The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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132 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2020 FOOTBALL PREVIEW BY CLAYTON SAYFIE Lofty expectations surround head coach James Franklin's Penn State Nittany Lions in 2020, with Athlon Sports placing the team at No. 5 in its preseason rankings after an 11-win campaign and Cotton Bowl victory a year ago. The most challenging games on PSU's slate include a tricky trip to Virginia Tech in week two, playing at Michigan to open October and hosting Ohio State three weeks later. The matchup with the Wolverines at The Big House will be especially tough, because PSU has lost in its last three tries at the venue, including by a combined score of 101-27 in the last two. That's just the way this series has gone — the home team has won the last four games (three by 29 points or more). An offense that ranked 15th nationally and second in the Big Ten with 35.8 points per game loses its biggest weapon in K.J. Hamler, who bolted for the NFL after his junior season. But it returns most of the other key pieces, meaning PSU will be just fine moving and scoring the ball, even with a new offensive coordinator in Kirk Ciarrocca, formerly of Minnesota. Redshirt junior quarterback Sean Clifford is back after he completed 59.3 percent of his passes for 2,654 yards with 23 touch- downs. He will have a steady pass catcher to target in junior tight end Pat Freiermuth, who produced 507 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in 2019. Wide receivers will need to emerge af- ter Hamler's departure. The top returner is junior Jahan Dotson, who had 488 receiv- ing yards and five scores a year ago, and ranked fifth in the Big Ten with 18.1 yards per catch. The offense will have the ability to lean on the run game quite heavily, with a deep backfield returning. The group is led by red- shirt junior running back Journey Brown, who ran for 890 yards and 12 touchdowns last season on 129 attempts (6.9 yards per carry). The five up front on the offensive line should protect Clifford effectively and pro- vide push in the run game. The continuity is there with four returning starters. Franklin's defense brings back just five starters, but the ones that do return are cru- cial. The unit is headlined by reigning Big Ten Linebacker of the Year and 2019 consen- sus All-American junior Micah Parsons. He racked up 109 tackles (which led the team by a wide margin), 14 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks in 2019. Also returning is redshirt sophomore de- fensive end Jayson Oweh. He notched five tackles for loss, five sacks and two forced fumbles last season. He is one of two de- fensive ends that will be tough for oppos- ing tackles to contain on the edge, with the other being fifth-year senior Shaka Toney, who accounted for eight tackles for loss and six sacks a year ago. Those three defenders should help the Nittany Lions be stout in the run game once again, while also providing pass rush. The area in which PSU struggled last sea- son, and will have to improve if it wants to finish higher than second in the division, is pass defense, notably its coverage in the secondary. The club gave up 251.5 yards per game through the air in 2019, which ranked 13th in the Big Ten. Senior corner Tariq Castro-Fields will ex- cel in coverage, but he needs others to step up alongside him and standout senior safety Lamont Wade. The pair combined for 119 tackles and 13 passes broken up in 2019. Notes Five of the six players who rushed for at least 200 yards and two scores return, including the top four that combined for 2,029 yards and 28 touchdowns … Three PSU players — tight end Pat Freiermuth, defensive end Jayson Oweh and linebacker Micah Parsons — appeared in PFF's early 2021 NFL mock draft as first-round picks … Parsons went No. 6 overall in ESPN ex- pert Todd McShay's 2021 mock draft, while Freiermuth was No. 25. ❑ PLAYERS TO WATCH Offense: Journey Brown, R-Jr., RB Started in 10 of 13 games in 2019 … The 5-11, 216-pounder's 6.9 yards per carry ranked sixth all time in PSU his- tory for a single season … Had just 44 rushing yards in his collegiate career be- fore breaking out last year … Ran for a career-high 202 yards in the Cotton Bowl win over Memphis. Defense: Micah Parsons, Jr., LB His 57 solo tackles ranked fifth in the Big Ten and 44th in the country last sea- son … The 6-3, 224-pounder is a former Rivals.com five-star recruit, in the class of 2018 … Consensus All-American has six forced fumbles in his career, which ranks seventh all time in school history. Expectations Are High For Nittany Lions 2020 SCHEDULE Date Opponent 2019 Result Sept. 5 Kent State — Sept. 12 at Virginia Tech — Sept. 19 San Jose State — Sept. 26 Northwestern — Oct. 3 at Michigan W, 28-21 Oct. 17 Iowa W, 17-12 Oct. 24 Ohio State L, 28-17 Oct. 31 at Indiana W, 34-27 Nov. 7 at Nebraska — Nov. 14 Michigan State W, 28-7 Nov. 21 Maryland W, 59-0 Nov. 28 at Rutgers W, 27-6 Junior Pat Freiermuth is already tied for the most career receiving touchdowns by a tight end in school history with 15. PHOTO COURTESY PENN STATE ATHLETICS GAME 5 • PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS • OCT. 3 QUICK FACTS All-Time Series: Michigan leads 14-9 First Meeting: U-M 21, PSU 13 (Oct. 16, 1993 at State College, Pa.) Last Meeting: PSU 28, U-M 21 (Oct. 19, 2019 at State College, Pa.) Head Coach: James Franklin, 56-23 at PSU (7th year) and 80-38 overall (10th year) 2019 In Review: 11-2, 7-2 Big Ten (2nd East) Final 2019 Ranking: No. 9 in the Associated Press and coaches' polls Returning Starters: 15 (8 offense, 5 defense, 2 spe - cialists) Last Bowl Appearance: 2019 Cotton Bowl (vs. Mem- phis, W 53-39) RETURNING LEADERS Passing: Sean Clifford (2,654 yards, 23 TD, 7 INT) Rushing: Journey Brown (890 yards, 12 TD) Receiving: Pat Freiermuth (507 yards, 7 TD) Tackles: Micah Parsons (109) Sacks: Shaka Toney (6.5) Interceptions: Tariq Castro-Fields and Marquis Wilson (2)