Ad Disclosure
5 areas where Penn State will be better in 2023 … and 5 areas where the Lions will be worse
By Luke Glusco
Published:
On paper, things look rosy for Penn State heading into the new season that is now just a couple weeks away.
But as with any season, there are worries to counterbalance the optimism.
As we continue to preview the 2023 Nittany Lions, let’s intersperse some hopes and fears:
Better: The offensive line
Left tackle Olu Fashanu is back, reportedly fully healthy and motivated to prove worthy of NFL Draft 1st-round projections. Also returning are Landon Tengwall, Covid ultra-senior Hunter Nourzad, Sal Wormley, Caedan Wallace, Drew Shelton, Vega Ioane, JB Nelson and Nick Dawkins. The group is healthy, as best we can know, other than Tengwall dealing with an undisclosed issue. Two top-100 recruits joined the program as early enrollees.
Nourzad shifts to center to replace the departed Juice Scruggs, but most of the others will continue to work at familiar positions. Shelton, who subbed in admirably at LT after Fashanu went down in late October, could wind up starting elsewhere or providing depth at multiple positions. Penn State hasn’t had this solid of a 2-deep up front since James Franklin arrived in 2014.
Worse: The QB running game
I’m not sure OC Mike Yurcich will have the need or desire to design many runs for Drew Allar. The number of carries will probably be greater than zero, but maybe not by much. The 6-5, 240-pound former 5-star recruit should be mobile and powerful enough to escape the pocket for 5 to 10-yard gains when the situation dictates. And presumed backup Beau Pribula offers shiftiness and athleticism.
But the QB position isn’t likely to match Clifford’s 284 yards of positive ground gains in 2022, or even his 176 net rushing yards. And Trace McSorley’s 798 net in 2018 and Clifford’s career high of 402 in 2019 certainly won’t be challenged.
Better: Running back play/touches
Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen just scratched the surface as true freshmen. They combined for 323 carries last year and led Penn State to an improvement from 3.21 yards per carry in 2021 to 4.81. The top 2 backs in 2021, Keyvone Lee and Noah Cain, combined for 214 carries.
Expect Singleton and Allen to approach 400 combined carries — and make the most of them. I’d take the over on their combined 31 receptions from a year ago, too. OC Mike Yurcich needs to figure out ways to get them the ball more often.
Worse: Receiving
With top 2 receivers Parker Washington Jr. and Mitchell Tinsley gone, Penn State has a void out wide. With Brenton Strange off to the NFL as well, the Lions have taken a hit in tight as well. Key transfers (Dante Cephas, Kent State) and Malik McClain (Florida) plus returnees at WR and TE should blunt the impact of the departures.
But with an improving running game and line, not to mention a still green — however highly touted — young QB, Penn State isn’t likely to air it out early and often.
It’ll count as success if this receiving group can prove efficient with fewer touches than their 2022 counterparts. It term’s of raw numbers, it’s likely nobody matches Washington’s team-leading 611 receiving yards from a year ago.
Better: Pressuring opposing QBs
When it came to pressuring opposing QBs, 1st-year DC Manny Diaz and his youthful charges started slow and finished strong last year. The learning curve is out of the way, and Abdul Carter, Chop Robinson, Adisa Isaac and the rest of the wrecking crew will terrorize from Game 1 this time around.
Penn State produced a Big Ten-best 42 sacks in 2022, and that number will go up in 2023.
Worse: Veteran leadership
Last year’s team captains, led by 6th-year QB/4th-year starter Sean Clifford, spent a lot of time in Happy Valley. Center Juice Scruggs and DT PJ Mustipher were both 5th-year Lions. Safety Ji’Ayir Brown seemed like he was there forever though in fact the JUCO transfer turned 3rd-round NFL pick only spent 3 seasons in State College.
Special teams captains Jonathan Sutherland and long snapper Chris Stoll, like Clifford, arrived on campus in 2017.
This season, LT Olu Fashanu and safety Keaton Ellis are among the group tabbed to fill captaincy roles, and they’re probably already finding their voices in meeting rooms as August practice drones on. But ultra-veterans at key positions aren’t easy to replace on the field or off.
Better: Big-game poise
Sure, the program said goodbye to a bunch of 5th and 6th-year seniors after the Rose Bowl victory over Utah. The flip side is that last year’s true freshmen — many of them key contributors, several outright stars — won’t be shell-shocked physically, mentally or emotionally going up against Michigan or anyone else this time around.
As long as Drew Allar and the other young QBs don’t blink, no one else should. With greater depth and experience up front on both sides of the ball, neither line should get overwhelmed by big moments.
Worse: Kicking game
Barney Amor spoiled Penn State fans in 2022, erasing the expected hangover from Jordan Stout’s exit as a 4th-round NFL pick. Amor, a seemingly obscure transfer from Colgate, averaged a few yards less per punt than Stout, but showed an uncanny ability to use backspin and sidespin to check up balls inside the opponent’s 10.
With the Lions also having to replace other veteran specialists, including long-snapper Chris Stoll and placekicker Jake Pinegar, there’s a good chance they take at least a small step backward in the kicking game.
With transfer imports and highly regarded recruits from the past couple years competing, the hit shouldn’t be too big at any of the key spots. But a slight dip in overall kicking success wouldn’t be surprising.
Better: Coming off a bye
I’ll admit it: I gave myself a gimme putt on this one.
Under Franklin, Penn State is 3-6 coming off a regular-season week off. The Lions have lost 3 straight and 4 of 5 while well rested.
But none of those losses came against a non-league foe, let alone UMass — currently dead last (133rd) in CBS Sports’ rankings. Oct. 14 at Beaver Stadium looks like a safe W, and as good a time as any to reverse an ugly trend.
Worse: Interviews
Franklin himself is a mixed bag behind the mic, often spouting platitudes but occasionally delivering honest, straight-forward assessments.
What he preaches and drills the squad on, however, is another matter.
Clifford loosened up enough as a lame-duck starter at the most spotlight-intensive position to deliver some really honest and heartfelt responses about dealing with outside criticism, growing as a leader and loving his time in Central PA.
But with Allar and other true sophomores manning many of the spotlight positions now, fans and media members can expect a lot of humble-speak and “1-0 mentality.” Which is probably for the best. Just not very much fun.
Luke Glusco is a Penn State graduate and veteran journalist. He covers Penn State and occasionally writes about other Big Ten programs and topics. He also serves as the primary copy editor for Saturday Tradition.