Penn State Football vs. Ball State: Nittany Lions’ 3 keys to victory

Key No. 2: Penn State Football’s front seven must hold up without Ellis Brooks in the first half 

Thanks to a targeting call late in the fourth quarter on Wisconsin quarterback Graham Mertz, linebacker Ellis Brooks will miss the first half of the game Saturday afternoon.

Brooks played arguably his greatest game as a Nittany Lion Saturday until the ejection, leading the team with 11 tackles, one sack and one tackle for loss. He was everywhere and anywhere, and was ejected after a vicious hit on Mertz who took off running on a third down late in the game.

With Brooks out, it will cause a domino effect that will hurt two positions for Brent Pry and this defense.

Franklin said this week that Jesse Luketa will step into his role at linebacker which is a deficit at linebacker, while now the defensive line losses Luketa at defensive end, making them even thinner up front.

Zuriah Fisher and Smith Vilbert should see more action opposite Arnold Ebiketie who was dominant in the win Saturday, racking up seven tackles, a sack and two tackles for loss, with a few hits on the quarterback.

Loosing Brooks for a half is not something Penn State Football cant overcome in a game like this, however its little things like this that can add up and become a reason why this game is closer than it should be late in the game.