Kirk Herbstreit predicting big year for Penn State DE Jayson Oweh
While there will be plenty of turnover on the offensive side of the football for the Penn State Nittany Lions in 2019 with having to replace quarterback Trace McSorley and running back Miles Sanders, their defense quietly returns seven starters.
According to ESPN analyst and former Ohio State quarterback Kirk Herbstreit, one name that has been turning heads is redshirt freshman Jayson Oweh.
“He’s 6-foot-5, 250 pounds, and you talk to the Penn State players, they all point out how physically dominating he’s been in practice,” Herbstreit said on ESPN.
“Put him in with that defense, Micah Parsons and some others up front and they have a lot of talent. I feel Penn State as a team is a forgotten team. That defense is going to be outstanding.”
A product of Blair Academy (Blairstown, New Jersey), Oweh was a four-star prospect in the 2018 cycle, according to the 247Sports Composite. The service also rated him as the No. 4 defensive end prospect in the class and the No. 2 player in the state.
As a true freshman in 2018, he appeared in the maximum four games allowed to retain his year of eligibility. Despite the limited playing time, Oweh made his presence felt. He recorded two sacks in his debut, a 63-10 win over Kent State, and had a tackle in the team’s victory over Maryland.
Herbstreit alluded to it, but the Nittany Lions’ defense has all the pieces to cause havoc for opposing quarterbacks. Junior Yetur Gross-Matos and sophomore Micah Parsons both have the potential to be among the Big Ten’s best pass-rushers.
Beginning the season ranked No. 15 in the Associated Press Poll, Penn State hosts Idaho at 3:30PM ET on Saturday.