Overview of what Penn State has to offer at tight end going into the 2022 season.
The passing game has really allowed for Penn State to showcase it’s receiving talent. In recent memory we have seen [autotag]Pat Freiermuth[/autotag] and [autotag]Mike Gesicki[/autotag] who have turned State College success into NFL success.
The talent in the tight end room this year has some NFL-level talent in it as well. Players like [autotag]Theo Johnson[/autotag] and [autotag]Brenton Strange[/autotag] are already getting media attention being named to the John Mackey Award watchlist. Both men are expected to bring big time blocking and receiving to the Penn State offense with their own unique skillsets.
The room itself has a nice mix of young and old players in it. Coach James Franklin has shown an affinity to give the NFL talent at all positions and because of that he is now aware he has to have deep rosters at skill positions.
Take a look at Penn State’s depth at the running back position heading into the 2022 season.
Penn State is prepping for a season in which the program hopes to redeem itself on the national stage. After back-to-back seasons of mediocre results, Penn State is aiming to bounce back and prove themselves worthy of being in the Big Ten championship hunt, if not a little bit more.
Penn State kicks off the 2022 season with a Thursday night primetime matchup at Purdue on September 1. When the season begins, Penn State is hoping to get the running game on track after a disappointing season rushing the ball in 2021. With a Doak Walker Award watch list player in Keyvone Lee and one of the top recruits in the Class of 2022 with in-state recruit Nick Singleton, and another quality addition with Kaytron Allen, hopes are high for Penn State to figure out things on the ground.
Here is a look at what Penn State has on the roster at the running back position for 2022, beginning with the expected stars of the ground game.
A quick look at what Penn State has on the roster at the wide receiver position heading into the 2022 season.
Penn State is prepping for a season in which the program hopes to redeem itself on the national stage. After back-to-back seasons of mediocre results, Penn State is aiming to bounce back and prove themselves worthy of being in the Big Ten championship hunt, if not a little bit more.
Penn State kicks off the 2022 season with a Thursday night primetime matchup at Purdue on September 1. After losing a first-round NFL draft pick in [autotag]Jahan Dotson[/autotag], Penn State has some big shoes to fill at wide receiver., Fortunately, the depth of the position could be in Penn State’s favor with the returns of [autotag]Parker Washington[/autotag] and [autotag]KeAndre Lambert-Smith[/autotag] and the addition of transfer [autotag]Mitchell Tinsley[/autotag]. And there are some young receivers to look forward to as well.
Here is a look at what Penn State has on the roster at the wide receiver position for 2022, starting with the top three receivers that should be a factor with the first-team offense this fall.
Here’s a quick look at what Penn State’s quarterback depth chart looks like in 2022.
Penn State is prepping for a season in which the program hopes to redeem itself on the national stage. After back-to-back seasons of mediocre results, Penn State is aiming to bounce back and prove themselves worthy of being in the Big Ten championship hunt, if not a little bit more.
Penn State kicks off the 2022 season with a Thursday night primetime matchup at Purdue on September 1. When they do take the field, Penn State will have one of the most experienced quarterbacks in the Big Ten leading the offense with [autotag]Sean Clifford[/autotag] returning for a sixth season.
After some questions about the depth at the quarterback situation in 2021, [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] is much more comfortable with the depth at the position going into the 2022 season. Here is a look at the quarterback lineup for Penn State in 2022, starting with returning starter Clifford.
Our staff at Nittany Lions Wire shares our pick for Penn State’s breakout player in 2022 that may be flying under the radar.
As we begin to move closer to the start of a new college football season in Happy Valley, the staff at Nittnay Lions Wire is spending some time sounding off on some big questions facing the Nittany Lions this fall. Today’s focus is on potential breakout players for the Nittany Lions in 2022.
Penn State appears to have some good talent across the roster in 2022, and we have profiled a number of players expected to be key contributors to the program this fall. But who is a player you feel is flying under the radar and could emerge as a key breakout player for the Nittany Lions in 2022?
Penn State has quite the intriguing offense. They brought in guys like [autotag]Drew Allar[/autotag] and [autotag]Nick Singelton[/autotag]. They even brought in two transfers with Cornell offensive tackle [autotag]Hunter Nourzad[/autotag] and Western Kentucky wide receiver [autotag]Mitchell Tinsley[/autotag]. It’s hard to call Tinsley a sleeper when many analysts already have him mocked in the first three rounds of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Speaking of sleepers, I’m heading over on the defensive side of the ball for defensive tackle [autotag]Coziah Izzard[/autotag]. When it comes to the defensive line, many will think of [autotag]PJ Mustipher[/autotag], and rightfully so. Mustipher going down with an injury last season resulted in several new faces getting some more playing time on the field. In his first season, Izzard didn’t see much production. But in 2021, he finished with 21 total tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble. I think Izzard has a strong chance to break out for the Nittany Lions this season.
Izzard saw the majority of his 2021 production against Rutgers, where he finished with four total tackles and a sack. He is currently slated to start up front. Those stats mentioned are a solid stepping stone to potentially have a breakout season for the Nittany Lions in 2022.
Mustipher developed into a leader for Penn State, and Izzard, now being one of the upperclassmen, has a good chance to do that as well.
Two other names I wanted to throw out there are wide receiver [autotag]Malick Meiga[/autotag] and offensive tackle [autotag]Juice Scruggs[/autotag], both now going into their second years under offensive coordinator [autotag]Mike Yurcich[/autotag].
There are a few new faces on the roster that I anticipate will have some big seasons for the Nittany Lions, but it would be unfair to suggest wide receiver Mitchell Tinsley or freshman running back Nick Singleton are flying under the radar. So I’m also going to go on the defensive side of the football and point to linebacker Kobe King.
While Kalen King is already primed and ready for a solid sophomore season in the backfield, his twin brother Kobe could emerge as a fixture in the middle of the Penn State defense. Kobe King may not start the year as a starter but I do anticipate he will be a consistent contributor when on the field. And with that will come a growth that will lead to him being cemented in the middle of the defense moving forward.
What struck me was this spring when King noted that picking up and adjusting to the new defensive style of new defensive coordinator Manny Diaz was easy to pick up and run with, compared to the style of former defensive cooridnator Brent Pry. It may be a mix of a system being easier to grasp and a player having a year of college football experience already under his belt, but that stood out to me in the spring and I hope that it translates to success on the field this fall.
Theo Johnson who comes into the year being underutilized so far in his Penn State career is someone I think could make a giant leap this year. He and Brenton Strange are both on the John Mackey Watchlist but Johnson is who intrigues me. His blend of speed and size could make him one of the best tight ends in the country if they utilize him in such a way. With this being Clifford’s last season I think they go all out and gameplan every weapon they can around him.
Follow Nittany Lions Wire on Twitter and like us on Facebook for continuing Penn State coverage and discussion.Let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.
Penn State’s offensive line should be improved this year with Landon Tengwall, one of our top 25 players to watch in 2022 in Happy Valley.
Penn State’s roster for the 2022 season has a good mix of returning veterans and experience and fresh new faces expected to jump in and contribute this fall. Nittany Lions Wire will be taking a look at 25 of the most important players on the roster for the 2022 season all throughout the month of July by profiling one player each day.
Each player should play some kind of role in the success of the Nittany Lions this season as James Franklin looks to lead Penn State back to winning enough games to be considered for a lucrative bowl game at the end of the season.
The offensive line is arguably the unit that needs the most improvement in 2022, and [autotag]Landon Tengwall[/autotag] may be a part of the solution. Tengwall lacks experience but provides plenty of size to help beef up the offensive line’s effort this season as the entire line looks to redeem itself this fall.
Theo Johnson has a chance to be a big-time contributor to the Penn State offense in 2022.
There was a time when Penn State was producing quality tight ends the same way Robert Windsor ate fish sandwiches, like clockwork. Players like [autotag]Mike Gesicki[/autotag] and [autotag]Pat Freiermuth[/autotag] have both become staples in their team’s offenses but there may be another looming in the distance.
[autotag]Theo Johnson[/autotag] has a story you can root for and a style you love to watch when he touches the field. To this point in his college career he has been used mainly as a run blocker but this past season he showed flashes of being more. He can’t be more though without showing more and that means [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] and his staff have to open things up for him.
Ideal situations and worst-case scenarios for the Canadian sensation will be discussed in his player profile.
Penn State top 25 players in 2022: Christian Veilleux is a solid backup QB option if needed
Penn State’s roster for the 2022 season has a good mix of returning veterans and experience and fresh new faces expected to jump in and contribute this fall. Nittany Lions Wire will be taking a look at 25 of the most important players on the roster for the 2022 season all throughout the month of July by profiling one player each day.
Each player should play some kind of role in the success of the Nittany Lions this season as James Franklin looks to lead Penn State back to winning enough games to be considered for a lucrative bowl game at the end of the season.
Typically speaking, the role of the backup quarterback may not always be one of the major keys to success for any college football team, but Penn State knows the value of having a capable backup option ready to roll. And in 2022, Penn State should have more confidence in its backup plan for Sean Clifford with [autotag]Christian Veilleux[/autotag].
How will Olumuyia Fashanu help improve Penn State’s offensive line in 2022?
Penn State’s roster for the 2022 season has a good mix of returning veterans and experience and fresh new faces expected to jump in and contribute this fall. Nittany Lions Wire will be taking a look at 25 of the most important players on the roster for the 2022 season all throughout the month of July by profiling one player each day.
Each player should play some kind of role in the success of the Nittany Lions this season as James Franklin looks to lead Penn State back to winning enough games to be considered for a lucrative bowl game at the end of the season.
Penn State has a big question to answer this season with its offensive line. Olumuyia Fashanu is just one player who will look to show the line can be relied upon for an offense to truly take flight. With just one career start, Fashanu will take on a big role on the rebuilt offensive line in 2022.
The Nittany Lions Wire staff shares expectations for Manny Diaz and the Penn State defense in 2022 and predicts how long Diaz sticks around on the staff.
As we begin to move closer to the start of a new college football season in Happy Valley, the staff at Nittnay Lions Wire is spending some time sounding off on some big questions facing the Nittany Lions this fall. Today’s focus is on the new defensive coordinator, Manny Diaz.
Diaz, most recently the head coach of the Miami Hurricanes, replaces Brent Pry, now the head coach at Virginia Tech. He brings with him a respected defensive coordinator profile. What are your expectations for the Penn State defense under Diaz in 2022, and how long do you think Diaz sticks around as a member of the Penn State coaching staff?
The Manny Diaz hire might be one of the biggest wins for Penn State this offseason. This hire came just 11 days after Brent Pry left to be the next head coach at Virginia Tech. Diaz was with Miami for six seasons, where he went 7-5 in 2021 with an abysmal 77th ranking in the country in total defense. However, let’s not forget the success Diaz has had as a defensive coordinator.
First, Diaz was a defensive coordinator at Middle Tennessee State for four years, where he led the conference in sacks and tackles for a loss twice.
Diaz also spent 13 seasons, including MTSU, as a defensive coordinator and 12 as a linebackers coach. Let me repeat that last part. Manny Diaz is coming to “Linebacker U” with 12 seasons of productiveness at other schools. His experience at Florida State, NC State, Middle Tennessee State, Temple Louisiana Tech, Texas, and Miami.
Diaz doesn’t have great experience as a head coach. However, I don’t think it will take long for Diaz to land another head coaching job, especially if he does well at Penn State, given the productive talent that they have.
Despite the struggles Diaz had as a head coach, I still think that his expectations as Penn State’s defensive coordinator will be somewhat high if he does want another head coaching job in the future. However, I do think Diaz is one of those coaches that isn’t a good head coach but an elite defensive coordinator. Diaz is in a perfect position to succeed at Penn State, given the amount of defensive talent that they have.
However, it is possible Diaz only lasts around 2-3 years before someone hires him as a head coach if he does well at Penn State.
Penn State has lost a good amount of talent the past two seasons on their defense. However, they do still have a talented class of 2022 recruits coming in for next season, and they do still have a few veterans returning, including Nick Tarburton, Jonathan Sutherland, and Curtis Jacobs.
Penn State defensive coordinator Manny Diaz coaches during an NCAA college spring football game Saturday, April 23, 2022, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
My expectations are honestly through the roof. This Penn State defense is full of playmakers and it has the depth to provide a rotation to keep players fresh. Diaz thrives with his coaching of defensive backs so guys like Ja’Ayir Brown and Joey Porter Jr. should see big-time roles and success this year. On the note of success, I would be shocked if Diaz is around for longer than two years. He got a raw deal down in Miami with how the school handled everything, his track record speaks for itself, and success at Penn State will fast-track that for him.
While I believe the standard has been raised for what is expected from a Penn State defense, I do not think Diaz will have much trouble clearing the bar. It helps that Diaz is taking over a defense that is still in a solid position with depth at many of the key positions with players opting to return for another year or returning from injury, not to mention the injection of good talent through recruiting the past couple of recruiting cycles.
Penn State’s defense doesn’t have much it needs to improve under Diaz, but I am encouraged by hearing some of the younger players say it has been a pretty easy transition to Diaz’s system. Earlier in the spring, sophomore linebacker Kobe King suggested it was easier to pick up Diaz’s style than it was his predecessor’s, Brent Pry. Perhaps that is partly because another year of college experience helps a younger player, or maybe Diaz’s system just gels well with the roster.
I still fully expect Penn State to have one of the top defensive units in the Big Ten this season despite some notable losses to the NFL like Jaquan Brisker and Arnold Ebiketie. A defense allowing fewer than 20 points a game under Diaz with consistent pressure in the backfield is exactly what I expect to see out of this team under his leadership at defensive coordinator. Anything else would be ominous for the chances of success this season.
Penn State defensive coordinator Manny Diaz coaches during an NCAA college spring football game Saturday, April 23, 2022, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
Simply put, I’m not counting on Diaz and the defense to be a major concern this season.
That said, I do not anticipate seeing Diaz sticking around Happy Valley for too long. I think this is a two-year working relationship at the most, and I suspect that is the expectation for James Franklin. Diaz may not have been the answer at Miami the program hoped he would be, but that’s a program that has been trying to figure out the answer at head coach ever since Butch Davis left for the NFL. Diaz still has a head coaching career in front of him, and he could be in a position where he can wait for the right opportunity to come along instead of rushing out of here to accept the first offer he receives. A one-year stay in Happy Valley would not be shocking to me if things go well this season, but I think Penn State can get two years out of Diaz to make some things happen.
Follow Nittany Lions Wire on Twitter and like us on Facebook for continuing Penn State coverage and discussion.Let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.
