Penn State Football: projecting the depth chart for the offense in 2022

With spring practice well behind Penn State Football , and the summer months now upon us, it's time to look forward to the upcoming season. All eyes will be on the offense in 2022, as the Nittany Lions look to rebound from having one of the worst offenses in the Big Ten in 2021.rnrnThere will not be as many new faces contributing on the offensive side as there will be for the defense, but there are still plenty of uncertainties about the depth chart at all positions.rnrnWhat will the backup quarterback position look like? Who will replace Jahan Dotson? Where do the true freshmen fit into the running back rotation? Who will start at right guard?rnrnWe will attempt to answer all these questions - any many more - throughout these next few slides.rnrn Here is Victory Bell Rings' post-spring/pre-summer prediction for what the offensive depth chart for Penn State Football might look like to begin the season. rnrn[nextslide teaser="Quarterbacks" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_81263" align="aligncenter" width="590"] TAMPA, FLORIDA - JANUARY 01: Sean Clifford #14 of the Penn State Nittany Lions looks to throw a pass in the first quarter against the Arkansas Razorbacks in the 2022 Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium on January 01, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)[/caption]rn Penn State Football quarterbacks rnSean Clifford returns for his sixth and final year in the black shoes and basic blues, where he will be the starting quarterback to begin the season, barring something unforeseen.rnrnAlso returning is redshirt freshman Christian Veilleux, who appeared in two games last season, most notably helping to lead Penn State Football to a win over Rutgers on senior day. The redshirt freshman looks the part, and at the moment seems like the most ideal candidate to be in the backup role.rnrnTrue freshmen Drew Allar and Beau Pribula have now entered the equation as well, both of which have bright futures, but are still young and have a lot of room to grow, as we saw in the spring scrimmage .rnrnWhile it is unlikely that either of them will see extensive action in 2022, they provide some much-needed stability and depth to the quarterback room.rn Projected depth chart: rn 1. Sean Cliffordrnrn 2. Christian Veilleuxrnrn 3. Drew Allarrnrn 4. Beau Pribularnrn[nextslide teaser="Running%20backs" /]rn rn[caption id="attachment_81264" align="aligncenter" width="590"] COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND - NOVEMBER 06: Keyvone Lee #24 of the Penn State Nittany Lions runs with the ball 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)[/caption]rn Penn State Football running backs rnKeyvone Lee is the most experienced and productive back returning for the Nittany Lions, so expect him to be the first back to take the field at Purdue on September 1st. However, don't think that true freshman Nicholas Singleton won't also see his fair share of carries early on in the season, because he certainly will.rnrnBehind those top two, the depth chart gets a little more uncertain, at least at this point.rnrn Kaytron Allen is another true freshman who is extremely talented with a ton of potential, but it might be tough for him to become one of the primary ball-carriers, at least to begin the season. Early on, look for Allen to potentially be a role player as the third option at running back, occasionally spelling Lee and Singleton for a carry or two, here and there.rnrnDevyn Ford looked solid as a true freshman in 2019, and also played well when he was forced into an increased role due to the medical retirement of Journey Brown and injury of Noah Cain in 2020, but his workload significantly decreased in 2021. He has shown some flashes of some upside, but with such a crowded running back room, could once again struggle to see many touches.rnrnSimilar to Ford, Caziah Holmes looked solid when he was forced into action as a true freshman in 2020, and with a chance to develop with a redshirt season under his belt, could be ready to make an impact ... but will he get a chance to do so with Lee returning and a pair of talented true freshmen now in the mix?rnrnHolmes also did not play in the spring scrimmage for unspecified reasons.rnrn rn Projected depth chart: rn 1. Keyvone Leernrn 2. Nicholas Singletonrnrn 3. Kaytron Allenrnrn 4. Devyn Fordrnrn 5. Caziah Holmesrnrn[nextslide teaser="Wide%20receivers" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_75972" align="aligncenter" width="590"] STATE COLLEGE, PA - SEPTEMBER 11: Parker Washington #3 of the Penn State Nittany Lions carries the ball against the Ball State Cardinals during the first half at Beaver Stadium on September 11, 2021 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)[/caption]rn Penn State Football wide receivers rnParker Washington and Mitchell Tinsley are virtual locks to be two of the starting wide receivers, with KeAndre Lambert-Smith and Malick Meiga battling for the final starting spot. Lambert-Smith is a returning starter and should have the upper hand, but don't completely rule out Meiga just yet.rnrnTrue freshman Kaden Saunders has the ability to make an impact right away, but with him being best suited to play in the slot, he likely won't see much time this season, as Washington has that spot wrapped up and won't come off the field very often.rnrnHarrison Wallace has been impressive throughout the offseason, likely earning himself a backup role where he could see some occasional playing time throughout each game.rnrnLiam Clifford likely won't see a ton of meaningful snaps this season, but fingers crossed that he has the opportunity to catch a pass from his brother as some point throughout the year.rnrn rn Projected depth chart: rn 1. Parker Washingtonrnrn 2. Kaden Saundersrnrn 3. Liam Cliffordrnrn rnrn 1. Mitchell Tinsleyrnrn 2. Harrison Wallacernrn 3. Omari Evansrnrn rnrn 1. KeAndre Lambert-Smithrnrn 2. Malick Meigarnrn 3. Jaden Dottinrnrn[nextslide teaser="Tight%20ends" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_81265" align="aligncenter" width="590"] STATE COLLEGE, PA - SEPTEMBER 25: Theo Johnson #84 of the Penn State Nittany Lions hurdles Isas Waxter #23 of the Villanova Wildcats during the first half at Beaver Stadium on September 25, 2021 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)[/caption]rn Penn State Football tight ends rnThe Nittany Lions return their top three tight ends from a year ago, all of which played extensive roles for the offense in 2021. Don't expect that to change much (if at all) this year.rnrnMike Yurcich started to incorporate more of Theo Johnson as the season went on last year, and he could have the highest ceiling of the three 'starters', so he could be their primary option at tight end in pass-catching roles.rnrnBrenton Strange will still see a ton of action, as will Tyler Warren. Warren is still relatively new to the tight end position, but showed some flashes down the stretch of last season. Standing at six-foot-six, Warren is the tallest of the three, so he could become more of a factor in the redzone this season.rnrnRedshirt freshman Khalil Dinkins and true freshman Jerry Cross have a lot of talent and experience in front of them, so don't expect to see much of them in 2022.rn Projected depth chart: rn 1a. Theo Johnsonrnrn 1b. Brenton Strangernrn 1c. Tyler Warrenrnrn 4. Khalil Dinkinsrnrn 5. Jerry Crossrnrn[nextslide teaser="Offensive%20line" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_77724" align="aligncenter" width="590"] Juice Scruggs #70 of the Penn State Nittany Lions (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)[/caption]rn Penn State Football offensive line rnThe biggest question mark for the Nittany Lions is the offensive line, and they return just two of five starters from a year ago. Typically, that would be seen as a negative, but seeing as though Penn State had one of the worst offensive lines in the Big Ten in 2021, it could be a good thing to get some fresh faces in there.rnrnThe two returning starters are Juice Scruggs and Caedan Wallace. Scruggs figures to move over from right guard to center, while Wallace will likely remain at right tackle.rnrnOn the left side of the line, it seems quite clear that Olu Fashanu will start at tackle and Landon Tengwall at guard, as that was the combination that was used for a chunk of the Outback Bowl and ran with the starters in the spring scrimmage.rnrnRight guard will be the only true competition as far as the starting lineup is concerned, as a battle between Sal Wormley and Hunter Nourzad will determine who will be the final piece to the puzzle. With Nourzad just getting to campus in May, as well as having to make the transition from tackle to guard, Wormley should be looked at as the current frontrunner to win that job.rnrnBackups are certainly important as well, so the position battles for many of those spots will be interesting to watch unfold.rnrn rn Projected depth chart: rn Left Tackle rnrn 1. Olu Fashanurnrn 2. Landon Tengwall*rnrn Left Guard rnrn 1. Landon Tengwallrnrn 2. JB Nelsonrnrn Center rnrn 1. Juice Scruggsrnrn 2. Nick Dawkinsrnrn Right Guard rnrn 1. Sal Wormleyrnrn 2. Hunter Nourzadrnrn Right tackle rnrn 1. Caedan Wallacernrn 2. Jimmy Christrnrn rnrn * - without many true offensive tackles on the roster, Landon Tengwall would likely be the primary option to slide over in place of Olu Fashanu in the event of an injury. After that, next in line at tackle could be true freshman Drew Shelton, and Golden Israel-Achumba would likely become JB Nelson's backup at left guard. rnrn[story_link_next description="Ranking%20the%20best%20wide%20receivers%20in%20Penn%20State%20Football%20history" url="https://victorybellrings.com/2022/06/02/penn-state-football-best-wide-receivers/" /]

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Penn State Football: projecting the depth chart for the offense in 2022

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