Blue White Illustrated

June 2017

Penn State Sports Magazine

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O F F - S E A S O N R E P O R T returned to the film room, he would buckle down for strenuous self-evalua- tion, a process that created a feedback loop in which improvements could be constantly made. "It's just little things and little details that I focus on now that I didn't before," he said. "A lot of times, you would see me drop open passes and there were a lot of reviews, even in high school, [saying that] I had inconsistent hands. So I would al- ways waver and say no, that's not me, but it was obviously true. I would catch in- credible passes, but I would drop open passes. So I really tried to work on that this off-season – on catches and trying to catch everything that's in my reach." In his lone performance in front of the viewing public and media this spring, Johnson's past and possible future con- verged. He let an easy one drop to the turf early in the Blue-White Game, a reprise of the inconsistency to which he had al- luded earlier in the spring. But even so, he finished with seven receptions for 81 yards, capping his afternoon with a 15- yard touchdown catch from quarterback Tommy Stevens on the final play of the game. Johnson said afterward that Godwin taught him the importance of resiliency, how it was possible to atone for a mistake by delivering a great block or making an important catch. That's the attitude that he will carry with him into the summer months and coming season. Even after receiving praise from his teammates and coaches, he's far from satisfied and is de- termined to ensure that his off-field work translates into on-field results. "My spring was all right," Johnson said. "I feel like I can do a lot more than what I did. There are a lot of things that I can improve on, like my route running, my catching, focus on blocking, anything. I have a lot to improve on that's going to make this team go forward. "I can be proud of what I did this spring, but I still have a lot to work on." If Godwin's vacancy is to be filled by Johnson this season, even partially, it's a pledge that Penn State's coaches and players will be calling upon frequently in order to achieve their goals. ■ P H I L G R O S Z ' S P R O J E C T E D 2 0 1 7 D E P T H C H A R T * OFFENSE QUARTERBACK 9 Trace McSorley 6-0 204 Sr./2 2 Tommy Stevens 6-4 224 Jr./3 7 Jake Zembiec 6-3 209 So./4 16 Billy Fessler 5-11 188 Sr./2 RUNNING BACK 26 Saquon Barkley 5-11 225 Jr./2 24 Miles Sanders OR 5-11 224 So./3 6 Andre Robinson OR 5-9 218 Jr./3 8 Mark Allen 5-6 181 Sr./2 39 Josh McPhearson 5-10 194 Sr./2 20 Johnathan Thomas 5-11 218 Sr./2 SLOT RECEIVER 5 DaeSean Hamilton 6-1 208 Sr./1 3 DeAndre Thompkins 5-11 193 Sr./2 10 Brandon Polk 5-9 180 Jr./3 1 K.J. Hamler 5-9 170 Fr./4 WIDE RECEIVER - Z 13 Saeed Blacknall 6-3 212 Sr./1 11 Irvin Charles 6-4 227 Jr./3 87 Dae'Lun Darien 6-4 211 So./4 WIDE RECEIVER - X 84 Juwan Johnson 6-4 230 Jr./3 5 DaeSean Hamilton OR 6-1 208 Sr./1 3 DeAndre Thompkins OR 5-11 193 Sr./2 11 Irvin Charles 6-4 227 Jr./3 TIGHT END 88 Mike Gesicki 6-6 253 Sr./1 18 Jonathan Holland OR 6-4 247 Jr./3 83 Nick Bowers 6-4 269 Jr./3 80 Danny Dalton OR 6-4 242 So./4 89 Tom Pancoast 6-3 240 Sr./1 LEFT TACKLE 52 Ryan Bates 6-4 312 Jr./3 71 Will Fries OR 6-6 312 So./4 51 Alex Gellerstedt 6-6 308 So./4 LEFT GUARD 70 Brendan Mahon OR 6-4 310 Sr./1 52 Steven Gonzalez 6-4 345 Jr./3 62 Michal Menet 6-4 306 So./4 73 Mike Miranda 6-3 295 Fr./4 CENTER 66 Connor McGovern 6-5 312 So./3 62 Michal Menet 6-4 306 So./4 64 Zach Simpson 6-3 298 Jr./3 RIGHT GUARD 70 Brendan Mahon OR 6-4 310 Sr./1 52 Steven Gonzalez OR 6-4 345 Jr./3 62 Michal Menet 6-4 306 So./4 73 Mike Miranda 6-3 295 Fr./4 RIGHT TACKLE 77 Chasz Wright OR 6-7 354 Sr./2 59 Andrew Nelson 6-6 305 Sr./1 76 Sterling Jenkins 6-8 337 Jr./3 51 Alex Gellerstedt 6-6 308 So./4 DEFENSE STRONGSIDE DEFENSIVE END 48 Shareef Miller 6-5 261 Jr./3 97 Ryan Buchholz 6-6 280 Jr./3 49 Daniel Joseph 6-3 256 So./4 46 Colin Castagna 6-4 259 Jr./2 3-TECHNIQUE DEFENSIVE TACKLE 52 Curtis Cothran 6-5 293 Sr./1 30 Kevin Givens 6-1 281 Jr./3 55 Antonio Shelton 6-2 305 So./4 42 Ellison Jordan OR 6-0 290 So./4 97 Ryan Buchholz** 6-6 280 Jr./3 1-TECHNIQUE DEFENSIVE TACKLE 41 Parker Cothren 6-4 302 Sr./1 54 Robert Windsor 6-4 295 Jr./3 56 Tyrell Chavis 6-3 312 Sr./1 55 Antonio Shelton 6-2 305 So./4 WEAKSIDE DEFENSIVE END 19 Torrence Brown 6-3 259 Sr./2 34 Shane Simmons 6-3 244 So./4 44 Shaka Toney 6-3 222 So./4 WILL OUTSIDE LINEBACKER 43 Manny Bowen 6-1 224 Jr./2 31 Cam Brown 6-5 224 So./3 47 Brandon Smith 6-0 232 Sr./1 33 Jake Cooper 6-1 225 Jr./2 MIDDLE LINEBACKER 40 Jason Cabinda 6-1 239 Sr./1 47 Brandon Smith 6-0 232 Sr./1 33 Jake Cooper 6-1 225 Jr./2 SAM OUTSIDE LINEBACKER 7 Koa Farmer 6-1 239 Sr./2 9 Jarvis Miller 6-2 220 Jr./3 25 Brelin Faison-Walden 6-1 208 Fr./4 CORNERBACK 15 Grant Haley 5-9 183 Sr./1 21 Amani Oruwariye OR 6-1 211 Sr./2 27 T.J. Johnson 6-2 188 So./4 14 Zech McPhearson 5-11 180 So./4 FREE SAFETY 2 Marcus Allen 6-2 206 Sr./1 24 Nick Scott OR 5-11 200 Sr./2 17 Garrett Taylor 6-0 200 Jr./3 STRONG SAFETY 28 Troy Apke OR 6-1 212 Sr./1 23 Ayron Monroe OR 5-11 212 Jr./3 24 Nick Scott 5-11 200 Sr./2 16 John Petrishen 6-0 207 Jr./3 CORNERBACK 1 Christian Campbell 6-1 191 Sr./1 27 T.J. Johnson OR 6-2 188 So./4 38 Lamont Wade 5-9 193 Fr./4 14 Zech McPhearson 5-11 180 So./4 * Does not include freshmen set to arrive this summer | ** Situational substitution

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