with the New York Giants after being the second pick in the NFL Draft. The Nittany Lions have a good one in Miles Sanders but will need a second option. Senior Mark Allen, who only had nine carries last year, is listed as the back-up, however Slade can give PSU something explosive off the bench. Slade was a high-school Under Armour All-American and rushed for 5,499 yards in his prep career. He’d give Penn State a boost either out of the back field or in the return game.
Offensive Preview
There are a lot of questions surrounding how good Penn State’s offense can be after losing their offensive coordinator, Joe Moorehead, who left to become the head coach at Mississippi State, a Heisman candidate running back in Saquon Barkley (#2 Pick in the NFL Draft) and key receiving threats in tight end Mike Gesicki and wide out DaeSean Hamilton.
Trace McSorley (9) gives Penn State an elite QB Image: Cam Koenig Hoosier Huddle
The good news for Penn State is that they have to tools to replace most of the production lost. New offensive coordinator Ricky Rahne took over before the Fiesta Bowl for Moorehead and lead the Nittany Lion offense to a 35-point, 552-yard outburst. Rahne also has arguably the top quarterback in the Big Ten returning in Trace McSorley who is back for his senior season. Junior Miles Sanders, a former five-star recruit will take over for Barkely as the feature back. However, the biggest reason to be optimistic about the offense may be the play of the offensive line.
The offensive line has always been a sore spot under Franklin, but 2018 could be there best season yet as the Nittany Lions return four starters up front and the lone newbie, sophomore guard Michal Menet, impressed in spring practice after playing in 13 games as a freshman.
The line will be aligned around center Connor McGoven, who has started 22 career games over his first two seasons in Happy Valley. The line will be bookended by junior RT Ryan Bates who has 22 career starts and sophomore Will Fries who alternated between left and right tackle in 2017. Senior Chasz Wright will back him up at left tackle. Surrounding McGoven on the inside are guards Michal Menet and junior Steven Gonzalez, who earned All-Big Ten honors last season. The Nittany Lions will have to see what freshmen backups Mike Miranda, C.J. Thorpe and Des Holmes bring in reserve roles.
Penn State should have no problems at quarterback as All-Big Ten quarterback Trace McSorley returns. The Nittany Lions also got a gift with the return of back-up quarterback Tommy Stevens as he decided to stay at Penn State after rumors of a transfer.
McSorley is a do-it-all senior who will have to shoulder more of the burden as several of his best weapons have moved on to the NFL. He threw for 3,570 yards and is the team’s leading returning rusher as well. He does have a propensity to chuck up the deep ball and is prone to turnovers in the passing game, McSorley is still the class of the Big Ten.
How Penn State will use Stevens will be extremely interesting. In the past he has been used at quarterback and tight end. He ran the ball 27 times for 190 yards and four touchdowns and caught 12 balls for 60 yards and two more scores. Stevens can also sling it. In mop up time, the Indiana native completed 14-of-27 passes for 158 yards and three touchdowns. He is a playmaker, bottom line.
Alongside McSorley or Stevens in the backfield will be running back Miles Sanders. The junior has seen limited action due to being behind All-World back Saquon Barkley. He has appeared in 15 career games and has averaged a very healthy 6.7 yards per carry and scored three times on 56 rushes. Behind Sanders will be senior Mark Allen and freshman all-purpose back Ricky Slade.
At the receiver position the Nittany Lions return senior Deandre Thompkins and juniors Juwan Johnson and Brandon Polk. Thompkins and Johnson combined for 82 receptions, 1,144 yards and four touchdowns. Both have the ability to be All-Conference talents and at 6’4” Johnson will be one of the best receivers in the nation. Polk had a great freshman year, but struggled last year making just 10 catches for 130 yards and a score. When he is on Polk is a good deep threat for the Penn State offense, however if his struggles continue, true freshman Justin Shorter could steal his starting position. Freshmen Mac Hippenhammer (great name) and K.J. Hammler also figure to be in the mix.
Penn State will also have to replace big shoes at the tight end position as Mike Gesicki has moved on. He caught 57 passes for 563 yards and NINE touchdowns last season. That is a lot of production to replace. The Nittany Lions will try juniors Jonathan Hollad, just three catches last year, and Nick Bowers there. Four-star recruit Zack Kuntz could come in and win playing time as well.
Defensive Preview
Image: Getty Images
When thinking about Penn State Football one of the first things that come to mind is their history on the defensive side of the ball. Last season the Nittany Lions ranked in the top-17 nationally in scoring (7th), rushing (14th) and total (17th) defense. They finished a moderate 47th in pass defense.
At Penn State everything starts in the middle with the linebacker position. After all it is Linebacker U. Penn State returns just one starter, but it’s a good one in Koa Farmer, who has the speed to stay with receivers in the open and can also get after the quarterback. After him, however, PSU will have some questions. Penn State has to replace Jason Cabinda, the heart and soul of the defense a year ago. Junior Cam Brown will step up into that role after playing in 12 games and making 31 tackles as a sophomore. Next to him will be junior Jarvis Miller who made the transition from safety after putting on weight. Miller made 10 tackles a year ago.
In the mix will be true freshman Micah Parsons, who has the body to be a legitimate Big Ten linebacker. Senior Jake Cooper and junior Jan Johnson will also be in the rotation in the middle.
On the back end of the defense the Nittany Lions will have to replace Marcus Allen who finished 2017 second on the team in tackles. Senior Nick Scott will get the first crack at replacing Allen at free safety. Scott has been terrific on special teams and returned a fumble for a touchdown against the Hoosiers last season. He finished 2017 with 33 tackles. At the strong safety position junior Garrett Taylor finally will get his shot after waiting behind Troy Apke. Taylor made 12 tackles last season.
More good news for Penn State is that the get junior John Reid back after he missed the entire 2017 season with an injury. In 2016 Reid started at corner and made 36 tackles to go along with a pick and a fumble recovery.
Opposite Reid will be Amani Oruwarlye who played mostly at nickleback in 2017, but led the team with four interceptions and added 28 tackles.
Up front the Nittany Lions will have to replace a pair of tackles. Juniors Kevin Givens and Robert Windsor will try and fill those spaces. Givens has the ability to play both inside and outside along the line. In 13 games last season he made 23 total tackles including four tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. Windsor has a nose for the ball as the big fella hopped on three fumbles in 2017 to go along with 19 tackles and two sacks.
On the edges the Nittany Lions return their leading sack maker from 2017 in Shareef Miller, who had five sacks and 11 tackles for loss. On the other side Ryan Buchholtz has slimmed down in an effort to get quicker. He had two sacks in 2017. A trio of sophomores (Shane Simmons, Antonio Shelton and Shaka Toney) and freshman Fred Hansard will be in the rotation along the line.
Special Teams Preview
Penn State’s kicking game may turn into the Blake Gillikin Show as the junior punter may have to take up the field goal duties as well. He has the leg strength to do so as he booted several 50-plus yard field goals in high school. Although freshman Carson Landis could win the job in camp. He is the only other kicker on the roster. As a punter Gillikin is one of the best in the Big Ten as he had a net average of 39.9 yards and downed 26 punts inside the 20-yard line.
The Nittany Lions will also have to find a new kick returner after they used Saquon Barkley there in 2017. Brandon Polk has the speed to be the guy.