Penn State Football: Reasons for worry … and for optimism in second half of season
By Nick Kreiser
Despite what some people might think, Penn State Football still has everything to play for in 2021.
There are plenty of reasons for fans to believe that the Nittany Lions can still reach many of their goals this season, such as an incredible defense and some great wide receivers. But injuries and a very difficult schedule may provide some roadblocks along the way.
While there are plenty of reasons to both be optimistic and also concerned, here are some of the ones that stand out the most.
Reason to Worry – Penn State Football’s Injuries
The news has already broke that defensive tackle PJ Mustipher will miss the remainder of the season with an injury, and that is definitely a big blow to the Penn State Football defense.
The defensive line already lacks for ideal depth, so losing possibly their most consistent piece is less than ideal. Other members on defense also have some minor injuries that could become and issue, such as Jonathan Sutherland, Dvon Ellies, and Jaquan Brisker. As it stands, all of these guys should not miss any time, but being that they are already banged up, the possibility exists that something more major could occur.
Additionally, running backs John Lovett and Devyn Ford both left the game against Iowa, and didn’t return. Fellow running back Noah Cain was also banged up a few weeks ago, and is likely not quite 100%.
The other big question lies with starting quarterback, Sean Clifford, who left the Iowa game in the second quarter with an injury. By this point, it is safe to say that Clifford is not done for the season, because Franklin would have announced if he was, just like he did for Mustipher.
However, how long will Clifford be out for? The Nittany Lions should be alright without their starting quarterback against Illinois, but after that, they may not be. If Clifford misses more than one game, the quarterback position will be a big cause for concern against teams such as Ohio State, Michigan, and Michigan State.
If some of these players miss significant time and/or more serious injuries occur, that could be detrimental to this Penn State Football team.