Who are Penn State Football’s key players to pick up an Outback Bowl win over Arkansas?
By Nick Kreiser
Penn State Football faces a tall task as they’ll take on the No. 21 Arkansas Razorbacks in the Outback Bowl on New Year’s Day, and there are many players that need to step up for the Nittany Lions to finish their season on a high note.
Arkansas is one of the best rushing offenses in the country at 217.3 yards per game, and with their top wide receiver in Treylon Burks opting out of the game, their offense is likely to lean heavily on the ground game against Penn State Football in the Outback Bowl.
Without two of their three starting linebackers opting out of the game, a Nittany Lions defense that already struggled against the run will have their hands full.
Offensively, the passing game will need to be Penn State Football’s bread and butter, like it has been all season.
Sean Clifford needs to play well, but his offensive line needs to protect him for that to happen.
These are key players that need to play well for Penn State Football to have a chance at picking up a solid win over a ranked SEC opponent in the Outback Bowl
Penn State Football wide receiver – Parker Washington
It is still not clear whether Jahan Dotson will be participating in the Outback Bowl, but regardless, Parker Washington will play an important role for the Nittany Lions in this one.
Washington capped the regular season with an excellent afternoon at Michigan State, hauling in four catches for 60 yards and a touchdown. That game followed a six-catch, 72-yard, and highlight reel touchdown performance against Rutgers.
It will be important for the sophomore wide receiver to carry that momentum into the bowl game against the Razorbacks.
If Dotson does in fact play, Washington will need to be an excellent complement to the future NFL Draft pick as he has been most of the season, and if Dotson doesn’t play, Parker Washington will need to step up into the role of being the go-to receiver for an offense that will need to do most of its work in the passing game.