Penn State Football: Depth Chart for the Ohio State Game
By Joe Ciminera
Could this be the week of the Lion for Penn State?
I wrote last week that although Tommy Stevens was healthy-ish, and maintained his starting spot on the Penn State depth chart at the Lion position, it wouldn’t have made much sense to play him.
Coach Franklin, obviously a big fan of mine, took that piece of advice.
Stevens is going to be used in special and surprising ways. There is no doubt Franklin, offensive coordinator Ricky Rahne and the rest of the staff were playing the Lion card close to their vest.
But there is no better time to open the cage than a prime-time white out versus the dreaded Buckeyes.
Stevens should be the player who jumps off of the depth chart this week, but let’s look at what else is new.
Mark Allen is still battling an injury and is not listed. This is a big loss, and freshman Ricky Slade will need to step up in a big way. Miles Sanders was exceptional last week, but the Buckeyes, even without Nick Bosa, will pose a challenge.
On defense, after leading the Nittany Lions in tackles last week, Jonathan Sutherland now has an “OR” separating him and Ayron Monroe as the backup safety.
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.)
4 Ricky Slade (5-9, 198, Fr./Fr.)
32 Journey Brown (5-11, 205, So./Fr.) OR
20 Jonathan Thomas (5-11, 218, (Gr./Sr.)
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.)
51 Alex Gellerstedt (6-6, 311, Jr./So.)
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.) OR
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.)
51 Alex Gellerstedt (6-6, 311, Jr./So.)