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Penn State Football: Week 4 Studs and Duds against Illinois

By Corey Hunter

CHAMPAIGN, IL - SEPTEMBER 21: Trace McSorley #9 of the Penn State Nittany Lions runs the ball as Bennett Williams #4 of the Illinois Fighting Illini reaches for the tackle during the game at Memorial Stadium on September 21, 2018 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - SEPTEMBER 21: Trace McSorley #9 of the Penn State Nittany Lions runs the ball as Bennett Williams #4 of the Illinois Fighting Illini reaches for the tackle during the game at Memorial Stadium on September 21, 2018 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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CHAMPAIGN, IL – SEPTEMBER 21: Miles Sanders #24 of the Penn State Nittany Lions runs the ball during the game against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Memorial Stadium on September 21, 2018 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL – SEPTEMBER 21: Miles Sanders #24 of the Penn State Nittany Lions runs the ball during the game against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Memorial Stadium on September 21, 2018 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

Running Back – Miles Sanders

Here are just some of the “firsts” for Miles Sanders this year:

  • First career 100-yard rushing game
  • First career 200-yard rushing game
  • First career 2-touchdown game
  • First career 3-touchdown game

The list of superlatives for this young phenom continues to grow by the week.  He’s agile, speedy, tough to tackle, shifty, resilient, durable, and the list goes on.  No matter what adjectives are used to describe Penn State running back Miles Sanders, no one can question that he has become an integral part of the Nittany Lions high-flying offensive attack.

Through four games, Sanders has racked up nearly 500 rushing yards and scored five touchdowns.  He ranks second in the Big Ten in total rushing yards behind Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor, and he sits one score behind teammate Trace McSorley for the conference lead in touchdowns.

This past Friday night at Illinois, he posted his first 200-yards rushing performance, as well as notched his first three-touchdown game.  After Illinois had taken a 24-21 lead early in the third quarter, it was Miles Sanders who brought the Nittany Lion faithful to their feet with a 48-yard touchdown scamper to put the Lions ahead for good.

If there’s been a knock against Sanders it has been that he is not as good of a pass blocker as his predecessor, Saquon Barkley, was.  However, Sanders has shown a great deal of improvement in this area.  Sanders has not been responsible for a single sack-against this season, and his ability to track and pick up the blitzer has improved tremendously.

Ohio State and defensive coordinator Greg Schiano will bring a number of exotic blitz packages to keep Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley off balance.  It will be up to Sanders to help provide support in pass-protecting situations.

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