UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Fresh off back-to-back disappointing seasons, Penn State is eager to flip the script with both familiar and new faces in 2022.
Across the 2020 and 2021 campaigns, the Nittany Lions went a combined 11-11 and are 2-6 in their last eight games. But James Franklin believes he has a deeper roster in 2022 than he did in 2021, a season in which the wheels came off after a couple of key injuries on both offense and defense.
Quarterback
Returners: Sean Clifford, Christian Veilleux
New: Drew Allar, Beau Pribula
The skinny: In a conference featuring a number of sixth-year quarterbacks, Penn State is no different. Clifford is back for his fourth year as the starter and he’s looking to produce a season more reminiscent of the first five games of the 2021 campaign, when the Nittany Lions started 5-0 and the gunslinger had 11 touchdown passes against three interceptions.
Though none of the three backups appear poised to overthrow the sixth-year quarterback in Clifford, this year’s cast of characters looks deeper than prior years. Redshirt freshman Christian Veilleux brings nearly a full game’s worth of experience from last year’s Rutgers win to the table, and both Allar and Pribula are highly-regarded freshmen.
Allar is viewed as the quarterback of the future, given his status as a five-star recruit. However, since Clifford is sticking around Happy Valley for one more season, a quarterback competition among Veilleux, Allar and Pribula will be placed on hold for another year.
Running back
Returners: Keyvone Lee, Devyn Ford, Tyler Holzworth, Tank Smith
New: Nicholas Singleton, Kaytron Allen
The skinny: Even with former Penn State running back Caziah Holmes entering the transfer portal earlier this month, the running backs room will provide plenty of options for Franklin and his staff to choose from.
Lee is back for his junior season after leading the Nittany Lions in rushing the last two seasons, but he hardly has a stronghold on the job. Fourth-year Devyn Ford, meanwhile, was relegated to mostly appearing on special teams last season as a kickoff returner. Freshmen Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen, five and four-star recruits, respectively, are expected to contribute from the first game onward in some capacity.
Wide receiver
Returners: Parker Washington, KeAndre Lambert-Smith, Malick Meiga, Jaden Dottin, Liam Clifford, Maston Stahl, Jake Spencer, Jan Mahlert, Harrison Wallace III, Jason Estrella
New: Mitch Tinsley, Kaden Saunders, Tyler Johnson, Anthony Ivey, Omari Evans
The skinny: Though the loss of Jahan Dotson will certainly be felt by this program, a pair of key returners are back in third-year wideouts Parker Washington and KeAndre Lambert-Smith. The duo combined for over 1,300 receiving yards and seven touchdowns last fall. The expectation is for Washington to remain in the slot and Lambert-Smith to operate on the outside.
Filling the role of Dotson on offense, though, will be Western Kentucky transfer and fifth-year receiver Mitchell Tinsley. Last year, Tinsley had over 1,400 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns in a pass-happy offense. As was the case in 2021, expect the top three receivers to earn the bulk of the production this fall.
Tight end
Returners: Brenton Strange, Theo Johnson, Tyler Warren, Khalil Dinkins, Grayson Kline
New: Jerry Cross
The skinny: Penn State has developed its fair share of NFL tight ends over the last decade, but it remains a bit of an unknown what exactly the Nittany Lions have with their current crop. Strange and Johnson each recorded over 200 receiving yards and Warren, a former high school quarterback, presented an interesting option as a gadget player for short yardage situations.
Offensive line
Returners: Caedan Wallace, Sal Wormley, Olu Fashanu, Juice Scruggs, Landon Tengwall, Golden Israel-Achumba, Bryce Effner, Ibrahim Traore, JB Nelson, Nick Dawkins, Jimmy Christ
New: Hunter Nourzad, Jim Fitzgerald, Drew Shelton, Ben Hartman, Vega Ioane, Maleek McNeil, Matt Detisch, Sam Siafa, Ian Harvie
The skinny: As Franklin pointed out at Big Ten media days, Penn State’s offensive line has much to prove this year. After down seasons in 2020 and 2021, there is once again turnover at this spot. There appear to be two near-certain starters in Caedan Wallace and Juice Scruggs, fourth-year and fifth-year players who started last season. Aside from that, it’s an open competition that may feature some movement as the season gets underway.
Redshirt freshman Landon Tengwall has stood out as a potential candidate to start at left guard. Sal Wormley, who missed all of last season with injury, is in a battle with Cornell-transfer Hunter Nourzad to start at right guard.
Defensive line
Returners: Davon Townley Jr., Adisa Isaac, Dani Dennis-Sutton, Zuriah Fisher, Nick Tarburton, Amin Vanover, Rodney McGraw, Smith Vilbert, Jake Wilson, Alex Furmanek, Hakeem Beamon, Jordan van den Berg, Fatorma Mulbah, Kaleb Artis, Dvon Ellies, PJ Mustipher, Coziah Izzard
New: Chop Robinson, Will Patton, Andrew Sharga, Zane Durant
The skinny: Just as filling the void left by Jahan Dotson won’t be easy, Penn State will have its work cut out to replace what current Atlanta Falcon Arnold Ebiketie brought to the team last year. Similar to the 2021 Nittany Lions, this year’s team may rely on another transfer in sophomore Chop Robinson.
Formerly of Maryland, Robinson decided to switch to a different school in the Big Ten East. With the Nittany Lions, he will be used as an edge rusher; as a Terrapin, Robinson was primarily an outside linebacker and had a pair of sacks last season as a freshman. Redshirt junior Adisa Isaac is back after missing the entire 2021 campaign with an injury. Redshirt senior Nick Tarburton also returns for a fifth year and should provide the Nittany Lions’ run defense with some stability on the edge.
While the defensive ends room gets a key player back from injury this fall in Isaac, the heart and soul of the defensive line returns in fifth-year senior PJ Mustipher. Despite missing every game after the Iowa contest, one in which he injured his left knee, Mustipher was named second-team All-Big Ten by the coaches in 2021. If he’s back at full strength, Mustipher’s return will be huge for Penn State’s defense.
Linebackers
Returners: Jonathan Sutherland, Curtis Jacobs, Bobby Walchak, Dominic DeLuca, Robbie Dwyer, Kobe King, Jamari Buddin, Tyler Elsdon, Charlie Katshir, Cody Romano, Ben Chizmar
New: Abdul Carter, Keon Wylie, Tyrece Mills
The skinny: For a school known as “LBU,” linebacker is perhaps the greatest uncertainty on Penn State’s defense. Sixth-year Jonathan Sutherland has made a full positional switch, going from his former spot of safety to Sam linebacker this fall. Third-year Curtis Jacobs is the most battle-tested of the group at linebacker, considering he started 11 games last season, made 61 tackles and had three sacks. He’s expected to start at Will linebacker.
At middle linebacker, it gets a little murkier. The position that is often referred to as the “quarterback of the defense” is up for grabs, with both third-year Tyler Elsdon and second-year Kobe King leading the competition for who gets the starting nod.
Defensive backs
Returners: Johnny Dixon, Kalen King, Marquis Wilson, Joey Porter Jr., Jeffrey Davis Jr., Daequan Hardy, Jace Tutty, Stephen Ripka, Keaton Ellis, Zakee Wheatley, Jaylen Reed, Ji’Ayir Brown
New: Cam Miller, Christian Driver, Kevin Winston Jr., Mekhi Flowers, Jaden Seider, Sebastian Costantini
The skinny: Jaquan Brisker might be playing for the Chicago Bears now, but Penn State returns one high-performing safety in fifth-year Ji’Ayir Brown. Last season, Brown had six interceptions, which was tied for the most in college football, and he’s expected to take over Brisker’s spot as the leader of the secondary this fall.
Where things become less clear is for who will be the starting safety opposite of Brown. Fourth-year Keaton Ellis, second-year Zakee Wheatley and second-year Jaylen Reed are all in the mix.
Fourth-year Joey Porter Jr., who struggled with drawing pass interference calls last fall and is looking to improve in that aspect, returns and is poised to start once more. Second-year Kalen King gained invaluable experience as a freshman and is in the mix to start with Porter Jr. But former South Carolina transfer and fourth-year Johnny Dixon has been the talk of the coaching staff this summer and could impact new defensive coordinator Manny Diaz’s plans. Fourth-year Daequan Hardy returns and seems to have a pretty firm grasp on the nickel back spot.
Special teams
Returners: Barney Amor, Gabriel Nwosu, Jake Pinegar, Sander Sahaydak, Mitchell Groh
New: Alex Bacchetta
The skinny: Without do-it-all sensation and current Baltimore Raven Jordan Stout, Penn State has to find a new starting punter, kicker and kickoff specialist. Sixth-year and former Colgate transfer Barney Amor, who recently was awarded a full scholarship, could very well take over the punting duties.
Fifth-year Jake Pinegar, who served as the team’s placekicker in 2018 and 2019, is back for another year. He and redshirt freshman Sander Sahaydak are in competition for the starting kicker spot.
Andrew Destin: adestin@post-gazette.com and Twitter @AndrewDestin1.
First Published: August 28, 2022, 9:30 a.m.
