The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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128 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2022 FOOTBALL PREVIEW BY CLAYTON SAYFIE Penn State won 11 games in three out of four years from 2016-19. But for the past two seasons, the Nittany Lions have gone 11-11, including a losing record in 2020 (4-5) and a 7-6 campaign a year ago, when they lost six of their last eight contests. Ninth-year head coach James Franklin inked a 10-year contract extension worth a guaranteed $70 million last December, showing the school still believes in the man who guided the team to the 2016 Big Ten championship. But there's little doubt the pressure is beginning to mount in State College, making the 2022 season a big one for the trajectory of the program. The idea that PSU — which, to be fair, was hurt by injuries last season — can turn things around starts with the return of sixth-year senior quarterback Sean Clifford, one of three players in program history to reach 8,000 yards of total offense. He's started 33 games for the Nittany Lions and is the school's leader in career completion percentage (60.3). He also ranks second in passing touchdowns (62) and third in passing yardage (7,839). Clifford played hurt much of last season but didn't miss any games. He completed 60.1 percent of his passes for 3,107 yards and 21 touchdowns with 8 interceptions. The Nittany Lions leaned on the pass attack, averaging 37.4 attempts per game, the 17th-highest mark in the country. The run game was poor, with just 3.2 yards per carry and no 100-yard rush- ers the entire year. Just two of PSU's starting offensive line- men are back. There isn't much experience surrounding fifth-year senior center Juice Scruggs and redshirt junior right tackle Cae- dan Wallace. The group certainly has a lot to prove after ranking 115th nationally in aver- age line yards (2.36) according to Football Outsiders. Despite losing first-round NFL Draft pick Jahan Dotson (1,182 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2021), Clifford does have high-level play- makers to throw to, meaning the aerial attack should be strong once again. PSU possesses a trio of solid wideouts in sophomores Parker Washington and KeAndre Lambert-Smith, and fifth-year senior Mitchell Tinsley, a Western Kentucky transfer. Washing- ton (820 yards) and Lambert-Smith (521) were second and third on the team in receiving last season, while Tinsley notched 87 receptions for 1,402 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2021. New defensive coordinator Manny Diaz replaces Brent Pry, Virginia Tech's new head coach. Diaz was fired as the head man at Miami (Fla.) last season and says he's bringing "tweaks" to a Nit- tany Lion unit that tied for sixth nationally with 17.3 points allowed per game. The personnel will be dif- ferent, too, with five players having been picked in this spring's NFL Draft, includ- ing a pair of second-rounders in safety Jaquan Brisker and defensive end Arnold Ebik- etie. PJ Mustipher, a 6-4, 329-pound defensive tackle, headlines the front seven. The fifth-year senior missed the final seven games last season with an injury, but still earned second-team All- Big Ten accolades from the coaches. In his career, he has totaled 10 tackles for loss and 3 sacks. Fifth-year senior safety Ji'Ayir Brown is a name to know in the PSU secondary. The ballhawk led the Big Ten with 6 interceptions last season and broke up 5 passes, playing strong safety, free safety and in the slot. Redshirt junior cornerback Joey Porter was tabbed third-team All-Big Ten and is part of what should be a quality defen- sive backfield, after PSU ranked 23rd in the land against the pass a year ago (199.8 yards yielded per contest). Notes Redshirt junior tight end Brenton Strange contributed 20 catches for 225 yards and 3 touchdowns last season … Sopho- more defensive end Demeioun Robinson transferred in from Maryland … The 6-4, 250-pounder registered 19 tackles, 2.5 for loss, and 2 sacks for the Terps in 2021 … PSU's ground game could be bolstered by freshman running back Nick Singleton, who was the Gatorade National Player of the Year as a senior and finished with nearly 6,400 yards rushing in high school. ❑ Nittany Lions Have Enough Talent To Challenge In The Big Ten East 2022 SCHEDULE Date Opponent 2021 Result Sept. 1 at Purdue — Sept. 10 OHIO — Sept. 17 at Auburn W, 28-20 Sept. 24 CENTRAL MICHIGAN — Oct. 1 NORTHWESTERN — Oct. 15 at Michigan L, 21-17 Oct. 22 MINNESOTA — Oct. 29 OHIO STATE L, 33-24 Nov. 5 at Indiana W, 24-0 Nov. 12 MARYLAND W, 31-14 Nov. 19 at Rutgers W, 28-0 Nov. 26 MICHIGAN STATE L, 30-27 PLAYERS TO WATCH Offense: Sean Clifford, 6th-Sr., QB His 239 passing yards per contest ranked sixth in the Big Ten a year ago. Defense: PJ Mustipher, 5th-Sr., DT He was named second-team All-Big Ten by the coaches and honorable mention by the media last season, despite missing seven contests. GAME 7 • PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS • OCT. 15 QUICK FACTS All-Time Series: Michigan leads 15-10 First Meeting: U-M 21, PSU 13 (Oct. 16, 1993, at State College, Pa.) Last Meeting: U-M 21, PSU 17 (Nov. 13, 2021, at State College, Pa.) Head Coach: James Franklin, 67-34 (9th year) at PSU, 91-49 overall (12th year) 2021 In Review: 7-6, 4-5 Big Ten (4th East) Final 2021 Ranking: Unranked Returning Starters: 12 (6 offense, 5 defense, 1 spe - cialist) Last Bowl Appearance: 2021 (Outback Bowl vs. Ar- kansas, L 24-10) RETURNING LEADERS Passing: Sean Clifford (3,107 yards, 21 TDs) Rushing: Keyvone Lee (530 yards, 2 TDs) Receiving: Parker Washington (820 yards, 4 TDs) Tackles: Ji'Ayir Brown (73) Sacks: Curtis Jacobs, Smith Vilbert (3) Interceptions: Ji'Ayir Brown (6) PSU wide receiver Parker Washington has notched at least 1 reception in all 22 of his career games. PHOTO COURTESY PENN STATE ATHLETICS