Penn State Nittany
Lions (East Division)
Location: State College, PA
Stadium: Beaver Stadium (106,572)
Coach: James Franklin (4th year): 25-15 at PSU/49-30 overall, 14-12
v B1G
2016 Penn
State Nittany Lions (11-3)(9-1) 2017
Penn State Nittany Lions
33 Kent State 13 S2 Akron
39 at Pittsburgh 42 S9 Pittsburgh
34 Temple 27 S16 Georgia State
10 at Michigan 49 S23 at Iowa
29 Minnesota 26 (OT) S30 Indiana
38 Maryland 14 O7 at Northwestern
24 Ohio State 21 O14 idle
62 at Purdue 24 O21 Michigan
41 Iowa 14 O28 at Ohio State
45 at Indiana 31 N4 at Michigan State
39 at Rutgers 0 N11 Rutgers
45 Michigan State 12 N18 Nebraska
38 Wisconsin 31 N25 at Maryland
(B1G Championship Game)
49 Southern California 52
(Rose Bowl)
Penn State
won nine straight a year ago in route to an improbable conference title in
James Franklin’s third year as coach.
With last year’s double-digit wins and a probable start in the national
top 10, the Nittany Lions have high expectations for 2017.
Penn State’s
offense revolves around two contenders for not only All B1G honors, but
national honors as well. Quarterback
Trace McSorley, as a sophomore, led the conference in passing yards (3614) and
touchdown passes (29) last season. He’s
an impressive passer with a throwback style, and he threw just eight
interceptions. Junior RB Saquon Barkley
also returns after rushing for 1496 yards and 18 touchdowns. A complete package at RB, Barkley also caught
28 passes out of the backfield for 402 yards and four scores. The Lions lose leading receiver Chris Godwin,
but they have seniors Saeed Blacknall, DaeSean Hamilton, and junior DeAndre
Thompkins ready to jump in. Hamilton led
the trio last year with 34 receptions for 506 yards and a score, while Tompkins
was just behind with 27 catches for 440 yards and a touchdown. Blacknell started seven games a year ago and
turned in 15 receptions for 347 yards and three touchdowns. But if defenses focus too much on those
three, they can hurt by one of the most versatile tight ends in the
country. Senior Mike Gesicki, a bona
fide Mackey candidate, was able to torch enemy defenses for 48 receptions for
679 yards and five touchdowns and an almost unheard of (for a TE) 14.1 yards
per catch. The Nittany Lions improved in
pass protection as the season wore on and the offensive line this year is led
by sophomore guards Ryan Bates and Connor McGovern, whom they hope will develop
into All B1G performers. They are joined
by experienced seniors at the tackle positions in Brendon Mahon and Andrew
Nelson. The center position was up for
grabs during the spring. Freshman Michal
Menet and sophomore Zach Simpson are competing hard for the starting spot
there.
RB Saquon Barkley
The
defensive line loses Garrett Sickles, who had six sacks a year ago and Coach Franklin
hopes junior Torrance Brown and sophomore Shareef Miller can be just as
productive at the book ends. Brown
started four games and played very well, with 33 tackles, six TFLs and two
fumble recoveries. Miller was almost as
impressive in a backup role with 22 stops, 5.5 tackles for loss and two
sacks. The interior of the defensive
line is all set with seniors Parker Cothren and Curtis Cothran with 26 and 21
tackles respectively last year. Senior
Jason Cabina leads the PSU linebacking corps.
He was third on the team in tackles with 81 to go along with his four
TFLs and a sack. Junior Manny Bowen is
also back after garnering 68 tackles, 8.5 TFL and a couple of sacks. Sophomore Cam Brown started two games at an
outside linebacker position, turning in 33 tackles and a TFL. Despite John Reid’s serious knee injury
during spring practice, the secondary looks good with the return of senior
safety Marcus Allen. Up for All-American
honors, Allen led the team in tackles with 110 to go along with his six tackles
for loss and two fumble recoveries. The
other safety spot appears to be up for grabs between junior Nick Scott and
sophomore Ayron Monroe. Monroe had 12 tackles and Scott eight in limited
playing time last year. Senior Grant
Haley, with 39 stops, and junior Jabari Butler, a special teams player last
year, will be the corners.
Senior
kicker Tyler Davis returns after hitting 22 of 24 field goals and scoring 128
points in 2016 and senior Daniel Pasquariello will take over the punting chores
from the departed Blake Gillikin.
The Lions
had an impressive haul in recruiting, bringing in four-star CB Lamont Wade, who
figures to contribute right away in the nickel and dime packages. Guard C.J. Thorpe and QB Sean Clifford are
also four-star recruits. Also look for
DE Yeter Gross-Matos and DT Fred Hansard to contribute. Penn State also got another four-star
linebacker in Ellis Brooks and DBs Tariq Castro-Fields and Donovan Johnson.
The non
conference part of the schedule looks very manageable, with Penn State looking
to avenge last year’s loss to Pittsburgh when the Panthers come to Happy Valley
on September 9. Road trips to Iowa and
Northwestern could be a bit of a challenge before the tough part of the
schedule. The home game against Michigan
followed by a road trip to Columbus, could decide Penn State’s fate this
season, with the game at Ohio State probably deciding the East Division
champion. Then, they have to go on the
road right after that to an improved Michigan State team. Nebraska comes to town for the final home
game on November 18. But, if everybody
stays healthy, and the receivers develop, Penn State will have a decent chance
to play again for a B1G championship.
PREDICTION: 10-2 (7-2) 2nd
in B1G East
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