The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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136 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW BY ANDREW VAILLIENCOURT Penn State has come close to making the College Football Playoff each of the past two seasons, but ultimately fell just short. Fifth-year senior quarterback Trace Mc- Sorley, an early Heisman Trophy candidate, is hoping he can change that in 2018 — though he'll have to do so without star run- ning back Saquon Barkley, who was selected with the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL Draft by the New York Giants after he racked up 2,329 all-purpose yards last year. McSorley, however, is a star in his own right. He is a dynamic dual-threat quarter- back that can extend plays and pick up first downs. In 2017, he completed 66.5 percent of his passes for 3,570 yards with 28 touch- downs and 10 interceptions. He also netted 491 yards and 11 scores on the ground. Against Michigan last season, McSorley ran for 76 yards and three touchdowns and threw for 282 yards and one score. It was a revenge game for the Nittany Lions, who wanted pay- back for the beatdown they received in 2016 at the hands of the Wolverines. They clobbered U-M 42-13, setting up the Wolverines for their shot at retaliation this fall in Ann Arbor. Snagging a win at home against Penn State will be crucial for Michigan's Big Ten title hopes. The Nittany Lions were the first opponent to really exploit the U-M defense in 2017. They picked on slower coverage over the middle of the field with Barkley and wide receiver DaeSean Hamilton, who was also drafted into the NFL (fourth round). Penn State has the pieces to replace both Bar- kley and Hamilton. Junior running back Miles Sanders is in line to receive the majority of car- ries and showed flashes in his limited playing time last year, averaging 6.2 yards on his 31 totes. At receiver, redshirt junior Juwan Johnson broke out in 2017 with 701 receiving yards and will now be the top option in the passing game. At 6-4 and after averaging 13.0 yards per catch last year, he can be a down-field threat. Penn State also returns five of the six of- fensive lineman that received significant playing time last season, including con- sensus third-team All-Big Ten tackle Ryan Bates, a redshirt junior who played at left tackle before being injured. Right guard is the only opening, which should bode well for Sanders, who has big shoes to fill. Expect more of the pressure to shift to McSorley with the departure of Barkley. One other offensive weapon Penn State will be without is tight end Mike Gesicki, a second-round pick in the NFL Draft. He was named first-team All-Big Ten by the media and was a second-team pick by the coaches. Redshirt junior tight end Jonathan Holland is the favorite to replace him, but he's only caught three passes in his entire career and has been limited to special teams action, so there will be a significant drop-off in both talent and production. Penn State ranked 19th in the country in total offense (460.3 yards per game) last year and seventh scoring offense (41.1 points per game), but if it wants to stay that high in the rankings McSorley will have to show he can excel without all of his NFL weapons. On the defensive side of the ball, the Nit- tany Lions will be replacing eight starters from a defense that finished 17th in the na- tion (329.5 yards allowed per game). The two full-time starters coming back are fifth-year senior linebacker Koa Farmer and redshirt junior defensive end Shareef Miller. Farmer is the team's leading returning tackler (48), but was sixth on the team last year. Miller led the team in sacks (five), tackles for loss (11) and quarterback hurries (nine). Redshirt junior defensive end Ryan Buchholz started six games last season and had two sacks. However, fifth-year senior cornerback Amani Oruwariye ,ay be most critical to the team's success. He didn't officially start any games last year, but was the nickel back and played significant minutes. He led the team with four interceptions and broke up eight passes, third on the squad behind the two start- ing corners, neither of which return. Penn State has a lot of reloading to do in 2018 — but it should be a heavyweight fight at The Big House in October. Notes Athlon Sports ranked Trace McSorley as the best quarter- back in the Big Ten and No. 3 in the nation … Athlon projects the Nittany Lions No. 11 nationally … McSorley's 77 career touchdowns responsible for are the most by any player in Penn State program history … McSorley was a consensus second-team All-Big Ten honoree in 2016 and 2017. ❏ PLAYERS TO WATCH Offense: Juwan Johnson, R-Jr., WR — Was consensus All-Big Ten honorable mention in 2017 … Had 54 catches for 701 yards and one score … Started all 13 games and caught his first career touchdown pass as time expired against Iowa, giving Penn State the win … Thirty- eight of his 54 catches (70.4 percent) last year went for first downs. Defense: Amani Oruwariye, 5th-Sr., CB — Con - sensus second-team All-Big Ten honoree … Averaged 0.4 interceptions per game, good for No. 4 in the Big Ten and No. 26 nationally … Tied for No. 10 in the Big Ten in passes defended per game (1.1) … Defended six passes against Michigan State, tied for most in a game last season at the Football Bowl Subdivision level. Trace McSorley Is Hoping To Lead The Lions To Their First Playoff Appearance 2018 SCHEDULE Date Opponent 2017 Result Sept. 1 Appalachian State — Sept. 8 at Pittsburgh W, 33-14 Sept. 15 Kent State — Sept. 21 at Illinois — Sept. 29 Ohio State L, 39-38 Oct. 13 Michigan State L, 27-24 Oct. 20 at Indiana W, 45-14 Oct. 27 Iowa W, 21-19 Nov. 3 at Michigan W, 42-13 Nov. 10 Wisconsin — Nov. 17 at Rutgers W, 35-6 Nov. 24 Maryland W, 66-3 McSorley owns the single-season school re- cords for passing yards (3,614; set in 2016), completions (284; 2017), passing touch- downs (29; 2016), total offense (4,061 yards; 2017), TDs responsible for (37; 2017) and 300-yard passing games (five; 2016, 2017). PHOTO BY MARK SELDERS/PENN STATE ATHLETICS GAME 9 • PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS • NOV. 3 QUICK FACTS All-Time Series: U-M leads 13-8 First Meeting: U-M 21, PSU 13 (Oct. 16, 1993, at State College, Pa.) Last Meeting: PSU 42, U-M 13 (Oct. 21, 2017, at State College, Pa.) Head Coach: James Franklin, 36-17 at Penn State (5th year) and 60-32 overall (8th year) 2017 In Review: 11-2 overall, 7-2 Big Ten (T-2nd East Division) Final 2017 Ranking: No. 8 in Associated Press and coaches' polls Returning Starters: 12 (8 offense, 3 defense, 1 specialist) Last Bowl Appearance: 2017 (Fiesta Bowl vs. Wash - ington, W 35-28) Big Ten Championships (last): 4 (2016) RETURNING LEADERS Passing: Trace McSorley (3,570 yards, 28 TD, 10 INT) Rushing: McSorley (491 yards, 11 TD) Receiving: Juwan Johnson (701 yards, 1 TD) Tackles: Koa Farmer (48) Sacks: Shareef Miller (5) Interceptions: Amari Oruwariye (4)