Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1220211
Last season, Hamler and Dotson com- bined to make 83 of the 121 receptions that Penn State's wide receivers totaled. However, there is some reason for opti- mism. Dunmore was rated a four-star recruit by Rivals.com, and so was Lam- bert-Smith. Lambert-Smith and Dottin haven't had a chance yet to show what they can do, but the other young receivers have been working behind the scenes for a while. For now, the only certainty is that Penn State will need last season's sup- porting cast and possibly one or two members of its Class of 2020 to be ready to play major roles this coming fall. LEFT GUARD CONTENDERS Mike Miranda, Anthony Whigan, Bryce E:ner, Saleem Wormley, Nick Dawkins ANALYSIS Penn State returns four of the 9ve o:ensive linemen who started the Cotton Bowl against Memphis. The only member of that starting 9ve who won't be back in 2020 is le; guard Steven Gonzalez. Gonzalez made 42 starts in his career, including all 13 games last season, but Penn State ap- pears to be in good shape at this posi- tion. That's because Miranda was essentially a co-starter at right guard, sharing the position with Thorpe. Mi- randa, a redshirt junior, is expected to be 9rst in line to replace Gonzalez. If there's a concern here, it's that the Lions lack experienced depth. E:ner, Whigan, Wormley and Dawkins, a Janu- ary enrollee, are expected to see snaps at the position during spring practice. Looking at the unit as a whole, Penn State has 13 scholarship o:ensive line- men on its spring roster. I believe the line is in better shape than at any point since before the NCAA sanctions. STRONGSIDE DEFENSIVE END CONTENDERS Jayson Oweh, Shane Simmons, Nick Tarburton, Smith Vil- bert, Hakeem Beamon ANALYSIS There's no doubt that Yetur Gross-Matos will be the toughest player for Penn State to replace on defense this spring. He was a two-time 9rst-team All-Big Ten performer and is projected to be a 9rst-round dra; choice. His early exit makes Oweh and Simmons the lead- ing candidates for this position. In limited action last season, Oweh totaled 21 tackles, including five sacks. Simmons had 19 tackles, including two tackles for loss. Tarburton, Vilbert and Beamon are also expected to receive snaps in spring practice at the strong- side defensive end position. Tarburton saw very limited playing time last year, while Vilbert and Beamon are coming off redshirt seasons. Beamon may also see snaps at the three-technique de- fensive tackle position in spring prac- tice. ONE-TECH. DEFENSIVE TACKLE CONTENDERS Antonio Shelton, Fred Hansard, Dvon Ellies, Cole Brevard ANALYSIS Penn State allowed only 95.0 rushing yards per game last season, fewest in the Big Ten and 9;h-fewest in the FBS. One major reason for the Lions' strong performance was the play of Robert Windsor at the one-technique tackle spot. Windsor started 25 games over the past two seasons and will likely be taken in the upcoming NFL Dra;. The two leading contenders to replace Windsor are Shelton and Mustipher. At 6-foot-4, 311 pounds, Mustipher could also start at the three-technique posi- tion. Other players expected to see prac- tice snaps at the one-technique spot are OFFENSE QB Sean Cli4ord/Will Levis/ Michael Johnson Jr./ Ta'Quan Roberson RB Journey Brown/Noah Cain/ Devyn Ford/Caziah Holmes WR Daniel George/ Cam Sullivan-Brown/ John Dunmore/Jaden Dottin WR Daniel George/John Dunmore T.J. Jones/KeAndre Lambert-Smith WR Jahan Dotson/M. Hippenhammer/ KeAndre Lambert-Smith TE Pat Freiermuth/Zack Kuntz/ Brenton Strange/Theo Johnson LT Rasheed Walker/Des Holmes/ Caeden Wallace LG Mike Miranda/Bryce E4ner/ Anthony Whigan/Nick Dawkins C Michal Menet/Mike Miranda/ Juice Scruggs RG C.J. Thorpe/Anthony Whigan/ Saleem Wormley/Bryce E4ner RT Will Fries/Des Holmes/ Caeden Wallace DEFENSE DE Jayson Oweh/Adisa Isaac/ Shane Simmons/Smith Vilbert DT Antonio Shelton/Fred Hansard/ Dvon Ellies/Cole Brevard DT P.J. Mustipher/Judge Culpepper/ Damion Barber/Hakeem Beamon/ Aeneas Hawkins/Joseph Appiah- Darkwa/Fatorma Mulbah DE Shaka Toney/Shane Simmons/ Nick Tarburton/Hakeem Beamon/ Bryce Mostella OLB Micah Parsons/Jesse Luketa/ Brandon Smith MLB Ellis Brooks/Jesse Luketa/ Tyler Elsdon OLB Brandon Smith/Lance Dixon/ Charlie Katshir CB Tariq Castro-Fields/Keaton Ellis/ Trent Gordon/Joseph Johnson III FS Lamont Wade/Jaquan Brisker/ Joey Porter Jr./Enzo Jennings SS Jonathan Sutherland/ Tyler Rudolph/C.J. Holmes CB Marquis Wilson/Donovan Johnson/ Joey Porter Jr./Daequan Hardy PHIL GROSZ'S PROJECTED SPRING DEPTH CHART