Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1462941
A P R I L 2 0 2 2 2 5 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M their last eight games, including a 24-10 loss to Arkansas in the Outback Bowl. Coach James Franklin acknowledged af- ter that game — a game in which Penn State scored its fewest points since a 42-7 loss at Michigan in November 2018 — that "we've got some things to work on." Three months have since passed, and the work is ongoing. Of the 22 players who started against the Razorbacks, 18 are back this year, a list headlined by su- per senior quarterback Sean Clifford. In addition, the Lions are welcoming back two defensive standouts who were way- laid last year by injuries — super senior tackle PJ Mustipher and redshirt junior end Adisa Isaac. And they've got nine early enrollees in the 2022 recruiting class practicing this spring, as well as transfer wide receiver Mitchell Tinsley. Eager to change its trajectory, Frank- lin's team faces a number of big ques- tions this spring. Here's a look at five of the most pressing: 1 . Is the offense poised for a turn- .around in Mike Yurcich's second season as coordinator? It goes without saying that every part of Yurcich's offense, starting with the head man himself, must be better this year. The Nittany Lions are coming off a 2021 season in which they ranked ninth in the Big Ten with an average of 25 points per game. Yurcich spent only one season apiece at Ohio State and Texas before coming to Penn State, so there's not a big sample size when it comes to examining how his offenses have fared in Year 2. The only Power Five school where he's spent more than one season is Oklahoma State. The Cowboys took a step back- ward in Yurcich's second season, with their scoring average dropping from 39.1 points per game in his 2013 debut as of- fensive coordinator in Stillwater to 27.6 the following year. But Oklahoma State had an unsettled quarterback situation that year; after an offseason competition for the vacant starting spot, the team's top two passers both suffered injuries, and future stand- out Mason Rudolph was just a freshman, playing in only three games. By contrast, this year's Nittany Lions have an experienced veteran returning at quarterback in Clifford. Penn State knows what it's getting with the sixth- year senior. There will be some good, some bad, some head-scratching mo- ments, and some incredible plays. The senior will never give up, is a good leader, and can make plays with his arm and feet. But accuracy is a problem. Turn- overs, too. There is the old saying, of course, that everyone wants to see the backup un- til the backup has to play. Then, when it doesn't go well, fans are left yearn- ing for the option they had, even if they were frustrated by it at the time. That's a pretty good way to sum up where most Penn State fans are with Clifford at this point. Can Yurcich fix him and fix the offense in the process? Or will his second season at Penn State eventually feature a new quarterback? It's Clifford's job to lose, but that won't make the outside conversations and curiosities go away. And the need for redshirt freshman Christian Veilleux or one of the true freshman early enroll- ees — Drew Allar or Beau Pribula — to be ready in a backup capacity is crucial. Beyond the situation under center, there are other big questions to be an- swered. The primary one is whether Yur- cich, running backs coach Ja'Juan Seider and offensive line coach Phil Trautwein will be able to overhaul a rushing attack that produced only 107.8 yards per game last season, 118th in the FBS. Early en- rollees Nick Singleton and Kaytron Al- len might push junior Keyvone Lee, the returning starter at running back. And on the offensive line, redshirt freshman Landon Tengwall and sophomore Olu Fashanu will need to play expanded roles in 2022, so this is a big spring for them. A strong passing game can help cre- ate an above-average rushing attack and vice versa. Yurcich must have a better mix. His time to start finding the answers starts with spring practice. Penn State's offense depends on it if the unit is going to have a bounce-back year. — Greg Pickel 2 .Which of the early enrollees will .make an impact this spring? Let's start with the obvious candidate: Singleton. A five-star running back from Governor Mifflin High outside of Read- ing, Pa., Singleton was as coveted as they come at the position, earning nearly 40 scholarship offers. It's easy to see why, too. At just 14 Nick Singleton is one of the January enrollees who figures to make an impact this spring. The true freshman running back gained nearly 6,400 yards rushing in his four varsity seasons at Governor Mifflin High. PHOTO BY RYAN SNYDER