A
t this time last year, when I sat
down to write my column preview-
ing the 2016 football season, I had
convinced myself that the only way
Penn State could win eight or nine
games was if a host of players on both
o;ense and defense had breakout sea-
sons. That list included outside line-
backer Manny Bowen, tight end Mike
Gesicki, wide receiver Saeed Blacknall,
o;ensive lineman Ryan Bates, defensive
tackles Kevin Givens and Curtis
Cothran, and at least two of three de-
fensive ends: Ryan Buchholz, Evan
Schwan and Shareef Miller.
It was quite an extensive list, espe-
cially on the defensive side of the ledger.
Truth be told, I didn't expect all nine of
those players to become major contribu-
tors last fall. Some of them? Sure, maybe
even a majority. But all of them? That
seemed very unlikely. It's why my 8-4
predication for the 2016 season was
made mostly with my heart and not my
head.
But as the season played out, all nine
of those players did end up becoming
key factors. Bowen :nished as Penn
State's :
