Analyzing the Penn State Depth Chart for the Georgia State Game
By Shane Lunnen
Penn State has released the depth chart for their upcoming against Georgia State.
Fresh off a win against rival Pitt, or non-rival depending on who you talk to, this past Saturday, Penn State is feeling good at 2-0. They have one more non-conference game left this Saturday night against Georgia State.
The Nittany Lions released their depth chart for the matchup, and as expected, little has changed. The only change James Franklin made was now Saquon Barkley is listed as the top return man on kickoffs. This may have to do with Miles Sanders fumbling his only carry Saturday, although he did recover it. Sanders has had ball handling issues since he arrived in Happy Valley and although he never returned kicks in high school, he has been placed on the special teams a lot in his short career.
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The other side of the coin is that it is risky to allow Barkley to return kicks. While he could be hurt at any time, special teams are high risk when it comes to injuries. I would prefer DeAndre Thompkins and Brandon Polk to be handling the return duties, but this is why I’m not making millions of dollars to coach football.
Here is the rest of 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
26 Saquon Barkley (5-11, 230, Jr./Jr.)
24 Miles Sanders (5-11, 215, So./So.)
10 Brandon Polk (5-9, 175, Jr./So.)
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.)
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