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ance during the second half of the 2016 season, he is considered by many to be the best running back in the country, as well as a high-8rst-round NFL Dra: se- lection and a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate. The rest of Penn State's running backs have not gotten a lot of work as yet. But even though Miles Sanders, Andre Robinson and Mark Allen saw little ac- tion in the Lions' 8rst two games, there is no denying that Penn State has one of the best back8elds in the Big Ten. TIGHT END In senior Mike Gesicki, Penn State may have the best tight end in the country. By the time he graduates, he will probably own almost all of the school's single-season and career re- ceiving records by a tight end. Last September, Gesicki showed a glimpse of his potential, catching 14 passes for 181 yards in four games, in- cluding a 30-yard touchdown catch against Kent State. In Penn State's 8rst two games this season, he had 10 recep- tions for 97 yards and four TDs, only one fewer than he had all of last year. It's not hard to see why many people rate Gesicki as the nation's top tight end and possibly a first-round selection in the 2018 NFL Draft. With more backup help coming from Jonathan Holland, and Nick Bowers on the mend after missing all of last season with an injury, Penn State's tight end situation looks much better than it did last Sep- tember. WIDE RECEIVER This is the one position group on o9ense that I believe still has to show more productivity. Last September, Penn State entered the season with one of the top 8ve wide- outs in the Big Ten in Chris Godwin. But Godwin, who led the team in catches during his sophomore and junior sea- sons, le: early for the NFL a:er a spec- tacular performance in the Rose Bowl. There was no way any single receiver on Penn State's 2017 roster could be ex- pected to single-handedly replace him. It was always going to be a group e9ort involving returnees DaeSean Hamilton, Juwan Johnson, DeAndre Thompkins, Brandon Polk, Irvin Charles and Saeed Blacknall. On paper, Blacknall, Hamilton and Thompkins were at the top of the list, and there were high hopes for Johnson a:er a strong showing in spring prac- tice. And in Penn State's 8rst two games, the wideouts did indeed show glimpses of potential. As of this writing, Hamil- ton was on the verge of becoming Penn State's career receptions leader, while Johnson posted 8ve catches for 88 yards against Akron and Pitt, averaging 17.6 yards per catch. But Blacknall wasn't a factor in either of those games. A:er enjoying the best day of his Penn State career in the Big Ten Championship Game with six catches for 155 yards and two long touchdowns last December, the senior receiver did not have a catch vs. Akron or Pitt. It wasn't the kind of start that Blacknall wanted. The potential exists at wide receiver to equal or surpass last season's performance, but that potential has not yet been fully realized. OFFENSIVE LINE Six line- men with starting experience returned from the 2016 sea- son, so this unit has to be in better shape than it was last September. The starting 8ve – Ryan Bates at le: tackle, Steven Gonzalez at JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT In leading the Lions to a pair of season-opening victories, Mc- Sorley showed that he has fully embraced Joe Moorhead's of- fensive philoso- phy. Photo by Steve Manuel

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