Penn State Football: Breaking Down the Depth Chart for the Kent State Game
By Joe Ciminera
After an easy win last week at Pitt, Penn State football will line up again this week against Kent State.
51-6, I still can’t believe it. What a thing of beauty that was.
When I wrote in Sean Clifford as the QB3 in this depth chart deep-dive last week, I never imagined he would be entering the game, let alone throwing a touchdown pass in it, but college football is very unpredictable.
This week, I assume that some of the guys further down the depth chart will get some reps, as, according to ODDSSHARK, Penn State is heavily favored over Kent State at Beaver Stadium, but really, who knows what to expect.
I’m sure Coach Franklin would like to keep getting his freshmen, such as Micah Parsons and Jesse Luketa, reps, and it would be nice if Juwan Johnson and DeAndre Thompkins could use this Kent State game to build some confidence, but it’s key to not overlook any opponent.
So, as the Nittany Lions ready themselves for the Golden Flashes, there are a few changes to the depth chart to note.
First, at starting wide receiver it now lists DeAndre Thompkins or Brandon Polk at starter. Thompkins has struggled a bit, while Polk brings speed that Kent State may not be ready for.
Will Fries, who has played exceptionally well, is now listed as starting right tackle, having seemingly beaten out Chasz Wright.
On special teams, the backup to field goal kicker is now Justin Tobin or Vlad Hilling.
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.) OR
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.) OR
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.)
87 Pat Freiermuth (6-5, 258, Fr./Fr.)
83 Nick Bowers (6-4, 260, Sr./Jr.)
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
71 Will Fries (6-6, 306, Jr./So.)
77 Chasz Wright (6-7, 353, Gr./Sr.)
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.)
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.)
46 Nick Tarburton (6-3, 246, 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.)
26 Jonathan Sutherland (5-11, 201, So./Fr.)
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.)
99 Justin Tobin (6-2, 191, Jr./So.) OR
95 Vlad Hilling (5-10, 217, Fr./Fr.)
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.)
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.)
Next. Penn State Football: Week 2 Studs and Duds. dark
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
