Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1526526
O C T O B E R 2 0 2 4 3 9 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M mara's performance versus the Redbirds — 21 of 31 for 251 yards and 3 touchdowns — was perhaps an indication that they won't have to. It was a solid debut for new offensive coordinator Tim Lester, though a 20-19 loss to Iowa State in Week 2 sug- gests there will be some growing pains. 7. Washington It would be pointless to project this year's results based on what the Huskies did last year. They have a new coaching staff and return only four starters from the team that played for the national championship in January. Now led by former Arizona coach Jedd Fisch, Washington got off to a winning start, coasting past FCS opponent Weber State, 35-3. The star on opening night was running back Jonah Coleman, who fol- lowed Fisch from Arizona to Seattle and rushed for 126 yards and 3 touchdowns in his debut. In addition, Mississippi State transfer Will Rogers hit 20 of 26 passes for 250 yards. Washington might be the Big Ten's most enigmatic team, given the extent of its off- season overhaul. Michigan's visit to Se- attle on Oct. 5 should provide some clarity. 8. Nebraska The Cornhuskers haven't had a win- ning season since going 9-4 under coach Mike Riley in 2016, but if season-open- ing romps over the University of Texas El Paso and Colorado are any indication, true freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola is ready to help Nebraska end that skid. Raiola completed 19 of 27 passes for 238 yards and 2 touchdowns in his collegiate debut, and he followed up by hitting 23 of 30 for 185 yards and a score against the Buffaloes. UTEP has had just five winning sea- sons since 1990, while Colorado is very much a work in progress. In other words, those games might not be an indication of what's in store. Even so, for a Nebraska team that hadn't started 2-0 since 2016, it's a big step in the right direction. 9. Wisconsin The Badgers are aiming to score more than last year when they averaged 23.5 Top 10 Offensive Players 1. Dillon Gabriel | QB | Oregon Gabriel threw for 3,660 yards and 30 touchdowns with only 6 interceptions while leading Okla- homa's offense last year. If the Ducks are going to contend for a title, they may need comparable numbers. The senior completed 41 of 49 passes for 380 yards in a closer-than-expected victory over Idaho on opening day. 2. Miller Moss | QB | USC Moss doesn't have Gabriel's extensive resume, but he threw 6 touchdown passes in last year's Holiday Bowl and followed it up by completing 27 of 36 attempts for 378 yards and 1 TD in the Tro- jans' 2024 opener versus LSU. 3. Tez Johnson | WR | Oregon Johnson had 86 catches for 1,182 yards and 10 touchdowns in his first season at Oregon after transferring from Troy. He opened his senior season with 12 catches for 81 yards and 2 touchdowns against Idaho. 4. Nicholas Singleton | RB | Penn State Penn State is going to do whatever it takes to get the ball in the junior running back's hands this year, as evidenced by his 316 all-purpose yards through two games. 5. Jeremiah Smith | WR | Ohio State We're taking a flier on a player who has yet to face a Power Four defense, but Smith looks pretty legit. The five-star true freshman caught 11 passes for 211 yards and 3 touchdowns in his first two games with the Buckeyes, a team that knows how to develop wide receiver talent. 6. Emeka Egbuka | WR | Ohio State Egbuka was bothered by injuries last year but had 74 catches for 1,151 yards as a sophomore. Look for him to shine with Kansas State transfer Will Howard running the offense. 7. Colston Loveland | TE | Michigan A projected first-round NFL Draft pick next year, Loveland is one of the best all-around tight ends in the country. He'd be higher on this list if the Wolverines weren't breaking in a new quarterback. 8. Aireontae Ersery | OT | Minnesota Ersery was a first-team All-Big Ten choice after a redshirt junior season in which he started 13 games and earned a blocking grade of 84.0 from Pro Football Focus. 9. Drew Allar | QB | Penn State Allar was everything Penn State could have hoped for in its opener at West Virginia, hitting 11 of 17 passes for 216 yards, including touchdown throws of 50, 20 and 18 yards. He added 44 yards on the ground in his first game orchestrating coordinator Andy Kotelnicki's offense. 10. Kyle Monangai | RB | Rutgers Monangai led the Big Ten in rushing as a junior last season, and he has picked up where he left off, rushing for a Big Ten-best 373 yards in Rutgers' first two games. Prior to joining Oregon in December, Dillon Gabriel threw for 15,925 yards and 152 touchdowns in three seasons at Central Florida and two at Oklahoma. PHOTO BY ERIC EVANS/GODUCKS.COM