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Penn State Football: Grading the Nittany Lions’ Performance at Maryland

By Dylan Burd

COLLEGE PARK, MD - NOVEMBER 25: Linebacker Jalen Brooks
COLLEGE PARK, MD - NOVEMBER 25: Linebacker Jalen Brooks /
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STATE COLLEGE, PA – SEPTEMBER 07: Micah Parsons #11 of the Penn State Nittany Lions reacts after making a tackle Kevin Marks #5 of the Buffalo Bulls during the second half at Beaver Stadium on September 07, 2019 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA – SEPTEMBER 07: Micah Parsons #11 of the Penn State Nittany Lions reacts after making a tackle Kevin Marks #5 of the Buffalo Bulls during the second half at Beaver Stadium on September 07, 2019 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

A+. . . . D-LINE AND LINEBACKERS

The Penn State defense has shown flashes all season, but after this game, I feel comfortable calling them elite. Maryland came into this game averaging 53 points per game, and the Penn State defense came in completely dominated, not allowing a single point in the game.

I decided to group the defensive line and linebackers together for this game because they all played so well. The front-seven held Maryland to only 60 rushing yards on 34 rushing attempts, good for only 1.8 yards per carry.

This wasn’t against a no-name player either. This was against running back Anthony McFarland  Jr., son of ESPN announcer and former NFL player, Booger McFarland. McFarland Jr. who had 225 yards and five touchdowns on the season coming into the game, was held to only 24 yards on nine carries.

Not only was the Penn State front-seven a terror for Anthony McFarland Jr., but they were a terror for Maryland quarterback Josh Jackson. Penn State was able to get incredible pressure on Jackson, as they had four sacks and three QB hurries in the game. In total, Penn State had eight tackles for loss in the game.

The pressure was led by linebacker Ellis Brooks, who had a team-high six tackles and team-high 2.5 sacks. Ellis Brooks and Jesse Luketa, who had five tackles, did a phenomenal job of filling the void for Micah Parsons, who was ejected in the first quarter for targeting.

Linebacker Jan Johnson had the first Penn State interception of the game. In addition, Cam Brown had three tackles, and Charlie Katshir at a QB hurry.

https://twitter.com/CFBONFOX/status/1177737872755105792

For the defensive line, Yetur Gross-Matos had five tackles, two tackles for loss, and a QB hurry. True freshman defensive end Adisa Isaac had four tackles, 1.5 sacks, and 2.5 tackles for loss. Shane Simmons had three tackles, including a half a tackle for loss. Fred Hansard also had a half a tackle for loss.

Defensive ends Shaka Toney and Jayson Oweh also chipped into the effort, as Toney had a QB hurry, and Oweh has a pass defensed.

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