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Outback Bowl: 3 key matchups as Penn State Football takes on Arkansas

By Nick Kreiser

COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND - NOVEMBER 06: Head coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates with players during the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium on November 06, 2021 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND - NOVEMBER 06: Head coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates with players during the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium on November 06, 2021 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) /
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Penn State Football, Jesse Luketa
Jesse Luketa #40 of the Penn State Nittany Lions (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

Penn State Football’s front seven vs Arkansas’ running game

Arkansas has one of the top rushing attacks in the country, averaging 217.3 yards per game, which is fourth among Power 5 teams. They have four players who have rushed for over 495 yards on the season, including starting quarterback KJ Jefferson.

Here are Arkansas’ rushing stats.

  • RB – Trelon Smith: 592 rushing yards (5.1 yds/carry), 5 touchdowns
  • QB – KJ Jefferson: 554 rushing yards (4.4 yds/carry), 5 touchdowns
  • RB – Raheim Sanders: 499 rushing yards (4.9 yds/carry), 3 touchdowns
  • RB – Dominique Johnson: 498 rushing yards (5.8 yds/carry), 7 touchdowns

All four of them are very talented and physical runners, so the Nittany Lions’ front seven will need to swarm to the football, tackle well in space, and match the physicality of the Razorback ball carriers.

These guys did not put up these numbers without a little help though, as the Arkansas offensive line was a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award, which is given to the team with the most outstanding offensive line in the country.

So not only will the Nittany Lions have their hands full trying to get ball carriers to the ground, but they also face a tall task in terms of shedding/avoiding blocks and getting free to make tackles around the line of scrimmage.

Arkansas’ star wide receiver Treylon Burks will not play in the game, so expect the Razorbacks to lean heavily on the run.

If Penn State Football wants to have success on defense in Tampa, their front seven is going to have to minimize an outstanding Arkansas ground game.

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