Penn State Football: 2017 Position Grades vs Maryland

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COLLEGE PARK, MD – NOVEMBER 25: Quarterback Max Bortenschlager #18 of the Maryland Terrapins gets off a pass while being pressured by defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos #99 of the Penn State Nittany Lions in the second quarter at Capital One Field on November 25, 2017 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

Defensive Line

I think the best picture that can describe Penn State football’s defensive line is Shane Simmons tossing a Maryland running back into Max Bortenschlager’s lap like a rag doll. The defense just ate up the Terrapins’ offensive line. As previously mentioned, this defense can produce well across the board.

Although Simmons didn’t record a sack, two other linemen did. Daniel Joseph led the team with 1.5 sacks and Kevin Givens recorded one as well. Shareef Miller and Parker Cothren produced some tackles as well with three and two tackles respectively. It wasn’t the numbers that dominated Maryland. It was the entire D-Line getting a sout push up front. The offense didn’t find much running room or time to throw.

Miller is still the team’s leader in sacks with 4.5, but the defensive line boasts nine other players with multiple sacks. With one game left, this group replaced its two leading pass rushers from 2016 well by spreading around the sacks across multiple positions.

Grade: A+

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