Penn State Football: Depth chart for the Illinois game
By Joe Ciminera
Penn State football is still searching for a tight end to step up, and according to this weeks depth chart, the competition is heating up.
Replacing Mike Gesicki was one of the biggest challenges for Penn State football this past off season.
While Jonathan Holland and Danny Dalton have been serviceable, it has been freshman Pat Freiermuth who has made the greatest strides. For Friday night’s matchup with the Illini, the depth chart reads Holland or Dalton or Friermuth as the starter.
Freiermuth has three catches for 40 yards in the first three games, which puts him just behind Holland and just ahead of Dalton in production, but it has been his blocking ability and feel for the offense that has propelled Freiermuth.
John Reid, despite not playing last week, is still listed as a starter. Coach Franklin said they are expecting him to play Friday night.
Tommy Stevens hasn’t seen the field yet this year as the “lion”, but Franklin says he is good to go on Friday. It wouldn’t make much sense to put too much of Stevens on film for Ohio State, but he could see some in-game action.
Let’s take a look at how the rest of the depth chart shakes out.
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.) OR
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.)
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.)
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/DC
71 Will Fries (6-6, 306, Jr./So.)
77 Chasz Wright (6-7, 353, Gr./Sr.)