Analyzing the Penn State depth chart for the game at Iowa

Penn State’s depth chart remains mostly unchanged from last week.

Penn State faces its first Big Ten game of the season this week in a tricky matchup with the Iowa Hawkeyes. Kink Stadium is never an easy place to play, especially at night. The Nittany Lions are 3-0 on the season and ranked No. 4 in the nation. The Hawkeyes are not ranked, but also hold an undefeated record.

The offensive depth chart for Penn State looks very similar to last week. The only change is with the order of the running backs. Andre Robinson and Miles Sanders each moved up one spot, while Mark Allen dropped from second to fourth on the depth chart.

An interesting observation on the offensive line is the fact that Brendan Mahon is once again listed as the starting right guard, just like last week. However, he didn’t play against Georgia State and his status is not certain for this week. Will Fries, who is still listed second at left tackle, started in Mahon’s place last week.

James Franklin was quoted earlier in the week as saying that he is “hopeful” that Mahon and defensive end Torrence Brown, who was injured Saturday night, will be back for the Iowa game.

On the defensive side there are very few changes. Brown is still listed as a starting defensive end and the defensive line and secondary are identical to what they were last week.

There’s a noticeable difference at linebacker, as this week there are only two players listed at each of the three positions. Jake Cooper, who is usually listed at middle linebacker is not listed this week.

Special teams is unchanged, as Saquon Barkley looks to once again be the top kick returner. Though it could be looked at as a risky move to use a star running back as a return man, Stanford did it last year with Christian McCaffrey. Perhaps Franklin is trying to get his top back involved in as many ways as possible in an effort to boost his Heisman resume.

Things always change in football, and Franklin is notorious for not sticking to his “official” depth chart, but at least on paper, this is how the Nittany Lions will line up against the Hawkeyes Saturday night.

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.)
6 Andre Robinson (5-9, 223, Fr./So.) OR
4 Miles Sanders (5-11, 215, So./So.) OR
8 Mark Allen (5-6, 180, Sr./Jr.)

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.)

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

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

Next: Penn State vs Iowa 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