Penn State Football: Breaking down the depth chart for the Appalachian State Game
By Joe Ciminera
Penn State’s Week 1 depth chart features confirmations and surprises.
A depth chart is nothing more than some names and numbers organized in order from top dog to next man up, but across the country, college football fans go nuts for them. Especially for the Week 1 depth chart. Penn State’s depth chart for Appalachian State week contains some interesting points to note and serves as a confirmation for something we already knew.
I think the real reason fans love analyzing depth charts so much is because when you see the name Trace McSorley at QB1 it gives you a sense of excitement in knowing one of the three or four best quarterbacks in the country is suiting up for the Nittany Lions.
It’s the promise of seeing Micah Parsons as a second string outside linebacker, and knowing full well, he won’t be there long. It’s the mild surprise of noticing that KJ Hamler, the human joystick, will be returning kickoffs, and the visions of game-breaking returns that flash across the page.
It’s the sinking feeling of not seeing Saquon Barkley at RB1, but having faith in the name that replaced him, and the ones below. Maybe the fact that Penn State is the only school in the country with a position called “lion” and the intrigue of exactly what Tommy Stevens will bring to the table.
The depth chart is the first time we can really grasp what this team looks like because they are laid out in front of us in a very tangible way. It is anything but names and numbers arranged on a sheet of paper.
So, let’s take a closer look at the Penn State Nittany Lions depth chart for week one.
As you’ll see below, on the offensive side of the ball, the depth is showing on the line. Chaz Wright and Will Fries are still battling it out to see who will earn the starting gig. It would be hard to go wrong with either one.
Jonathan Holland and Danny Dalton are co-starters at the tight end spot, and it will probably take at least two guys to try to replace Mike Gesicki.
At wide receiver, you’ll notice 5-star recruit Justin Shorter is not listed anywhere. Franklin said he’ll probably see action early on, but was a little “dinged up” during camp. Redshirt freshman KJ Hamler is listed as the third starting wide receiver. Hamler will also be returning kicks.
It’s official, Tommy Stevens’ made up “Lion” position is there in black and white. It will be very intriguing to see how Ricky Rahne uses Stevens this season.
Jumping over to defense, Manny Bowen is nowhere to be seen. Apparently he left the team to focus on his studies. It was unclear how much of a role he would have had early on after Coach Franklin let him back on the team, but his absence means an even bigger role for freshmen Micah Parsons and Jesse Luketa.
Jan Johnson is listed as the starting middle linebacker as he pulled away from his competition in camp.
Yetur Gross-Matos has moved up into the starting role opposite Shareef Miller at defensive end, replacing Ryan Bucholtz who was forced to retire early due to chronic injuries.
Freshman Jake Pinegar will be kicking the field goals and freshman Rafael Checa will be handling kickoffs. It was a tight competition in camp, but Franklin feels most comfortable with Pinegar.
OFFENSE
Quarterback
9 Trace McSorley (6-0, 201, Gr./Sr.)
2 Tommy Stevens (6-5, 240, Sr./Jr.)
14 Sean Clifford (6-2, 219, So./Fr.)
Running Back
24 Miles Sanders (5-11, 215, Jr./Jr.)
8 Mark Allen (5-6, 184, Gr./Sr.)
4 Ricky Slade (5-9, 198, Fr./Fr.)
Wide Receiver
84 Juwan Johnson (6-4, 225, Sr./Jr.)
81 Cam Sullivan-Brown (6-0, 188, So./Fr.)
86 Daniel George (6-2, 220, Fr./Fr.)
Wide Receiver
3 DeAndre Thompkins (5-11, 188, Gr./Sr.)
10 Brandon Polk (5-9, 179, Sr./Jr.)
85 Isaac Lutz (5-11, 186, Jr./So.)
Wide Receiver
1 KJ Hamler (5-9, 173, So./Fr.)
12 Mac Hippenhammer (5-11, 177, So./Fr.)
5 Jahan Dotson (5-11, 169, Fr./Fr.)
Tight End
18 Jonathan Holland (6-4, 252, Sr./Jr.) OR
80 Danny Dalton (6-4, 247, Jr./So.)
83 Nick Bowers (6-4, 260, Sr./Jr.)
87 Pat Freiermuth (6-5, 258, Fr./Fr.)
Left Tackle
52 Ryan Bates (6-4, 302, Sr./Jr.)
75 Des Holmes (6-5, 322, So./Fr.)
53 Rasheed Walker (6-6, 308, Fr./Fr.)
Left Guard
74 Steven Gonzalez (6-4, 325, Sr./Jr.)
73 Mike Miranda (6-3, 298, So./Fr.)
72 Bryce Effner (6-5, 272, Fr./Fr.)
Center
62 Michal Menet (6-4, 298, Jr./So.)
64 Zach Simpson (6-3, 290, Sr./Jr.)
70 Juice Scruggs (6-3, 278, Fr./Fr.)
Right Guard
66 Connor McGovern (6-5, 323, Jr./Jr.)
69 C.J. Thorpe (6-3, 328, So./Fr.)
79 Charlie Shuman (6-8, 324, Gr./Sr.)
Right Tackle
77 Chasz Wright (6-7, 353, Gr./Sr.) OR
71 Will Fries (6-6, 306, Jr./So.)
51 Alex Gellerstedt (6-6, 311, Jr./So.)
Lion
2 Tommy Stevens (6-5, 240, Sr./Jr.)
DEFENSE
Defensive End
48 Shareef Miller (6-5, 260, Sr./Jr.)
49 Daniel Joseph (6-3, 253, Jr./So.)
46 Nick Tarburton (6-3, 246, Fr./Fr.)
Defensive Tackle
30 Kevin Givens (6-1, 285, Sr./Jr.)
53 Fred Hansard (6-3, 316, So./Fr.)
42 Ellison Jordan (6-0, 291, Jr./So.)
90 Damion Barber (6-3, 283, So./Fr.)
Defensive Tackle
54 Robert Windsor (6-4, 295, Sr./Jr.)
55 Antonio Shelton (6-2, 310, Jr./So.)
93 PJ Mustipher (6-4, 300, Fr./Fr.)
Defensive End
99 Yetur Gross-Matos (6-5, 259, So./So.)
18 Shaka Toney (6-3, 241, Jr./So.)
28 Jayson Oweh (6-5, 247, Fr./Fr.)
Outside Linebacker
7 Koa Farmer (6-1, 230, Gr./Sr.)
11 Micah Parsons (6-3, 240, Fr./Fr.)
33 Jake Cooper (6-1, 234, Sr./Sr.)
Middle Linebacker
36 Jan Johnson (6-2, 234, Gr./Jr.)
13 Ellis Brooks (6-1, 233, So./Fr.)
40 Jesse Luketa (6-3, 236, Fr./Fr.)
Outside Linebacker
6 Cam Brown (6-5, 223, Jr./Jr.)
9 Jarvis Miller (6-2, 223, Sr./Jr.)
41 Dae’Lun Darien (6-4, 223, Jr./So.)
Cornerback
21 Amani Oruwariye (6-1, 203, Gr./Sr.)
2 Donovan Johnson (5-9, 182, So./Fr.)
14 Zech McPhearson (5-11, 188, Jr./So.)
Safety
17 Garrett Taylor (6-0, 203, Sr./Jr.)
38 Lamont Wade (5-9, 194, So./So.)
26 Jonathan Sutherland (5-11, 201, So./Fr.)
Safety
4 Nick Scott (5-11, 200, Gr./Sr.)
23 Ayron Monroe (5-11, 206, Sr./Jr.)
16 John Petrishen (6-0, 206, Sr./Jr.)
Cornerback
29 John Reid (5-10, 180, Sr./Jr.)
5 Tariq Castro-Fields (6-0, 186, So./So.)
19 Trent Gordon (5-11, 184, Fr./Fr.)
Star
29 John Reid (5-10, 180, Sr./Jr.)
2 Donovan Johnson (5-9, 182, So./Fr.)
38 Lamont Wade (5-9, 194, So./So.)
SPECIAL TEAMS
Punter
93 Blake Gillikin (6-2, 192, Jr./Jr.)
49 Cade Pollard (5-11, 207, Fr./Fr.)
95 Vlad Hilling (5-10, 217, Fr./Fr.)
Kicker (Field Goal)
92 Jake Pinegar (6-2, 197, Fr./Fr.)
95 Vlad Hilling (5-10, 217, Fr./Fr.)
99 Justin Tobin (6-2, 191, Jr./So.)
Kicker (Kickoff)
90 Rafael Checa (6-2, 205, Fr./Fr.)
92 Jake Pinegar (6-2, 197, Fr./Fr.)
95 Vlad Hilling (5-10, 217, Fr./Fr.)
Holder
93 Blake Gillikin (6-2, 192, Jr./Jr.)
15 Michael Shuster (6-2, 209, Jr./So.)
36 Jan Johnson (6-2, 234, Gr./Jr.)
Long Snapper
96 Kyle Vasey (6-2, 231, 5th/Sr.)
91 Chris Stoll (6-2, 257, So./Fr.)
94 Joe Calcagno (6-0, 242, So./Fr.)
Kickoff Returners
1 KJ Hamler (5-9, 173, So./Fr.)
32 Journey Brown (5-11, 205, So./Fr.)
4 Ricky Slade (5-9, 198, Fr./Fr.)
Next. Penn State Opponent Preview: Maryland. dark
Punt Returners
3 DeAndre Thompkins (5-11, 188, Gr./Sr.)
1 KJ Hamler (5-9, 173, So./Fr.) OR
29 John Reid (5-10, 180, Sr./Jr.)
Coaching Staff
James Franklin – Head Coach
Brent Pry – DC/LB
Ricky Rahne – OC/QB
Phil Galiano – STC/Assistant DL
Tim Banks – Co-DC/S
Tyler Bowen – TE
David Corley – WR
Matt Limegrover – OL
Ja’Juan Seider – RB
Terry Smith – Assistant HC/CB
Sean Spencer – Associate HC/DL
