(QB Drew Allar – USA Today Sports)
Key Players Returning:
QB Drew Allar, RB Kaytron Allen, RB/KR Nicholas Singleton, TE Tyler Warren, OG JB Nelson, OG Sal Wormley, DE Dani Dennis-Sutton, DT Zane Durant, DT Dvon Ellies, LB Abdul Carter, LB Dominic DeLuca, LB Kobe King, LB Keon Wylie, CB Cam Miller, NB Jaylen Reed, SS Kevin Winston Jr., PR Kaden Saunders, and PT Riley Thompson.
Key Players Departing:
WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith (Auburn transfer), TE Theo Johnson (Giants R4), OC Hunter Nourzad (Chiefs R5), OT Olumuyiwa Fashanu (Jets R1), OT Caedan Wallace (Patriots R3), DE Adisa Isaac (Ravens R3), DE Chop Robinson (Dolphins R1), LB Curtis Jacobs, CB Johnny Dixon, CB Kalen King (Packers R7), NB/PR Daequan Hardy (Bills R6), PK Alex Felkins.
(TE Luke Reynolds – 247Sports)
Top 10 Recruits:
Blue Chip Recruits: TE Luke Reynolds (Cheshire, Connecticut).
4 Star Recruits: CB AJ Harris (Georgia transfer), OL Cooper Cousins (Erie, Pennsylvania), QB Ethan Grunkemeyer (Lewis Center, Ohio), CB Jon Mitchell (Jacksonville, Florida), RB Quinton Martin Jr. (Berlie Vernon, Pennsylvania), OT Liam Andrews (Brookline, Massachusetts), OT Garrett Sexton (Hartland, Wisconsin), WR Julian Fleming (Ohio State transfer), and ATH Dejuan Lane (Baltimore, Maryland).
2023 Results:
G01 WEST VIRGINIA W 38-15
G02 DELAWARE W 63-7
G03 @ Illinois W 30-13
G04 #24 IOWA W 31-0
G05 @ Northwestern W 41-13
G06 UMASS W 63-0
G07 @ #3 Ohio State L 12-20
G08 INDIANA W 33-24
G09 @ Maryland W 51-15
G10 #3 MICHIGAN L 15-24
G11 RUTGERS W 27-6
G12 @ Michigan State W 42-0
BOWL vs. #11 Ole Miss L 25-38
Team Info:
2023 Record: 10-3 (3rd in Big Ten East)
Home: 6-1
Away: 4-1
Neutral: 0-1
B10: 7-2
Non-B10: 3-1
Head Coach: James Franklin
Penn State: 88-39
Career: 112-54
Bowls: 6-6
(RB Kaytron Allen – Lions247)
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Drew Allar (233-389, 2631 yards, 59.9%, 6.8 avg., 25 TD, 2 TD)
Rushing: Kaytron Allen (172 car., 902 yards, 5.2 avg., 6 TD)
Receiving: Tyler Warren (34 rec., 442 yards, 12.4 avg., 7 TD)
TDs Scored: Nicholas Singleton (10)
Sacks: Abdul Carter (4.5)
Tackles: Kevin Winston Jr. (61)
Tackles For Loss: Dani Dennis-Sutton (6)
Interceptions: Dominic Deluca/Jaylen Reed (2)
Pass Deflections: Abdul Carter/Kevin Winston Jr. (5)
Forced Fumbles: Dominic Deluca/Dani Dennis-Sutton/Demeioun Robinson (2)
Kick Returns: Nicholas Singleton (13 ret., 313 yards, 24.1 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Kaden Saunders (14 ret., 86 yards, 6.1 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: Sander Sahaydak (0-2 fg/fga., 0%, 7-7 xp/xpa., 7 pts.)
Punting: Riley Thompson (50 punts, 2290 yards, 45.8 avg., 17 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters
QB: 15 Drew Allar (JR)
RB: 10 Nicholas Singleton (JR)
WR: 3 Julian Fleming (SR/TR)
WR: 6 Harrison Wallace III (RS JR)
WR: 7 Kaden Saunders (RS SO)
TE: 44 Tyler Warren (SR)
LT: 66 Drew Shelton (JR)
LG: 71 Olaivavega Ioane (RS SO)
OC: 53 Nick Dawkins (RS SR)
RG: 77 Sal Wormley (RS SR)
RT: 72 Nolan Rucci (RS JR/TR)
KR: 10 Nicholas Singleton (RS SO)
PK: 93 Sander Sahaydak (RS JR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 33 Dani Dennis-Sutton (JR)
DT: 91 Dvon J-Thomas (RS SR)
DT: 28 Zane Durant (JR)
DE: 11 Abdul Carter (JR)
LB: 13 Tony Rojas (SO)
LB: 41 Kobe King (RS JR)
NB: 1 Jaylen Reed (SR)
CB: 5 Cam Miller (JR)
CB: 4 AJ Harris (SO/TR)
FS: 6 Zakee Wheatley (RS JR)
SS: 2 Kevin Winston Jr. (JR)
PR: 7 Kaden Saunders (RS SO)
PT: 95 Riley Thomson (JR/TR)
(DE Abdul Carter – Lions247/Getty Images)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: A
Running Backs: B
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: B
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: C
Secondary: C
Special Teams
Kick Returners: A
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: C
Punters: A
Schedule:
08/31 @ West Virginia Mountaineers | Penn State leads the series 49-9-2. Last season’s 38-15 win was the first meeting between schools since 1992.
09/07 BOWLING GREEN FALCONS | Penn State leads the series 2-0. The Nittany Lions won (48-3) the last meeting between schools in 1998.
09/21 KENT STATE GOLDEN FLASHES | Penn State leads the series 6-0. The Nittany Lions won (63-10) the last meeting between schools in 2018.
09/28 ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI | Penn State trails the series 21-6. The Nittany Lions are 4-2 since 2014, and their last series loss (18-20) was in 2021.
10/05 UCLA BRUINS | Penn State trails the series 2-4. The Nittany Lions won (21-6) the last meeting between schools in 1968.
10/12 @ USC Trojans | Penn State trails the series 4-6. The Nittany Lions lost (48-52) the last meeting between schools in 2016.
10/26 @ Wisconsin Badgers | Penn State leads the series 11-9. The Nittany Lions won (16-10) the last meeting between schools in 2021.
11/02 OHIO STATE BUCKEYES | Penn State trails the series 14-24. The Nittany Lions are 1-9 since 2014, and their last series win (24-21) was in 2016.
11/09 WASHINGTON HUSKIES | Penn State leads the series 3-0. The Nittany Lions won (35-28) the last meeting between schools in 2017.
11/16 @ Purdue Boilermakers | Penn State leads the series 16-3-1. The Nittany Lions won (35-31) the last meeting between schools in 2022.
11/23 @ Minnesota Golden Gophers | Penn State leads the series 10-6. The Nittany Lions won (45-17) the last meeting between schools in 2022.
11/30 MARYLAND TERRAPINS | Penn State leads the series 43-3-1. The Nittany Lions are 2-8 since 2014, and their last series loss (19-35) was in 2020.
Predictions:
Home: 5-2
Road: 1-4
Neutral: 0-0
B10: 4-5
Non-B10: 2-1
Overall: 6-6 (11th in Big Ten)
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