Breaking down the Penn State depth chart for the Rutgers game

Penn State returns to Beaver Stadium for homecoming to face Rutgers

Penn State had a rough two weeks with close losses against Ohio State and Michigan State. The two losses essentially ended all hope for a playoff spot this year and probably knocked the Lions out of a New Year’s Six bowl game as well. Penn State will attempt to pick up the pieces of their season against Rutgers this Saturday.

This week’s depth chart reflects the changes from last week’s game as a result of injuries. Along the offensive line, left tackle Ryan Bates did not make the trip to East Lansing. In his place, Will Fries moved over from the right tackle spot and Chasz Wright is the starter at right tackle. Andrew Nelson is listed as the backup at both spots. Also listed at right tackle is true freshman Des Holmes. Hopefully there are no more injuries at this critical spot.

Like Bates, defensive end Ryan Buchholz also did not travel with the team last week. Kevin Givens slid over to the starting end position. At defensive tackle, Tyrell Chavis is now listed as backup to Curtis Cothran.

Both the offensive and defensive lines have struggled in the last two games as a result of injuries. Hopefully they can get it together for a victory this week. No other changes are present on this week’s chart.

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.)
89 Tom Pancoast (6-3, 242, 5th/Sr.)

Left Tackle
71 Will Fries (6-6, 305, So./Fr.)
59 Andrew Nelson (6-6, 305, Gr./Sr.)
51 Alex Gellerstedt (6-6, 304, So./Fr.)

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.)
59 Andrew Nelson (6-6, 305, Gr./Sr.)
75 Des Holmes (6-5, 319, Fr./Fr)

DEFENSE

Defensive End
48/19 Shareef Miller (6-5, 257, Jr./So.)
34 Shane Simmons (6-3, 250, So./Fr.) OR
46 Colin Castagna (6-4, 257, Jr./Jr.)

Defensive Tackle
52 Curtis Cothran (6-5, 301, Gr./Sr.)
56 Tyrell Chavis (6-3, 308, Sr./Sr.)
42 Ellison Jordan (6-0, 293, So./Fr.) OR

Defensive Tackle
41 Parker Cothren (6-4, 304, Gr./Sr.)
54 Robert Windsor (6-4, 303, Jr./So.) OR
55 Antonio Shelton (6-2, 302, So./Fr.)

Defensive End
30 Kevin Givens (6-1, 287, Jr./So.)
18 Shaka Toney (6-3, 233, So./Fr.)
99 Yetur Gross-Matos (6-5, 248, Fr./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.)
8 Mark Allen (5-6, 180, Sr./Jr.)
28 Troy Apke (6-1, 198, Sr./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