Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/847744
2 0 1 7 S E A S O N P R E V I E W KEY PERSONNEL DE: Torrence Brown*, Ryan Buchholz, Colin Castagna, Daniel Joseph, Shareef Miller, Shane Simmons, Shaka Toney, Damion Barber, Yetur Gross-Matos; DT: Tyrell Chavis, Curtis Cothran*, Parker Cothren*, Kevin Givens*, Ellison Jordan, Ryan Monk, Antonio Shelton, Corey Bolds, Fred Hansard LOSSES DE: Evan Schwan*, Garrett Sickels*; DT: Antoine White RISING STAR By the time the season is over, it's likely that one or more of the freshman defensive ends will have cap- tured the hearts of the Nittany Lion faithful. If I had to pick, it would be one of the speed rushers – Simmons or Toney – but considering that none have played in a college game yet, it's impossi- ble to choose between them all and pre- dict who will acclimate fastest. So let's go with a dark horse here: Chavis. He was far from dominant a year ago, but he played in every game, gaining valuable experience as he transitioned from junior college to the big time. A late arrival last summer as he took extra courses at Nas- sau (N.Y.) Community College before enrolling at PSU, Chavis didn't have the bene9t of a spring practice or even sum- mer workouts. Now he does. BIGGEST LOSS Sickels led the team with 12.5 tackles for loss and 6.0 sacks last year and was relied upon as heavily as anyone else during the Lions' run to the Rose Bowl. His production is one thing to replace, but there are reinforce- ments coming o: redshirts and out of high school who will o:er a hand. What seems like a bigger loss is the potential that Sickels might have reached as a 9;h-year senior. NUMBERS GAME Eleven defensive linemen played in 11 or more games last season. Position coach Sean Spencer wants everyone to have a turn, and he's shown that he's willing to work toward a ro- tation of three di:erent linemen per position in order to stay ahead of the opposing o:ensive line. OUTLOOK The interior is shored up with a trio of seniors in Cothran, Cothren and Chavis, while Givens seemed to create the most havoc as a freshman, when he led all the defensive tackles with 4.5 sacks. With four battle-tested options reinforced by a couple of redshirt fresh- men and some strong walk-ons, this is one of the more secure positions on Brent Pry's defense. There are options at de- fensive end, too, but there are no 9xtures. Not yet, anyhow. Brown and Miller have the best odds of securing the starting spots that were 9lled last season by Schwan and Sickels. But you had better believe Buchholz will get his fair due, whether that's at end or tackle. A host of freshmen – both redshirt and true – ap- pear poised to push for playing time, so the question here certainly isn't about options. It's about which names will oc- cupy which spots on the depth chart and how many players are ready to step into Spencer's lineup and contribute. PHIL'S TAKE Despite the loss of Sickels and Schwan, Penn State will enter the upcoming season with a chance of hav- ing a solid rotation at defensive end, and the tackle spots look to be in capable hands, too. Penn State returns 9ve of the six defensive tackles who saw playing time last season, with the only loss being White, who transferred to Albany early in the o:-season. Cothran and Cothren will start at the three-technique and one-technique defensive tackle posi- tions, respectively. Windsor and Givens look to be the backups, with Chavis, Shelton and Jordan vying for playing time behind them. Buchholz can also be a third-down situational player at the three-technique spot. Cothran and Givens are primed for breakout sea- sons. Miller and Brown will take over the starting defensive end po- sitions. Buchholz 9gures to be the third defensive end on the 9eld be- hind Miller at the strongside posi- tion. Simmons, Toney, Joseph and Castagna will add depth, and there may be an opportunity for a true freshman to make an impact here. ■ DEFENSIVE LINEMEN DEFENSIVE END NO NAME HT WT YEAR 48 Shareef Miller 6-5 261 Jr./So. 97 Ryan Buchholz 6-6 280 Jr./So. 49 Daniel Joseph 6-3 256 So./Fr. 46 Colin Castagna 6-4 259 Jr./Jr. 3-TECHNIQUE DEFENSIVE TACKLE 52 Curtis Cothran 6-5 293 Sr./Sr. 30 Kevin Givens 6-1 281 Jr./So. 55 Antonio Shelton 6-2 305 So./Fr. 42 Ellison Jordan 6-0 290 So./Fr. 97 Ryan Buchholz 6-6 280 Jr./So. 1-TECHNIQUE DEFENSIVE TACKLE 41 Parker Cothren 6-4 302 Sr./Sr. 54 Robert Windsor 6-4 295 Jr./So. 56 Tyrell Chavis 6-3 312 Sr./Sr. 55 Antonio Shelton 6-2 305 So./Fr. DEFENSIVE END 19 Torrence Brown 6-3 259 Sr./Jr. 34 Shane Simmons 6-3 244 So./Fr. 44 Shaka Toney 6-3 222 So./Fr. S P O T L I G H T B Y T I M O W E N * Starting experience in 2016 OR OR OR CURTIS COTHRAN Ryan Snyder