Penn State Football: 2017 Fiesta Bowl Position Grades

GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 30: Tight end Mike Gesicki #88 of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates with fans after defeating the Washington Huskies in the Playstation Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 30, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. The Nittany Lions defeated the Huskies 35-28. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

6 of 9

GLENDALE, AZ – DECEMBER 30: Kevin Givens #30 of the Penn State Nittany Lions grabs ahold of Jake Browning #3 of the Washington Huskies during the first half of the Playstation Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 30, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

Defensive Line

There’s just no other way to explain Penn State football’s dominance up front. The production gets lost behind so many contributors and no big name sticks out because it’s a different player every week. Against Washington, the defensive line showed it’s diversity with four sacks coming from five defensive linemen.

Defensive tackles Kevin Givens and Parker Cothren combined for one, while Tyrell Chavis, Yetur Gross-Matos and Shareef Miller added one each as well. Washington got little push up front and failed to protect Jake Browning because of the insurmountable pressure.

This season Penn State football recorded 42 sacks on defense and no one had more than five. That’s the true mark of a deep defensive line. Running back Myles Gaskin recorded 1,000-plus yards in all three seasons, so most fans expected him to get some plays. He got just one, as the team tallied eight tackles for loss.

Grade: A-

Home/Penn State Football