Penn State fans got a glimpse into the future of the team in Week 4 win over Kent State

In Week 4, No. 10 Penn State had its best offensive performance in program history with 718 total yards of offense in a 56-0 win over Kent State. Junior quarterback Drew Allar and senior tight Tyler Warren were stars in the first half with Allar throwing for 309 yards and three touchdowns and Warren doing it all with a receiving and a passing touchdown, but in the second half, Penn State fans got a glimpse into the future. 

Backup quarterback Beau Pribula played nearly the entire second half, going 6/9 for 83 yards, a touchdown, and an interception that he threw early in the first quarter. However, it wasn’t just the redshirt sophomore who got plenty of playing time. 

Penn State plans for three true freshmen, offensive lineman Cooper Cousins, safety Dejuan Lane, and tight end Luke Reynolds to burn their redshirts this season, and all saw the field. Lane got early reps with Kevin Winston Jr. out for the game with an injury, Cousins entered in the second half to play right guard, and Reynolds finished with two catches for 27 yards. 

Beyond just those three members of the 2024 recruiting class, running back Quinton Martin Jr. turned the first seven carries of his career into 24 yards, wide receiver Tyseer Denmark made an impressive grab along the sideline for 13 yards, and defensive end Max Granville forced a fumble with a strip sack, but it was overturned into an incomplete pass. 

In total, 11 freshmen made their Penn State debuts in the Nittany Lion’s Week 4 blowout win. 

With Big Ten play starting next week against a ranked Illinois team coming off a win over No. 22 Nebraska, Lane, Cousins, and Reynolds could be the only freshman in the mix for the rest of the season, but against a team like Kent State, it was important for the starters to do their jobs in the first half to get the young players experience. 

As injuries, like Winston’s, start to add up throughout the long season, there could be more freshmen that will be forced onto the field.