Penn State Football finally picked up its first win of the season, a 27-17 victory over Michigan
Saturday afternoon Penn State Football got a glimpse of seasons future in a 27-17 victory over the Michigan Wolverines that featured several young players playing marquee roles and notching vital performances in the win.
The Nittany Lions will not be making a Bowl berth in 2020, but if Saturday is any indication, several blue chip recruits are slowly but surely developing into players capable of being key contributors in 2021 and beyond.
Here’s a look at three reasons Penn State should feel optimistic that the dark times of an 0-5 start to the 2020 season could be giving way to a bright future next season and beyond:
Keyvone Lee looks like the real deal
Penn State looks like it found something in true freshman running back Keyvone Lee.
Lee, thrust into the starting lineup as Devyn Ford was excused this week to mourn a death in the family, looked every bit capable of being a feature back.
With plenty of burst and explosiveness, Lee also at times looked like a patient runner while allowing blocks to set up in front of him on his way to a game-high 22 carries for 134 yards and a touchdown.
There were times where Lee’s running style was reminiscent of Penn State great Tony Hunt or even Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back LeSean McCoy.
Along with Caziah Holmes, Lee’s performance against the Wolverines should inspire plenty of optimism about the Nittany Lions’ future at running back. While for all intents and purposes the 2020 season is simply about getting meaningful snaps for young players, Lee and Holmes’ potential is a reason for optimism, particularly once both players get the benefit of a full offseason conditioning program this winter.
Parker Washington, Jahan Dotson look like formidable WR duo
There is a legitimate chance that Jahan Dotson declares for the NFL Draft, as his stock surged during last month’s loss to the Ohio State Buckeyes, but even if Dotson departs, the Nittany Lions’ receiving corps will be in good hands next season.
Parker Washington, a true freshman making his third career start, played like a legitimate No. 1 receiver against the Michigan defense.
Washington caught nine passes for 93 yards, and while he only averaged 10.3 yards per reception, the Sugar Land, Texas native looked like an improved route runner, flashed reliable hands, and made several big plays in the victory.
If Dotson, who caught three passes for 30 yards, does return in 2021 the Nittany Lions might have one of the top wide receiver duos on the country next season.
Theo Johnson throws key block
Theo Johnson, a true freshman and former five-star recruit saw extended run in the second game since All-American Pat Freiermuth was lost for the season with a shoulder injury.
Johnson didn’t show up in the box score, but he threw a key block on one of Penn State’s rushing touchdowns on Saturday afternoon against Michigan.
Penn State has high hopes for Johnson, and the fact that he was able to make an impact as a blocker should be encouraging, particularly because the expectation is he will develop into an elite pass-catching tight end.