Blue White Illustrated

FOOTBALL LB Wartman-White won't seek sixth year Nyeem Wartman-White will not pur- sue a sixth season at Penn State a9er playing in only four games the past two years due to knee injuries. Speaking just a9er Penn State's 38-31 victory over Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship Game, the senior line- backer said he plans to continue his rehab in the hope of launching an NFL career. "I'm going to try my best to go to the NFL, train, rehab and get better and just hope someone gives me a shot," Wart- man-White said. "I hope I can get healthier and hope I can have a chance to show Penn State what they could have had, this year and before." A9er watching his teammates cele- brate the Lions' 6rst Big Ten title since 2008, Wartman-White admitted he was feeling con7icted. "It's bittersweet. I didn't know how to react out there," he said. "I didn't know if I should be happy or I should be sad because I didn't play. … I was having whiplash, but it was so great. At one point I was just staring at everyone, see- ing how happy everyone was. That's all you want. Just 130 guys coming together and being happy." The day a9er the game, Wartman- White explained his decision in a post on Twitter. He said he had considered petitioning for a sixth year before decid- ing instead to pursue his NFL options. Wartman-White totaled 14 tackles, in- cluding 3.5 tackles for loss before being injured against Temple in the third game of the season. The Philadelphia native also missed most of the 2015 season with a knee injury he su8ered on open- ing day against the Owls. However, he said his rehab has been going well, and he's hopeful that someone will give him an opportunity. "I feel great. I feel con6dent that I can make something happen," he said. "And I'm con6dent someone will want to take a chance on me. We'll see."–NATE BAUER T H E M O N T H I N . . . There's no secret ingredient to the Nittany Lions' o8ense; it has been fueled by explosive plays. So the key [in the Rose Bowl] will be no di8erent than it has been all season. During Penn State's nine-game winning streak, the Lions have amassed at least six plays of 20 yards or longer in every game. Against Wisconsin, 52 percent of the Lions' o8ense came on just six plays. Penn State isn't built for long, sustained drives. It isn't great on third downs. But, boy, is it explosive. And it'll need to be once more against USC. JOSH MOYER ESPN.COM I've never seen a football team collectively battle so much like a champion boxer. But that's who the Penn State Nittany Lions are. They are fighters. And they are champions. DAVID JONES PENNLIVE.COM McSorley is the inspirational leader of the Big Ten championship. He and his of- fense are about as fun to watch as there is in the country. The Nittany Lions hardly ever go under center. McSorley is that hair-on-6re type who leads the country in yards per completion (16.3). His teammates love him because McSor- ley is always looking down6eld. In the last three games, all of which Penn State absolutely had to win, he threw nine of his 25 touchdown passes without an in- terception. Watch the Wisconsin 6lm: McSorley played the game of his life with 384 yards and four touchdowns. A9er Penn State trailed 28-7, McSorley went all Daryle Lamonica completing 14-of-21 passes – eight in a row – for 263 yards. Six of those completions went for at least 17 yards. Penn State doesn't win the Big Ten and sni8 the playo8 without Trace McSorley. DENNIS DODD CBSSPORTS.COM Coaches and players talk about being a close family and loving each other. Typically, those things disappear after a 2-2 start and a 49-10 big-time shel- lacking in The Big House. Not Penn State. Not in 2016. Their big hearts, in the face of a variety of challenges, erased any big or damaged egos. And any bad karma. MIKE POORMAN STATECOLLEGE.COM O P I N I O N S !

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