Projecting Penn State's Starting Lineup This Season
Penn State turns toward the 2023 season with a loaded roster and some big questions, most of them surrounding depth-related issues. The starting lineups, if not written in ink, largely appear settled long before the Lions host West Virginia on Sept. 2.
Penn State's offense is filled with returning talent and, despite what coach James Franklin said before training camp began, knows who it's starting quarterback will be. Defensively, the Lions seek the right rotations and situational looks but appear set with starters as well. The biggest questions are on special teams, where Penn State seeks a new punter, kicker, punt returner and long snapper.
Training camp is underway at Penn State. Here, then, our projections for the Lions' starting lineups this season.
Penn State's Starting Offense
LT: Olu Fashanu: The best offensive lineman of James Franklin's tenure and the Lions' most-prized lineman in the draft since Levi Brown. He's at full strength (and even better) after returning from a late-season injury.
LG: Landon Tengwall: Excellent in the five games he played last season, Tengwall returns from injury as an interior heat shield to protect Drew Allar's left side.
C: Hunter Nourzad: After replacing Tengwall for the second half of last season, Nourzad shifts to center, where he'll replace veteran starter Juice Scruggs. Nourzad's development is key to the line becoming dominant.
RG: Sal Wormley: A stalwart last year, Wormley is the only returning lineman who started all 13 games in 2022. He's an underrated lineman who brings a 313-pound frame to the line.
RT: Caedan Wallace: Another starting lineman returning from injury, Wallace isn't assured the top spot. Drew Shelton played a huge role in replacing Fashanu and will give Wallace a run. However, Wallace has made huge strides since the injury and is ready for college's version of the contract year.
TE: Theo Johnson: With 20 receptions, four for touchdowns, Johnson is Penn State's No. 2 returning receiver. Franklin has praised the junior for taking a leadership role this offseason, essential for this offense. The Lions will rely on Tyler Warren in their two-tight sets.
WR: KeAndre Lambert-Smith: Franklin says Lambert-Smith is ready to become the team's No. 1 receiver after a 24-catch season in 2022. Lambert-Smith agrees, particularly after catching the longest touchdown pass in Rose Bowl history.
WR: Harrison Wallace III: Wallace, who goes by the name 'Tre,' is among Penn State's fastest players with a high jumper's vertical leap. Those two traits, coupled with his catch radius, make Wallace a player to watch.
WR: Dante Cephas: After catching 130 passes the past two years at Kent State, Cephas seeks to inject another playmaker into the Lions' offense. Cephas, named to the Biletnikoff Award watch list, could be Penn State's most important portal addition this year. He's got some work to do acclimating, however, as Omari Evans is another contender.
RB: Nicholas Singleton: Asked who might be a candidate for Brude Feldman's annual "Freaks List," Penn State strength coach Chuck Losey pointed to Singleton. The running back is among Penn State's most explosive athletes, having spent the offseason emphasizing stability and change of direction. Partnered with Kaytron Allen, Singleton gives Penn State one of the nation's best backfield.
QB: Drew Allar: It's his time. After playing in 10 games last season, and completing 58 percent of his passes, the sophomore gets control of an offense that was built for him. He has the best arm Penn State's seen since Kerry Collins. And at 6-5, 242 pounds, he's built like a defensive end.
Penn State's Starting Defense
DE: Adisa Isaac: He needed time to recover from a 2021 season-ending injury, but Isaac made it all the way back. He led Lions with 11 tackles for loss and eight quarterback hurries last season and bookends a top-end pass rush.
DT: Hakeem Beamon: The redshirt senior says he's "very effective" at about 260 pounds, where he can use speed and leverage against larger offensive linemen. Franklin, meanwhile, said Beamon is "bigger and stronger than he's ever been."
DT: Dvon Ellies: Replacing PJ Mustipher won't be easy, but Ellies says he's ready. He'll play at about 302 pounds, providing the interior size the defense needs. "Dvon is working in a way that I've never seen him work before," Franklin said.
DE: Chop Robinson: Pro Football Focus' top-ranked edge rusher in 2022 expects to finish more sack attempts this year. He made 5.5 last year and should reach double digits in 2023.
OLB: Abdul Carter: The sophomore ultimately might be the highest-drafted player on this defense. At 6-3, 250, he's a linebacker in a defensive end's body. And he'll probably line up on the edge occasionally.
MLB: Tyler Elsdon: Last year's starter (though he shared the position with Kobe King) will have some competition. Elsdon missed spring drills, so he'll have some ground to make up in training camp. King and Elsdon shared the role last year, which could extend to this season.
OLB: Curtis Jacobs: The 235-pound junior gets overshadowed by Carter but is among Penn State's best-rounded defenders. He's a sure tackler with great range and the ability to crash the line of scrimmage. He and Carter will fuel each other.
CB: Kalen King: One of Pro Football Focus' highest-rated cornerbacks in 2022 returns as the secondary's star. Will opposing offenses throw at a defensive back who ranked third nationally with 18 pass breakups?
S: Keaton Ellis: The second-year starter must provide more than secondary stability. Franklin said Ellis has demonstrated the kind of playmaking ability that will make him a turnover generator.
S: Jaylen Reed: Reed worked his way into the secondary rotation as a sophomore and rises into the starting lineup to replace Ji'Ayir Brown. It's a tough ask, but Reed's a sure tackler who can disrupt passing games.
CB: Johnny Dixon: The senior takes over for Joey Porter, Jr., another tough ask. But Dixon might be the Lions' most underrated player. He made two interceptions last year while adding three sacks as a corner blitz specialist.
Penn State's Starting Specialists
K: Sander Sahaydak: The junior is 1-for-2 in career field-goal attempts, though the miss was from 53 yards. Sahaydak needs to demonstrate consistency, both as a placekicker and on kickoffs, a role he held intermittently last season.
P: Alex Bacchetta: The nation's top-ranked punting recruit in 2021 gets his after being on the roster for two years. He averaged 40 yards per attempt last season but needs to be more assertive.
KR: Nicholas Singleton: A natural-born returner, Singleton went 100 yards for a touchdown against Rutgers last year. He and Allen will handle the kickoff-return role just fine.
PR: Omari Evans: This spot is wide open, since no one on the roster has returned a punt in a college game. Evans, a sophomore receiver, is a contender with cornerback Daequan Hardy and several others. A freshman might even win the job
LS: Tyler Duzansky: No one considers the long snapper until he makes a mistake, which Chris Stoll rarely did. Now, the Lions have to replace the Patrick Mannelly Award-winner as national long snapper of the year. Duzansky is a walk-on redshirt sophomore ready for the job.
