Analyzing the Penn State Depth Chart for the Pitt Game

After dominating Akron in the opening week, Penn State hosts rival Pitt

The Nittany Lions completely dismantled the Akron Zips in this past Saturday’s season opener, 52-0. Now they welcome the rival Pitt Panthers to Beaver Stadium.

The Penn State coaches and players can say that this is just another game all they want, but I don’t believe it. The 42-39 loss at Pitt last year most certainly kept Penn State out of the college football playoff and Penn State will be looking for revenge.

More from Victory Bell Rings

The best thing about last Saturday besides the win was escaping with no injuries, so the depth chart is unchanged outside of Troy Apke now being listed as the second punt returner instead of Mark Allen.

Defensive end Shareef Miller did leave the Akron game early and did not return, however he tweeted that he plans to play this Saturday. It will also be interesting to see if Saeed Blacknall gets any playing time this week.

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
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.)
28 Troy Apke (6-1, 198, Sr./Sr.)
39 Josh McPhearson (5-10, 197, 5th/Sr.)

Next: Penn State vs Pittsburgh Preview

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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