4 X-factors that Penn State needs to count on in Big Ten play

James Franklin led his Nittany Lions to two victories to begin the 2024 college football season, and already the team has offered plenty of highlights and lowlights. Although last week’s game against Bowling Green out of the Mid-American Conference went awry, Penn State stood tall and secured the victory.

The defense started poorly, allowing a six-play, 75-yard drive to open the game. This continued throughout the first half, as Penn State trailed 24-20 at the break. Tom Allen’s defense made necessary and effective adjustments in the locker room, as his defense only allowed three points in the second half and forced two Bowling Green turnovers. 

Andy Kotelnicki’s offense had its moments in the 34-27 win in week two. Drew Allar threw for 204 yards and contributed three touchdowns, but it was the Lawn Boyz show this past Saturday. Nick Singleton had fourteen touches for 133 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns, while Kaytron Allen also had fourteen touches for 101 yards.

Penn State now enjoys its first bye week of the season and will have time to clean up both sides of the ball before they play Kent State. After Kent State, Penn State opens conference play at home against Illinois. Besides Penn State’s star players, they will need more players to count on. Here are four X-factors on the roster that will need to count on as conference play nears:

Durant entered his junior season with some expectations of being a key contributor in Tom Allen’s defense. Through two games this season, Durant has tallied nearly 60% of the snaps, more than any other interior defensive lineman on the team. He recorded a sack in Week 1 victory over West Virginia and has five tackles in the season.

Pro Football Focus, often referred to as PFF, evaluates game film and assigns grades out of 100 to players based on their scoring system. Durant has an overall grade of 82.0, which ranks best among Penn State defensive players.

Durant has stepped up big time so far this season, and the Nittany Lions will be counting on him and fellow starting defensive tackle D’Von J-Thomas to impose their wills against opposing teams’ fronts. Durant is still an under-the-radar player on this team, and he should be discussed as one of the best players on the squad.

Warren arrived in the 2024 season as the team’s starting tight end and pivotal target for quarterback Drew Allar. He’s done just that through two games, catching eleven passes for 176 yards and one touchdown so far. Warren also broke a program record last Saturday against Bowling Green.

An 81.4 player grade from PFF has Warren rated as the highest player among the Penn State offense. Warren might be too recognized and productive to be an X-factor on this list, but he still has something to prove this season.

He has been behind on the depth chart to the likes of Pat Freiermuth, Brenton Strange, and Theo Johnson in his collegiate career, and now he is trying to forge his own path in the Penn State football history books and help propel the Nittany Lions into the college football playoff.

Starting in Tom Allen’s defense as a true sophomore, Rojas has been a wrecking ball in Penn State’s first two games of their 2024 campaign. Playing alongside Kobe King and Dominic DeLuca, he’s totaled ten tackles and an interception so far this season. He has played in 70% of the snaps and has made his presence felt.

PFF has Rojas at a 76.0 overall grade this season, and in coverage, he’s received an 81.6 grade, the highest on the defense. Rojas does have to work on his tackling in the open field, as it has allowed opposing running backs to sometimes reach the third level of the defense. However, Rojas has been the key contributor among the linebacker trio, and all three of them must continue to step up for Penn State to contend in the conference.

Transferring from Georgia this offseason, Harris has made an immediate contribution as a starting outside cornerback. He has already totaled seven tackles and one pass defensed in the two games so far this season. Harris did have mighty expectations entering this season, as he was a five-star recruit in the 2023 recruiting class. He is making those expectations a reality so far for the Nittany Lions.

Harris, behind Durant, is Penn State’s second-highest-graded defender at 76.1. He has flourished in Tom Allen’s system, which is represented by his 78.0 coverage grade. Both West Virginia and Bowling Green have tried to avoid throwing to Harris’s side of the field. Harris is an exciting piece for Nittany Lion fans to keep paying attention to, and as a true sophomore, he hasn’t come close to touching his full potential.