Penn State Football: Position Grades versus Appalachian State

By Dylan Burd | Sep 4, 2018

STATE COLLEGE, PA - SEPTEMBER 01: Miles Sanders #24 of the Penn State Nittany Lions rushes for a 4 yard touchdown in overtime against the Appalachian State Mountaineers on September 1, 2018 at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

8 of 9

Secondary

Does this need an explanation? The secondary was the worst unit on the field by a landslide. Appalachian State did whatever they wanted through the air, the Moutnaineers’ quarterback Zac Thomas threw for 270 yards and two touchdowns in his first career start.

The entire 2017 starting Penn State secondary is gone, so yes, this group is certainly inexperienced. Tariq Castro-Fields and Amani Oriuwariye both saw time on the field last season, but weren’t the starting corners. John Reid was out last season with a torn ACL, so this was his first game in almost two years.

Safeties Nick Scott and Garrett Taylor combined for 17 tackles, but this whole unit was truly getting torched all game. The defense only had three passes defensed all game, two of those by Tariq Castro-Fields, and one of those by Nick Scott.

If it weren’t for the incredible game-winning interception in overtime by Amani Oruwariye, this unit would have gotten an F.

Grade: D

Home/Penn State Football