Penn State 2019 Season articles
- Thread starter Judge Smails
- Start date
247 Five star linebacker from Michigan.
Top college football defensive backfields ranked by Phil Steele
The title of “DBU” will forever be debated among top college football secondaries. All-time, year-to-year or week-to-week, the debate becomes quite polarizing.
Who will claim the DBU title over the 2019 football season?
9. PENN STATE
Amani Oruwariye is off to the NFL, but there is a lot to like about what returns for the Nittany Lions. That begins with John Reid. He was one of the biggest early recruiting wins for James Franklin out of Philadelphia, and should have a big year. A dangerous defensive front seven will also help with stars like Yetur-Gross Matos and Micah Parsons. Penn State was second-best in the conference with 181 passing yards per game allowed a year ago.
Projected Starters: John Reid, Tariq Castro-Fields, Lamont Wade, Garrett Taylor
Steele says, “While the Lions had to replace all four starters heading into last year, they actually improved to No. 18 in our pass defense ratings. This year, six of their top eight return to the unit with cornerback John Reid expected to be even stronger now that he’s two years removed from an ACL.”
The title of “DBU” will forever be debated among top college football secondaries. All-time, year-to-year or week-to-week, the debate becomes quite polarizing.
Who will claim the DBU title over the 2019 football season?
9. PENN STATE
Amani Oruwariye is off to the NFL, but there is a lot to like about what returns for the Nittany Lions. That begins with John Reid. He was one of the biggest early recruiting wins for James Franklin out of Philadelphia, and should have a big year. A dangerous defensive front seven will also help with stars like Yetur-Gross Matos and Micah Parsons. Penn State was second-best in the conference with 181 passing yards per game allowed a year ago.
Projected Starters: John Reid, Tariq Castro-Fields, Lamont Wade, Garrett Taylor
Steele says, “While the Lions had to replace all four starters heading into last year, they actually improved to No. 18 in our pass defense ratings. This year, six of their top eight return to the unit with cornerback John Reid expected to be even stronger now that he’s two years removed from an ACL.”
Ranking the ACC QBs [Editor's note: we play Pitt September 14, 2019]
https://davidmhale.com/2019/06/28/ranking-the-accs-qb-situations/
HOPE THEY DON’T SCREW THINGS UP FOR THE REST OF THE OFFENSE TIER
11. Pitt
The Panthers were never going to be a pass-first offense, so there’s really only so much Kenny Pickett needs to do. Still, there are big questions remaining as to whether he can consistently do those things. He had some strong games last season — UNC, Duke, Wake — and he threw just one pick over his final eight games. But here’s the real red flag: On play-action throws last year — what should be the bread-and-butter of an offense like Pitt’s — Pickett posted a passer rating of 109.9. That was good for 105th out of 113 qualifying QBs, just behind Miami’s N’Kosi Perry. No other P5 QB with at least 100 play-action throws had a rating worse than 129. Pickett doesn’t need to be great, but he has to be better at supporting what the rest of the offense does well.
https://davidmhale.com/2019/06/28/ranking-the-accs-qb-situations/
HOPE THEY DON’T SCREW THINGS UP FOR THE REST OF THE OFFENSE TIER
11. Pitt
The Panthers were never going to be a pass-first offense, so there’s really only so much Kenny Pickett needs to do. Still, there are big questions remaining as to whether he can consistently do those things. He had some strong games last season — UNC, Duke, Wake — and he threw just one pick over his final eight games. But here’s the real red flag: On play-action throws last year — what should be the bread-and-butter of an offense like Pitt’s — Pickett posted a passer rating of 109.9. That was good for 105th out of 113 qualifying QBs, just behind Miami’s N’Kosi Perry. No other P5 QB with at least 100 play-action throws had a rating worse than 129. Pickett doesn’t need to be great, but he has to be better at supporting what the rest of the offense does well.
And, touche, 247 ranks Clifford the #10 QB in the Big Ten.
McSorley's stats that can't be duplicated from last season.
Year School Conf Class Pos G Cmp Att Pct Yds Y/A AY/A TD Int Rate
*2018 Penn State Big Ten SR QB 13 192 361 53.2 2530 7.0 7.1 18 7 124.6
https://247sports.com/college/penn-...-Ten-quarterbacks-2019-133360234/#133360234_3
10. Sean Clifford, Penn State
The verdict: Thanks to Tommy Stevens' departure to Mississippi State in May as a graduate transfer, Penn State's QB1 title belongs to Clifford. He competed with Stevens in the spring and played well at times, but can't be expected to replicate the production numbers left by multi-year starter Trace McSorley. The Nittany Lions made sure to strengthen their depth at the position this cycle after James Franklin signed a pair of four-star passers in Taquan Roberson and Michael Johnson Jr., both early enrollees ...
McSorley's stats that can't be duplicated from last season.
Year School Conf Class Pos G Cmp Att Pct Yds Y/A AY/A TD Int Rate
*2018 Penn State Big Ten SR QB 13 192 361 53.2 2530 7.0 7.1 18 7 124.6
https://247sports.com/college/penn-...-Ten-quarterbacks-2019-133360234/#133360234_3
10. Sean Clifford, Penn State
The verdict: Thanks to Tommy Stevens' departure to Mississippi State in May as a graduate transfer, Penn State's QB1 title belongs to Clifford. He competed with Stevens in the spring and played well at times, but can't be expected to replicate the production numbers left by multi-year starter Trace McSorley. The Nittany Lions made sure to strengthen their depth at the position this cycle after James Franklin signed a pair of four-star passers in Taquan Roberson and Michael Johnson Jr., both early enrollees ...
PennLive article on PSU's 2019 most explosive players
https://www.pennlive.com/pennstatef...st-explosive-players-for-the-2019-season.html
https://www.pennlive.com/pennstatef...st-explosive-players-for-the-2019-season.html
PSU running back article - Reading Eagle
https://www.readingeagle.com/sports...x4hv3d25qwK7sjpMj4XIU1E#.XRz2w5zBW4g.facebook
https://www.readingeagle.com/sports...x4hv3d25qwK7sjpMj4XIU1E#.XRz2w5zBW4g.facebook
Phil Steele rates Ford as the #2 RB in the nation. I have a good feeling about Devyn becoming a star RB.
Who will redshirt in 2019?
Pretty straight forward that Smith, Dixon, Ellis and Cain will play. Smith and Dixon will get some reps at LB, and be terrors on special teams. Ellis will play at CB, as the position got thinned somewhat by the Portal. And Cain is a bruser of a RB that is ready. Beyond those 4, I also see Ford and Dunmore getting on the field in the 4 games they are allowed and still redshirt. Isaac could get some game reps as well, but DE is stacked and I don't see the staff wasting his eligibility unless there are at least a couple injuries.
https://www.roarlionsroar.com/penn-state-football/2019/07/5626/freshmen-redshirt-predictions-brandon-smith-lance-dixon-keaton-ellis
PREDICTING WHICH PENN STATE FRESHMEN WILL PLAY RIGHT AWAY AND WHICH WILL REDSHIRT
With summer classes now entering their second week, Penn State's entire 2019 recruiting class is beginning to settle in on campus. With the gang all here, the staff can now begin to get an idea of who is ready to play right away, and who could use some more time to hone their craft. Let's take a look at who could be factoring right away and who is heading for a redshirt.
We're only going to talk about the freshmen in this post, so JUCO transfers Jaquan Brisker and Anthony Whigan will not be mentioned, although both have redshirt years available.
With that out of the way, let's jump right in.
DEFINITELY NOT REDSHIRTING
BRANDON SMITH, LB
The nation's highest rated inside linebacker, Smith was always going to play whether he enrolled early or not. Thankfully, he did arrive on campus back in January, giving him more time to prepare for his debut collegiate season.
He's bound to a play a big role on special teams, and after spending time this spring at outside linebacker, will look to get time at all three positions. Pry loves his linebackers to be flexible, so being able to throw Smith out there and give any of his other backers a break is going to make life easier.
NOAH CAIN, RB
Cain came on very strong after a fantastic spring, capped off with a two-touchdown performance in the Blue-White Game. Despite all the depth the Nittany Lions currently have at running back, there's not all that much experience. This should allow Cain to work his way up the depth chart and force his way into the running back rotation.
Another aspect of Cain's game that helps his cause to be given the "green light" is that he was a very different style of running than other back on the roster. Ricky Slade, Journey Brown, and fellow signee Devyn Ford are all very fast, shifty backs who will try to beat you with their speed. Cain is much more of a downhill style runner, more likely to try to run through you than around you. This could lead to him being the top option in short yardage situations or when the offense is trying to punch it in on the goal line.
PROBABLY WON'T REDSHIRT
KEATON ELLIS, CB
If anybody had a better spring than Noah Cain, it was Keaton Ellis. A State College native, Ellis received praise from coaches and players alike for his play, with the staff continually mentioning his above-average instincts. He seemed to always be around the ball and really held his own practicing against one of the conference's most exciting receiving corps.
Franklin himself said that the further away you play from the line of scrimmage, the more likely you are to play early. With John Reid's impending graduation and Tariq Castro-Fields potentially off to the NFL after the season, Ellis could benefit in the long run from playing a lot of snaps early in his career. The only thing holding Ellis back would be the emergence of also-exciting youngsters Donovan Johnson and Trent Gordon.
LANCE DIXON, LB
Dixon is in a bit of weird situation. He could either be heading for a Jesse Luketa situation: forcing his way onto the field and making an impact on special teams and in the linebacker rotation. Or the Rasheed Walker situation: the staff knowing he's good enough to play but the new redshirt rule allowing them to play him when they need him and ultimately maintain a year of eligibility. If I were a betting man, I'd put my money on the former.
Even though the Nittany Lions are very deep at linebacker, Cam Brown will be gone after next season. Dixon can gain a lot of experience and make a big impact on special teams while working into the linebacker rotation as the staff sees fit. In short, he's likely way too talented to not see the field.
PLAY IN FOUR GAMES, THEN DECIDE
DEVYN FORD, RB
Ford is yet another in a line of very exciting, speedy back to work their way to Happy Valley. Higher ranked than the aforementioned Noah Cain, Ford could prove too good keep off the field when he gets some run in his four games and adds some great depth if injuries mount up. Not enrolling early may have put him a bit behind, but he has the talent to make up some ground throughout camp and the early parts of the season.
ADISA ISAAC, DE
It's rare for the Nittany Lions to not redshirt a defensive lineman, but Isaac could be an exception. While deep at the position, Sean Spencer loves to give a lot of guys reps, so Isaac could help keep Gross-Matos, Shaka Toney, and Shane Simmons fresh. With YGM almost certainly leaving after this season, Isaac could benefit greatly from extended game reps en route to becoming a key contributor in 2020 and beyond.
JOHN DUNMORE, WR
For all the talent the wide receiving corp has, there's not a lot of experience. John Dunmore could quickly work his way into the two-deep, especially if injuries start to pile up. Regardless, he's going to make an impact when he does see the field. It's just a matter of the staff thinks it's a big enough one to burn an entire season of eligibility.
LONGSHOTS TO NOT REDSHIRT, BUT IT'S POSSIBLE
TYLER RUDOLPH, S
An early enrollee, Rudolph adds some exciting depth at safety, but there's just a lot of guys expected to be ahead of him. Garrett Taylor, Lamont Wade, Jonathan Sutherland, and Jaquan Brisker will likely make up the two-deep, so the staff has no real reason to rush Rudolph onto the field.
D'VON ELLIES, DT
Even with Kevin Givens' unexpected departure to the NFL, the Nittany Lions' depth at defensive tackle is solid. If Fred Hansard is 100% healthy, the Nittany Lions will have as many as seven defensive tackles who could see time. If injuries mount up like last year, there's no CJ Thorpe to save them, as he will have a big role on offense. That's where Ellis would come into play.
GOING TO REDSHIRT
CAEDAN WALLACE, OG
Wallace's status has nothing to do with his talent at all. A top-100 prospect and the No. 3 guard in the nation, Wallace will redshirt simply because of the guys ahead of him. Steven Gonzalez, Mike Miranda, and CJ Thorpe will all get a ton of time at guard. That's three players for two spots, adding a fourth would simply be too many cooks in the kitchen.
TA'QUON ROBERSON AND MICHAEL JOHNSON JR, QB
Unless you're an unquestioned starter, true freshman quarterbacks rarely don't redshirt. Although thin at the position after the Stevens transfer, Sean Clifford and Will Levis should be enough to hold the position steady. If either of these guys plays enough to burn a redshirt, it's likely due to something going horribly awry with injuries.
SALEEM WORMLEY, OL
The Nittany Lions rarely let offensive lineman loose as a true freshman. Although at 6'3/318, Wormley already looks the part, he will benefit from a year on the scout team and getting his body in the best possible shape for the rigors of a Big Ten season.
JOEY PORTER JR, DB
Porter is a very talented football player and will one day make a big impact for the Nittany Lion defense. His true freshman season should be about finding exactly where that impact will be made. Recruited as a corner out of high school, Porter could be better suited to slide back and play safety or bulk up his 6'2 frame and play linebacker like his father. Once that gets figured out, he will need some time to learn the ins and outs of the position.
MARQUIS WILSON, CB
Wilson early enrolled but still needs to bulk up a bit. If Keaton Ellis plays, there's just too many guys ahead of him at the moment.
TJ JONES, WR
The receivers room is too crowded right now, especially with the addition of grad transfer Weston Carr. Jones can spend a season bulking up before trying to crack both the receiver and return man rotations in 2020.
SMITH VILBERT, DE
Vilbert is still new to football, having focused on basketball for much of his life, and is a very raw athlete. It'll take some time before he's ready to go up against some of the best offensive linemen in the country.
BRENTON STRANGE, TE
Yet another early enrollee, Strange enters a tight end room with a fun blend of experience and young talent. Pat Freiermuth and Nick Bowers seem locked in as the top two options and Zack Kuntz will have a role in this offense somewhere. There just aren't enough reps to go around.
JOSEPH DARKWA, DT
Darkwa has a lot more to adjust to than your average college football player. Coming over from Germany, he will have to adjust to not only the culture but the level of talent he will be facing. Asking him to play is just too much.
DAEQUAN HARDY, DB
Hardy needs to add weight, and I mean a lot of weight before he can see the field. Just 160, Hardy has to not only gain the weight but figure out to play at that weight before he should see the field.
Pretty straight forward that Smith, Dixon, Ellis and Cain will play. Smith and Dixon will get some reps at LB, and be terrors on special teams. Ellis will play at CB, as the position got thinned somewhat by the Portal. And Cain is a bruser of a RB that is ready. Beyond those 4, I also see Ford and Dunmore getting on the field in the 4 games they are allowed and still redshirt. Isaac could get some game reps as well, but DE is stacked and I don't see the staff wasting his eligibility unless there are at least a couple injuries.
https://www.roarlionsroar.com/penn-state-football/2019/07/5626/freshmen-redshirt-predictions-brandon-smith-lance-dixon-keaton-ellis
PREDICTING WHICH PENN STATE FRESHMEN WILL PLAY RIGHT AWAY AND WHICH WILL REDSHIRT
With summer classes now entering their second week, Penn State's entire 2019 recruiting class is beginning to settle in on campus. With the gang all here, the staff can now begin to get an idea of who is ready to play right away, and who could use some more time to hone their craft. Let's take a look at who could be factoring right away and who is heading for a redshirt.
We're only going to talk about the freshmen in this post, so JUCO transfers Jaquan Brisker and Anthony Whigan will not be mentioned, although both have redshirt years available.
With that out of the way, let's jump right in.
DEFINITELY NOT REDSHIRTING
BRANDON SMITH, LB
The nation's highest rated inside linebacker, Smith was always going to play whether he enrolled early or not. Thankfully, he did arrive on campus back in January, giving him more time to prepare for his debut collegiate season.
He's bound to a play a big role on special teams, and after spending time this spring at outside linebacker, will look to get time at all three positions. Pry loves his linebackers to be flexible, so being able to throw Smith out there and give any of his other backers a break is going to make life easier.
NOAH CAIN, RB
Cain came on very strong after a fantastic spring, capped off with a two-touchdown performance in the Blue-White Game. Despite all the depth the Nittany Lions currently have at running back, there's not all that much experience. This should allow Cain to work his way up the depth chart and force his way into the running back rotation.
Another aspect of Cain's game that helps his cause to be given the "green light" is that he was a very different style of running than other back on the roster. Ricky Slade, Journey Brown, and fellow signee Devyn Ford are all very fast, shifty backs who will try to beat you with their speed. Cain is much more of a downhill style runner, more likely to try to run through you than around you. This could lead to him being the top option in short yardage situations or when the offense is trying to punch it in on the goal line.
PROBABLY WON'T REDSHIRT
KEATON ELLIS, CB
If anybody had a better spring than Noah Cain, it was Keaton Ellis. A State College native, Ellis received praise from coaches and players alike for his play, with the staff continually mentioning his above-average instincts. He seemed to always be around the ball and really held his own practicing against one of the conference's most exciting receiving corps.
Franklin himself said that the further away you play from the line of scrimmage, the more likely you are to play early. With John Reid's impending graduation and Tariq Castro-Fields potentially off to the NFL after the season, Ellis could benefit in the long run from playing a lot of snaps early in his career. The only thing holding Ellis back would be the emergence of also-exciting youngsters Donovan Johnson and Trent Gordon.
LANCE DIXON, LB
Dixon is in a bit of weird situation. He could either be heading for a Jesse Luketa situation: forcing his way onto the field and making an impact on special teams and in the linebacker rotation. Or the Rasheed Walker situation: the staff knowing he's good enough to play but the new redshirt rule allowing them to play him when they need him and ultimately maintain a year of eligibility. If I were a betting man, I'd put my money on the former.
Even though the Nittany Lions are very deep at linebacker, Cam Brown will be gone after next season. Dixon can gain a lot of experience and make a big impact on special teams while working into the linebacker rotation as the staff sees fit. In short, he's likely way too talented to not see the field.
PLAY IN FOUR GAMES, THEN DECIDE
DEVYN FORD, RB
Ford is yet another in a line of very exciting, speedy back to work their way to Happy Valley. Higher ranked than the aforementioned Noah Cain, Ford could prove too good keep off the field when he gets some run in his four games and adds some great depth if injuries mount up. Not enrolling early may have put him a bit behind, but he has the talent to make up some ground throughout camp and the early parts of the season.
ADISA ISAAC, DE
It's rare for the Nittany Lions to not redshirt a defensive lineman, but Isaac could be an exception. While deep at the position, Sean Spencer loves to give a lot of guys reps, so Isaac could help keep Gross-Matos, Shaka Toney, and Shane Simmons fresh. With YGM almost certainly leaving after this season, Isaac could benefit greatly from extended game reps en route to becoming a key contributor in 2020 and beyond.
JOHN DUNMORE, WR
For all the talent the wide receiving corp has, there's not a lot of experience. John Dunmore could quickly work his way into the two-deep, especially if injuries start to pile up. Regardless, he's going to make an impact when he does see the field. It's just a matter of the staff thinks it's a big enough one to burn an entire season of eligibility.
LONGSHOTS TO NOT REDSHIRT, BUT IT'S POSSIBLE
TYLER RUDOLPH, S
An early enrollee, Rudolph adds some exciting depth at safety, but there's just a lot of guys expected to be ahead of him. Garrett Taylor, Lamont Wade, Jonathan Sutherland, and Jaquan Brisker will likely make up the two-deep, so the staff has no real reason to rush Rudolph onto the field.
D'VON ELLIES, DT
Even with Kevin Givens' unexpected departure to the NFL, the Nittany Lions' depth at defensive tackle is solid. If Fred Hansard is 100% healthy, the Nittany Lions will have as many as seven defensive tackles who could see time. If injuries mount up like last year, there's no CJ Thorpe to save them, as he will have a big role on offense. That's where Ellis would come into play.
GOING TO REDSHIRT
CAEDAN WALLACE, OG
Wallace's status has nothing to do with his talent at all. A top-100 prospect and the No. 3 guard in the nation, Wallace will redshirt simply because of the guys ahead of him. Steven Gonzalez, Mike Miranda, and CJ Thorpe will all get a ton of time at guard. That's three players for two spots, adding a fourth would simply be too many cooks in the kitchen.
TA'QUON ROBERSON AND MICHAEL JOHNSON JR, QB
Unless you're an unquestioned starter, true freshman quarterbacks rarely don't redshirt. Although thin at the position after the Stevens transfer, Sean Clifford and Will Levis should be enough to hold the position steady. If either of these guys plays enough to burn a redshirt, it's likely due to something going horribly awry with injuries.
SALEEM WORMLEY, OL
The Nittany Lions rarely let offensive lineman loose as a true freshman. Although at 6'3/318, Wormley already looks the part, he will benefit from a year on the scout team and getting his body in the best possible shape for the rigors of a Big Ten season.
JOEY PORTER JR, DB
Porter is a very talented football player and will one day make a big impact for the Nittany Lion defense. His true freshman season should be about finding exactly where that impact will be made. Recruited as a corner out of high school, Porter could be better suited to slide back and play safety or bulk up his 6'2 frame and play linebacker like his father. Once that gets figured out, he will need some time to learn the ins and outs of the position.
MARQUIS WILSON, CB
Wilson early enrolled but still needs to bulk up a bit. If Keaton Ellis plays, there's just too many guys ahead of him at the moment.
TJ JONES, WR
The receivers room is too crowded right now, especially with the addition of grad transfer Weston Carr. Jones can spend a season bulking up before trying to crack both the receiver and return man rotations in 2020.
SMITH VILBERT, DE
Vilbert is still new to football, having focused on basketball for much of his life, and is a very raw athlete. It'll take some time before he's ready to go up against some of the best offensive linemen in the country.
BRENTON STRANGE, TE
Yet another early enrollee, Strange enters a tight end room with a fun blend of experience and young talent. Pat Freiermuth and Nick Bowers seem locked in as the top two options and Zack Kuntz will have a role in this offense somewhere. There just aren't enough reps to go around.
JOSEPH DARKWA, DT
Darkwa has a lot more to adjust to than your average college football player. Coming over from Germany, he will have to adjust to not only the culture but the level of talent he will be facing. Asking him to play is just too much.
DAEQUAN HARDY, DB
Hardy needs to add weight, and I mean a lot of weight before he can see the field. Just 160, Hardy has to not only gain the weight but figure out to play at that weight before he should see the field.
ESPN's FPI has Penn State preseason ranked #12 in the country, one above Ohio State. Gives PSU a 10.4% chance to win the Big Ten compared to Michigan at 48.2%! We get them in the White Out. We'll see how that goes for them. They have a quarterback and good wide receivers. I like our team better everywhere else.
http://www.espn.com/college-football/statistics/teamratings
http://www.espn.com/college-football/statistics/teamratings
Imagine these two coming off the corner against Shea Patterson and his burners.
Micah was probably the perfect person for Jason to get competitive with. Two supreme athletes going at it in a fun way is awesome and inspiring everybody I would guess
Total defense stat for 2018. Two of our very confident opponents struggled last year.
http://www.espn.com/college-football/statistics/team/_/stat/total/position/defense
#93 Ohio State 5204 400 3118 239.8 2086 160.5 334 25.7
#95 Pittsburgh 5218 401 2825 217.3 2393 184.1 375 28.8
http://www.espn.com/college-football/statistics/team/_/stat/total/position/defense
#93 Ohio State 5204 400 3118 239.8 2086 160.5 334 25.7
#95 Pittsburgh 5218 401 2825 217.3 2393 184.1 375 28.8
This is where Notre Dame insisting on being an independent bites them in the ass. Conferences make sure to give their school a bye before they play them. Hilarious.
Following are the nine FBS teams that will face the greatest number of opponents coming off a bye week in 2019. If we accept the widely held assumption that teams fare better after a break, the programs listed here will play with a disadvantage vs. their counterparts.
Teams playing FOUR Opponents off a bye week
EAST CAROLINA – at Navy (Sept. 14), at UCF (Oct. 19), Cincinnati (Nov. 2), and at UConn (Nov. 23)
IOWA – at Iowa State (Sept. 14), Middle Tennessee (Sept. 28), at Wisconsin (Nov. 9), and Illinois (Nov. 23)
MIDDLE TENNESSEE – at Iowa (Sept. 28), at FAU (Oct. 12), Rice (Nov. 16), and Old Dominion (Nov. 23)
PENN STATE – at Maryland (Sept. 27), at Michigan State (Oct. 26), at Minnesota (Nov. 9), and Indiana (Nov. 16)
TEMPLE – Georgia Tech (Sept. 28), at SMU (Oct. 19), at USF (Nov. 7), and Tulane (Nov. 16)
TENNESSEE – Georgia (Oct. 5), Mississippi State (Oct. 12), UAB (Nov. 2), and at Kentucky (Nov. 9)
Teams playing FIVE opponents off a bye week
GEORGIA – at Tennessee (Oct. 5), South Carolina (Oct. 12), Florida (Nov. 2 at Jacksonville, Fla.), Missouri (Nov. 9), and at Auburn (Nov. 16)
WISCONSIN – Michigan (Sept. 21), Kent State (Oct. 5), Iowa (Nov. 9), at Nebraska (Nov. 16), and Purdue (Nov. 23)
Teams playing SEVEN opponents off a bye week
NOTRE DAME – New Mexico (Sept. 14), Bowling Green (Oct. 5), USC (Oct. 12), Virginia Tech (Nov. 2), at Duke (Nov. 9), Navy (Nov. 16) and Boston College (Nov. 23)
Following are the nine FBS teams that will face the greatest number of opponents coming off a bye week in 2019. If we accept the widely held assumption that teams fare better after a break, the programs listed here will play with a disadvantage vs. their counterparts.
Teams playing FOUR Opponents off a bye week
EAST CAROLINA – at Navy (Sept. 14), at UCF (Oct. 19), Cincinnati (Nov. 2), and at UConn (Nov. 23)
IOWA – at Iowa State (Sept. 14), Middle Tennessee (Sept. 28), at Wisconsin (Nov. 9), and Illinois (Nov. 23)
MIDDLE TENNESSEE – at Iowa (Sept. 28), at FAU (Oct. 12), Rice (Nov. 16), and Old Dominion (Nov. 23)
PENN STATE – at Maryland (Sept. 27), at Michigan State (Oct. 26), at Minnesota (Nov. 9), and Indiana (Nov. 16)
TEMPLE – Georgia Tech (Sept. 28), at SMU (Oct. 19), at USF (Nov. 7), and Tulane (Nov. 16)
TENNESSEE – Georgia (Oct. 5), Mississippi State (Oct. 12), UAB (Nov. 2), and at Kentucky (Nov. 9)
Teams playing FIVE opponents off a bye week
GEORGIA – at Tennessee (Oct. 5), South Carolina (Oct. 12), Florida (Nov. 2 at Jacksonville, Fla.), Missouri (Nov. 9), and at Auburn (Nov. 16)
WISCONSIN – Michigan (Sept. 21), Kent State (Oct. 5), Iowa (Nov. 9), at Nebraska (Nov. 16), and Purdue (Nov. 23)
Teams playing SEVEN opponents off a bye week
NOTRE DAME – New Mexico (Sept. 14), Bowling Green (Oct. 5), USC (Oct. 12), Virginia Tech (Nov. 2), at Duke (Nov. 9), Navy (Nov. 16) and Boston College (Nov. 23)
The 10 best linebackers in college football for the 2019 season
Paul Myerberg, USA TODAY
9. Micah Parsons, Penn State (So.)
In terms of pure physical gifts, Parsons is on another level. He flashed this athleticism in spurts as a true freshman; if not quite up to speed from a mental perspective — not surprising nor disappointing given his youth — Parsons made individual plays that speak to a skill set unmatched in the Big Ten. It's just a matter of time before it all comes together. When it does, Parsons will be borderline unstoppable.
Paul Myerberg, USA TODAY
9. Micah Parsons, Penn State (So.)
In terms of pure physical gifts, Parsons is on another level. He flashed this athleticism in spurts as a true freshman; if not quite up to speed from a mental perspective — not surprising nor disappointing given his youth — Parsons made individual plays that speak to a skill set unmatched in the Big Ten. It's just a matter of time before it all comes together. When it does, Parsons will be borderline unstoppable.
Curious how Luketa gets on the field playing LB at 247. I think Carr will be a big factor. I don't think they start him at the beginning of the season for how that would play in the locker room, but he might be our most dependable receiver based on the yips we saw from the group catching the ball last year. Hope that has changed, obviously. Wouldn't be surprised if Brisker is starting by the time we get to the Big Ten portion of the schedule. And there is talk that Stout might be the starting punter next year. Didn't realize initially he was that highly regarded there. Thought he was just a kickoff guy.
https://www.mcall.com/sports/penn-s...0190709-xille6zuuzfa7e2w366xghaf7m-story.html
→ Penn State added two players through the NCAA transfer portal. Weston Carr is a 6-2 receiver who played at Asuza Pacific in California and was a Division II all-American in 2017. Carr is a graduate student with one season of eligibility remaining.
In addition, kicker Jordan Stout transferred to Penn State from Virginia Tech. Stout handled kickoffs for the Hokies last season.
→ Looking for some big bodies on the field? Penn State’s projected starting offensive line weighs a combined 1,613 pounds, an average of 322.6 per lineman. Here’s the early line projection: LT Rasheed Walker (324), LG Steven Gonzalez (341), C Michal Menet (313), RG C.J. Thorpe (322), RT Will Fries (313).
→ Cornerback Tariq Castro-Fields was listed at 6-0, 186 pounds prior to the Citrus Bowl. He’s significantly bigger now, being listed at 6-0, 197.
→ Safety Jaquan Brisker, who played the last two seasons at Lackawanna College, is 6-1, 210 pounds and a contender to earn a starting spot alongside Garrett Taylor.
→ Sophomore linebacker Jesse Luketa (6-3, 247) has added 10 pounds and figures to be a key player on defense and special teams.
https://www.mcall.com/sports/penn-s...0190709-xille6zuuzfa7e2w366xghaf7m-story.html
→ Penn State added two players through the NCAA transfer portal. Weston Carr is a 6-2 receiver who played at Asuza Pacific in California and was a Division II all-American in 2017. Carr is a graduate student with one season of eligibility remaining.
In addition, kicker Jordan Stout transferred to Penn State from Virginia Tech. Stout handled kickoffs for the Hokies last season.
→ Looking for some big bodies on the field? Penn State’s projected starting offensive line weighs a combined 1,613 pounds, an average of 322.6 per lineman. Here’s the early line projection: LT Rasheed Walker (324), LG Steven Gonzalez (341), C Michal Menet (313), RG C.J. Thorpe (322), RT Will Fries (313).
→ Cornerback Tariq Castro-Fields was listed at 6-0, 186 pounds prior to the Citrus Bowl. He’s significantly bigger now, being listed at 6-0, 197.
→ Safety Jaquan Brisker, who played the last two seasons at Lackawanna College, is 6-1, 210 pounds and a contender to earn a starting spot alongside Garrett Taylor.
→ Sophomore linebacker Jesse Luketa (6-3, 247) has added 10 pounds and figures to be a key player on defense and special teams.
I'm doing this just from memory but, the top 3 WRs that I think dropped the most balls last year were Johnson, Polk and Thompkins. All of them are gone. I'm not really worried about Hamler or Dotson as far as drops are concerned.
Personally, I’ve not been a fan of the size of our o-line under Galt/Franklin. It’s one of my few criticisms of this staff.
The first team NFL All-Pro offensive line averaged about 314lbs. That’s with extra years of being a grown man and adding muscle mass in the weight room. Meanwhile, Penn State’s o-line is currently averaging 322lbs.
Highlight the interesting positions
https://247sports.com/college/penn-...Clifford-Micah-Parsons-Ricky-Slade-133579281/
Lions247 Summer Depth Chart Projection
BySEAN FITZ
Wide Receiver
6 - Justin Shorter (So./Fr.)
11 - Daniel George (So./Fr.)
81 -Cam Sullivan-Brown(Jr./So.)
10 - TJ Jones (Fr./Fr.)
[Sullivan-Brown goes in and out of the transfer portal and is behind a RS frosh]
Wide Receiver
5 - Jahan Dotson (So./So.)
23 - Weston Carr (Gr./Sr.)
12 -Mac Hippenhammer(Jr./So.)
88 - Dan Chisena (Sr./Sr.)* (Awarded scholarship in the spring)
8 - John Dunmore (Fr./Fr.)
[Big deal made of Chisena but behind baseball playing Hipp here]
Left Tackle
53 - Rasheed Walker (So./Fr.)
75 - Des Holmes (Jr./So.)
79 - Caedan Wallace (Fr./Fr.)
[Wallace starts out at OT]
Right Tackle
71 - Will Fries (Sr./Jr.)
55 - Anthony Whigan (Jr./Jr.)
79 -Caedan Wallace(Fr./Fr.)
[Is Whigan ahead of Holmes to push Fries if he has any struggles?]
Defensive End
18 - Shaka Toney (Sr./Jr.)
34 - Shane Simmons (Sr./Jr.)
28 - Jayson Oweh (So./Fr.)
20 - Adisa Isaac (Fr./Fr.)
[I could see any of the Top 3 emerging as the starter by the time Big Ten play rolls around. Isaac will get his 4 games to keep his shirt, am very excited to see what he brings to the table]
https://247sports.com/college/penn-...Clifford-Micah-Parsons-Ricky-Slade-133579281/
Lions247 Summer Depth Chart Projection
BySEAN FITZ
Wide Receiver
6 - Justin Shorter (So./Fr.)
11 - Daniel George (So./Fr.)
81 -Cam Sullivan-Brown(Jr./So.)
10 - TJ Jones (Fr./Fr.)
[Sullivan-Brown goes in and out of the transfer portal and is behind a RS frosh]
Wide Receiver
5 - Jahan Dotson (So./So.)
23 - Weston Carr (Gr./Sr.)
12 -Mac Hippenhammer(Jr./So.)
88 - Dan Chisena (Sr./Sr.)* (Awarded scholarship in the spring)
8 - John Dunmore (Fr./Fr.)
[Big deal made of Chisena but behind baseball playing Hipp here]
Left Tackle
53 - Rasheed Walker (So./Fr.)
75 - Des Holmes (Jr./So.)
79 - Caedan Wallace (Fr./Fr.)
[Wallace starts out at OT]
Right Tackle
71 - Will Fries (Sr./Jr.)
55 - Anthony Whigan (Jr./Jr.)
79 -Caedan Wallace(Fr./Fr.)
[Is Whigan ahead of Holmes to push Fries if he has any struggles?]
Defensive End
18 - Shaka Toney (Sr./Jr.)
34 - Shane Simmons (Sr./Jr.)
28 - Jayson Oweh (So./Fr.)
20 - Adisa Isaac (Fr./Fr.)
[I could see any of the Top 3 emerging as the starter by the time Big Ten play rolls around. Isaac will get his 4 games to keep his shirt, am very excited to see what he brings to the table]
Our depth nearly across the board seems as strong and as deep as it's been probably since the mid 90s. If our DTs and safetys improve, along with OL replacements being able to step in and not have a sharp drop off, we could have a special year.
Garrett Taylor had a hell of a year, especially in his first year as a starter. My default assumption is he will be even better this year but, even if he just stays the same, we have one of the safety spots covered..
Gonzo is single-handedly increasing that size. I wouldn't get caught up in the average size. Look at each guy individually and tell us who you would reshape and how.
And, touche, 247 ranks Clifford the #10 QB in the Big Ten.
McSorley's stats that can't be duplicated from last season.
Year School Conf Class Pos G Cmp Att Pct Yds Y/A AY/A TD Int Rate
*2018 Penn State Big Ten SR QB 13 192 361 53.2 2530 7.0 7.1 18 7 124.6
https://247sports.com/college/penn-...-Ten-quarterbacks-2019-133360234/#133360234_3
10. Sean Clifford, Penn State
The verdict: Thanks to Tommy Stevens' departure to Mississippi State in May as a graduate transfer, Penn State's QB1 title belongs to Clifford. He competed with Stevens in the spring and played well at times, but can't be expected to replicate the production numbers left by multi-year starter Trace McSorley. The Nittany Lions made sure to strengthen their depth at the position this cycle after James Franklin signed a pair of four-star passers in Taquan Roberson and Michael Johnson Jr., both early enrollees ...
I think this rating is more like a douche than a touche .... lazy journalistic effort,
