Written By: Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)
Week Two: Penn State Nittany Lions
Date & Time: Saturday, September 12, 2020, Time: TBA
Venue: Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, IN
TV: TBA
Nittany Lions at a Glance
Head Coach: James Franklin
Entering his 7th year as Penn State’s Head Coach, 10th year overall
Record at Penn State: 56-23 (34-18)
Overall Record: 80-38
Last Season: 11-2 (7-2) 2nd in the Big Ten East Won Cotton Bowl 53-39 over Memphis
Nittany Lions Returning Leaders
Passing: Sean Clifford (189-319 passing (59.2%), 2,654 yards, 23 TDs, 7 INTs)
Rushing: Journey Brown (129 rushes, 890 yards, 6.9 YPC, 12 TDs)
Receiving: Pat Freirmuth. (43 receptions, 507 yards, 11.8 YPC 7 TDs)
Tackles: S Lamont Wade (67 tackles, 39 solo, 4.5 TFLs, 2 Sacks, 5 PBU’s, 3 Forced Fumbles)
Nittany Preseason Predictions
Athlon: 2nd in the Big Ten East
Lindy’s: 2nd in the Big Ten East
Phil Steele: 2nd in the Big Ten East
Pick Six Previews: 2nd in the Big Ten East 9th Nationally
Street & Smith’s: 2nd in the Big Ten East
SP+: 5th Nationally
Impact Newcomers for the Nittany Lions
1. KeAndre Lambert, WR
2. Curtis Jacobs, LB
Biggest Questions Facing the 2020 Nittany Lions
1. Who Replaces All-American LB Micah Parsons? Parsons is arguably the best defensive player in college football and has chosen to opt out of the 2020 season. Who steps up?
2. Where will the receiver production come from? KJ Hamler left for the NFL and the second leading receiver in 2019 was tight end Pat Freiermuth. It’s up to Jahan Dotson to step up or Penn State will have to rely on three freshmen in the two-deep.
Program Preview
2020 was supposed to be the year that the Nittany Lions made a run for the Big Ten title and a berth in the College Football Playoff. They would return 13 starters off a team that went 11-2. They would host Ohio State as their annual ‘White Out’ game on October 24th. They had the nation’s best linebacker in Micah Parsons and a veteran offense that finished 15h in scoring in 2019. However, 2020 has not been kind to anyone. The Nittany Lions saw Micah Parsons opt out of the 2020 season. The game against Ohio State will probably be played in front of nobody in the stands and lose a resume building game at Virginia Tech.
Offensive Preview
While the Nittany Lions’ offense ranked 15th nationally in scoring by averaging 35.8 points per game, much of that comes on the backs of four performances. Penn State scored 79 against Idaho, 45 against Buffalo, 59 at Maryland and 53 in a Cotton Bowl win over Memphis. Outside of that, Penn State only scored over 30 points two times (35 against Purdue and 34 against Indiana. The Nittany Lions finished 57th in total offense as they relied on the rushing attack (36th nationally) to carry an inconsistent passing game (76th nationally).
Sean Clifford returns for his junior season after throwing for 2,654 yards and 23 touchdowns, but he loses his most dynamic playmaker in KJ Hamler. Clifford can run the ball as well as he accounted for 402 yards and five touchdowns, but outside of tight end Pat Freiermuth and Jahan Dotson there just isn’t much production returning.
Journey Brown is a very solid running back and he can be a factor catching the ball out of the backfield as well. The junior accounted for 1,024 yards from scrimmage with 13 touchdowns in 2019. He will be running behind an experienced offensive line that returns four starters including two seniors.
Freiermuth is one of the top tight ends in the conference and is Penn State’s leading returning pass catcher. He made 43 receptions for 507 yards and seven touchdowns. He is a red zone nightmare.
Clifford will need a young wide receiving corps to step up. Dotson is the lone returning starter in the two-deep and he made 27 catches for 488 yards and five scores last season. Junior Cam Sullivan played in four games last year making eight catches for 56 yards and is penciled into one starting position while sophomore Daniel George who made nine catches in 11 games is at the other starting spot. True freshman KeAndre Lambert was a four-star recruit with NFL potential and could make his way into the starting lineup.
Defensive Preview
The biggest story on defense heading into the 2020 season was how far could star linebacker Micah Parson take them. Now, it’s how do they replace a generational talent like Parsons?
Parsons was the only starter to return in the linebacker corps. He led the team with 109 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and added five sacks in 2019. Junior Jesse Luketa who can play both middle and outside backer positions will probably take over for Parsons. Luketa made 24 tackles last year. Junior Ellis Brooks who made 40 tackles and 4.5 TFLs last season becomes the elder statesman in the middle of the defense. Brandon Smith, who played a little in reserve, should round out the starting lineup.
The defensive line will be headed by senior Shaka Toney who was second on the team in sacks (6.5) and third in tackles for loss (8). Opposite Toney is sophomore Jayson Oweh who had a nice sophomore campaign posting five sacks and forcing two fumbles. In the middle of the line is senior Antonio Shelton, who four tackles for loss in 2019, and PJ Mustipher, a junior who posted 4.5 TFLs and a sack last season.
The secondary is anchored by All-Big Ten safety Lamont Wade who is Penn State’s leading returning tackler. Wade didn’t record an interception in 2019, but broke up five passes, forced three fumbles and made 4.5 tackles for loss.
Junior Jonathan Sutherland will man the strong safety position. He was a game changer on special teams blocking two kicks last season and adding 23 tackles on defense.
Senior Tariq Castro-Fields returns after making 52 tackles and picking off two passes and knocking down eight more. Sophomore Marquis Wilson will be on the other corner. Wilson also notched two picks and forced three fumbles in 10 games as a freshman.
Special Teams Preview
Kicker Jake Pinegar returns after making 11-of-12 field goals and 56-of-58 extra points. Penn State will have to replace Blake Gillikin at punter with kickoff specialist Jordan Stout. Running back Journey Brown will handle the kick return duties and wide out Jahan Dotson will return punts.