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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 14: Jordan Stout #98 of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates with Blake Gillikin #93 of the Penn State Nittany Lions after kicking the longest field goal in school history against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the first half at Beaver Stadium on September 14, 2019 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA – SEPTEMBER 14: Jordan Stout #98 of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates with Blake Gillikin #93 of the Penn State Nittany Lions after kicking the longest field goal in school history against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the first half at Beaver Stadium on September 14, 2019 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

B. . . . SPECIAL TEAMS

If there’s one positional unit that was played a tad worst than the rest, it’s the special teams. The main reason is that Penn State had three penalties on punt returns in the game. It ended up having no impact on the game at all, but it was something I picked up on that can come back to haunt Penn State if it happens again.

Jordan Stout allowed his first three kickoff returns of the season, which is extremely impressive and was bound to happen at some point after every one of his kickoffs had gone for a touchback up to this point. Stout also missed his first field goal attempt for the year, a 52-yarder. Jake Pinegar hit all of his extra points, and a 21-yard field goal to end the half.

The missed field goal isn’t a big deal (as it was from 52 yards), but the penalties on kickoffs was a trend that I thought was interesting. Keep an eye on that on Saturday.

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