Analyzing the Penn State Depth Chart for the Akron Game

Penn State released the first depth chart of the season for its game against the Akron Zips

Penn State football is back! After a Big Ten championship last year and most of the key players returning, the expectations are high in Happy Valley for 2017. Let’s take a look at the first depth chart of the season for the Lions’ game against Akron this Saturday.

For the offense, there are not too many surprises. The team looks pretty healthy coming out of fall camp. Behind Saquon Barkley, you will notice that the three running backs all have the “OR” designation. Expect to see all three in some capacity this week with Barkley getting the bulk of the carries.

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At wide receiver, expect DaeSean Hamilton to have a bounce-back year in his final season as a Nittany Lion. It should be exciting to see both Juwan Johnson and Irvin Charles get more reps, and it’s nice to see Brandon Polk back on the depth chart after missing most of the 2016 campaign due to injury. He was granted a medical redshirt over the summer so now he’s a redshirt sophomore instead of a true junior.

Also good to see all the depth along the offensive line. The starting group is in line with what all of the projections were during the offseason. Andrew Nelson will return this year after missing the second half of last season due to injury. However, he’s not ready to go yet, so Chasz Wright will line up at right tackle.

Connor McGovern is the new center, as expected.

Over on the other side of the ball, Shareef Miller and Torrence Brown are the starters at defensive end. Curtis Cothran and Parker Cothren line up at defensive tackle. Someone should start calling that pair “The Lawfirm”.

Linebacker looks to be locked down for the starters as expected. Manny Bowen at the Will, Koa Farmer as the Sam, and Jason Cabinda in the middle. Christian Campbell takes over for the injured John Reid at one of the cornerback spots. Keep an eye on Lamont Wade getting playing time.

This year they have also included the coaching staff on the depth chart. Here’s the depth chart in full.

OFFENSE

Quarterback
9 Trace McSorley (6-0, 195, Sr./Jr.)
2 Tommy Stevens (6-5, 228, Jr./So.)
14 Sean Clifford (6-2, 210, Fr./Fr.)

Running Back
26 Saquon Barkley (5-11, 230, Jr./Jr.)
8 Mark Allen (5-6, 180, Sr./Jr.) OR
6 Andre Robinson (5-9, 223, Fr./So.)OR
24 Miles Sanders (5-11, 215, So./So.)

Wide Receiver (X)
84 Juwan Johnson (6-4, 226, Jr./So.)
11 Irvin Charles (6-4, 217, Jr./So.)
87 Dae’Lun Darien (6-4, 210, So./Fr.)

Wide Receiver (H)
5 DaeSean Hamilton (6-1, 206, Gr./Sr.)
10 Brandon Polk (5-9, 175, Jr./So.)
1 KJ Hamler (5-9, 172, Fr./Fr.)

Wide Receiver (Z)
3 DeAndre Thompkins (5-11, 187, Sr./Jr.)
13 Saeed Blacknall (6-3, 217, Sr./Sr.)
12 Mac Hippenhammer (5-11, 178, Fr./Fr.)

Tight End/H-Back
88 Mike Gesicki (6-6, 250, Sr./Sr.)
18 Jonathan Holland (6-4, 248, Jr./So.)
83 Nick Bowers (6-4, 268, Jr./So.) OR
89 Tom Pancoast (6-3, 242, 5th/Sr.)

Left Tackle
52 Ryan Bates (6-4, 312, Jr./So.)
71 Will Fries (6-6, 305, So./Fr.)
76 Sterling Jenkins (6-8, 336, Jr./So.)

Left Guard
74 Steven Gonzalez (6-4, 341, Jr./So.)
73 Mike Miranda (6-3, 303, Fr./Fr.)
61 C.J. Thorpe (6-3, 329, Fr./Fr.)

Center
66 Connor McGovern (6-5, 312, So./So.)
64 Zach Simpson (6-3, 301, Jr./So.)
73 Mike Miranda (6-3, 303, Fr./Fr.)

Right Guard
70 Brendan Mahon (6-4, 318, 5th/Sr.)
62 Michal Menet (6-4, 301, So./Fr.)
79 Charlie Shuman (6-8, 316, Sr./Jr.)

Right Tackle
77 Chasz Wright (6-7, 358, Sr./Jr.)
OR 59 Andrew Nelson (6-6, 305, Gr./Sr.)
51 Alex Gellerstedt (6-6, 304, So./Fr.)

DEFENSE

Defensive End
48 Shareef Miller (6-5, 257, Jr./So.)
97 Ryan Buchholz (6-6, 275, Jr./So.)
18 Shaka Toney (6-3, 233, So./Fr.)

Defensive Tackle
52 Curtis Cothran (6-5, 301, Gr./Sr.)
30 Kevin Givens (6-1, 287, Jr./So.)
42 Ellison Jordan (6-0, 293, So./Fr.) OR
55 Antonio Shelton (6-2, 302, So./Fr.)

Defensive Tackle
41 Parker Cothren (6-4, 304, Gr./Sr.)
54 Robert Windsor (6-4, 303, Jr./So.)
56 Tyrell Chavis (6-3, 308, Sr./Sr.)

Defensive End
19 Torrence Brown (6-3, 257, Sr./Jr.)
46 Colin Castagna (6-4, 257, Jr./Jr.)
34 Shane Simmons (6-3, 250, So./Fr.)

Will Linebacker
43 Manny Bowen (6-1, 226, Jr./Jr.)
6 Cam Brown (6-5, 227, So./So.)
47 Brandon Smith (6-0, 231, Gr./Sr.)

Middle Linebacker
40 Jason Cabinda (6-1, 234, Sr./Sr.)
47 Brandon Smith (6-0, 231, Gr./Sr.)
33 Jake Cooper (6-1, 234, Jr./Jr.)

Sam Linebacker
7 Koa Farmer (6-1, 237, Sr./Jr.)
9 Jarvis Miller (6-2, 222, Jr./So.)
6 Cam Brown (6-5, 227, So./So.)

Boundary Cornerback
1 Christian Campbell (6-1, 194, Sr./Sr.)
5 Tariq Castro-Fields (6-0, 185, Fr./Fr.)
38 Lamont Wade (5-9, 196, Fr./Fr.)

Free Safety
2 Marcus Allen (6-2, 207, Sr./Sr.)
4 Nick Scott (5-11, 199, Sr./Jr.)

Strong Safety
28 Troy Apke (6-1, 198, Sr./Sr.)
23 Ayron Monroe (5-11, 207, Jr./So.)
17 Garrett Taylor (6-0, 197, Jr./So.)

Field Cornerback
15 Grant Haley (5-9, 190, Sr./Sr.)
21 Amani Oruwariye (6-1, 209, Sr./Jr.)
14 Zech McPhearson (5-11, 182, So./Fr.)

SPECIAL TEAMS

Punter
93 Blake Gillikin (6-2, 195, So./So.)
92 Daniel Pasquariello (6-1, 201, Sr./Sr.)
97 Carson Landis (6-2, 198, Fr./Fr.)

Kicker
95 Tyler Davis (5-11, 183, 5th/Sr.)
90 Alex Barbir (5-9, 193, So./Fr.)
97 Carson Landis (6-2, 198, Fr./Fr.)

Holder
16 Billy Fessler (5-11, 181, Sr./Jr.)
92 Daniel Pasquariello (6-1, 201, Sr./Sr.)
93 Blake Gillikin (6-2, 195, So./So.)

Long Snapper
96 Kyle Vasey (6-2, 234, Sr./Jr.)
36 Jan Johnson (6-2, 234, Jr./So.)
94 Joe Calcagno (6-0, 253, Fr./Fr.)

Kickoff Returners
24 Miles Sanders (5-11, 215, So./So.)
10 Brandon Polk (5-9, 175, Jr./So.)
26 Saquon Barkley (5-11, 230, Jr./Jr.)

Punt Returners
3 DeAndre Thompkins (5-11, 187, Sr./Jr.)
8 Mark Allen (5-6, 180, Sr./Jr.)
39 Josh McPhearson (5-10, 197, 5th/Sr.)

Coaching Staff
James Franklin – Head Coach
Brent Pry – Associate HC/DC/LB
Joe Moorhead – OC/QB
Charles Huff – STC/RB
Terry Smith – Assistant HC/CB
Tim Banks – Co-DC/S (Booth)
Josh Gattis – Assistant STC/WR
Matt Limegrover – OL
Ricky Rahne – TE (Booth)
Sean Spencer – DL

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