Penn State Football needs these 4 players to step up to upset Ohio State

BLOOMINGTON, IN - OCTOBER 24: Lance Dixon #10 of the Penn State Nittany Lions in action on defense during a game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium on October 24, 2020 in Bloomington, Indiana. Indiana won 36-35 overtime. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

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BLOOMINGTON, IN – OCTOBER 24: Lance Dixon #10 of the Penn State Nittany Lions in action on defense during a game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium on October 24, 2020 in Bloomington, Indiana. Indiana won 36-35 overtime. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Linebacker (next man up) U

Starting WIL linebacker, and team captain Jesse Luketa was ejected in the second half of Saturdays game for a targeting foul, meaning he will miss the first half of this week’s game vs Ohio State.

The next man up for the time being figures to be redshirt freshman Lance Dixon. Dixon appeared in three games last season, and did play vs Indiana, however did not record a tackle.

Losing Luketa is a big blow, but Franklin echoed confidence in the freshman Dixon in his weekly press conference.

"“I think a lot of the specific technical, fundamental things of playing linebacker… I think he just continues to grow in confidence. I see him getting better every single day.” – Franklin said of Dixon."

Linebacker isn’t the only position where youth will play a vital role Saturday, and the rest of the season …

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