2023 Penn State Football Preview

Where is Dante Cephas on Penn State’s depth chart?

Where will Dante Cephas fit on the Penn State depth chart this fall?

After the departure of [autotag]Parker Washington[/autotag] and [autotag]Mitchell Tinsley[/autotag] to the NFL after last year’s season, Penn State’s wide receiver depth chart was full of inexperienced players. Returners [autotag]Keandre Lambert-Smith[/autotag] and [autotag]Harrison Wallace[/autotag] combined for 43 receptions and 662 yards.

The Nittany Lions hit the transfer portal bringing in [autotag]Dante Cephas[/autotag] from Kent State. In two seasons as a starter, he caught 130 balls for 1,984 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Like Tinsley the year prior, Cephas is expected to step in and make an immediate impact for Penn State this season.

Reports out of training camp suggest he has gotten off to a slow start, causing him to be in the rotation of players competing for the final starting spot. Lambert-Smith and Wallace are two of the expected starters with an opening still available to be earned.

[autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] was asked about where Cephas stands on the depth chart in his recent availability to the media and he reiterated this point saying, “Yeah, he’s in that group that’s battling. We got a competitive group of four to five guys that are battling — he’s apart of that conversation.”

When making the transition from a smaller conference to the Power 5 level, it’s an adjustment adapting to the increased speed and athleticism. It’s harder to get open and compete physically against defensive backs. On top of that, Franklin is a coach who emphasizes the need to compete at practice, something Cephas is learning about.

“It’s not saying that he’s not a big time player, but there’s a difference between getting up one or two days a week, or one or two times a year in a season vs. coming out here every single day with that type of competitiveness that you need to be successful,” Franklin said.

Cephas is going to have plenty of opportunities to work his way into a starting role with Penn State this season. He’s a talented player who should make an impact once he gets used to the different level of competition it takes to play in the Big 10.

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‘Offseason Kings’ announced by Penn State after summer training camp

Penn State announces offseason MVPs heading into the 2023 season.

Penn State has recognized some of the top performers over the summer with their announcement on Wednesday. Their “Offseason Kings” highlight the Touchdown and Takeaway Kings from the offensive and defensive side of the ball.

Two players are selected from each and recognized for their performance throughout the summer period.

On the offensive side of things, quarterback [autotag]Drew Allar[/autotag] and wide receiver [autotag]Keandre Lambert-Smith[/autotag] were the “Touchdown Kings.”

Despite [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] not officially announcing who the starting quarterback will be for the 2023 season, Allar received the honor after being recognized by teammates and coaches for his play on the field and becoming a vocal leader in the locker room. The sophomore came into Penn State as a five-star recruit with built in hype surrounding that status.

Lambert-Smith is the top returning receiver from last year’s team and will have to play a much bigger role if the Nittany Lions want to achieve the goals they are after. According to reports out of camp, he has taken it upon himself to be a leader in the wide receiver room and on the field.

Camp Kings 👑 pic.twitter.com/8Y8y9mZV0P

— Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) August 23, 2023

The defensive players recognized as “Takeaway Kings” were cornerback [autotag]Daequan Hardy[/autotag] and linebacker [autotag]Tony Rojas[/autotag].

Hardy is a redshirt senior who is expected to be the top nickelback corner this season. He had worse season number wise last year with 13 tackles and one interception than he had in 2021, when he recorded 15 tackles and two interceptions. Despite that, he is an experienced player who is rumored to potentially play a role in the return game on special teams as well.

Rojas has been one of the hottest names throughout the spring and summer. The true freshman has gained 30 pounds since enrolling in January and has found himself in the rotation of Manny Diaz’s defense for the upcoming season.

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Early Scouting Report: Northwestern Wildcats

Early scouting report on Northwestern, whom Penn State plays before the bye week this season.

After the White Out game, Penn State travels to the Chicago area to play Northwestern. After an offseason filled with controversy, there are a lot of questions about what the product on the field will be for the Wildcats.

The next team in the mini series giving early scouting reports for all of Penn State’s opponents takes a look at Northwestern who might be the biggest unknown in the entire conference.

Last Year’s Results

2022 Record: 1-11 (1-8 in conference)

Head Coach: David Braun (First season)

David Braun steps in as the interim coach after the dismissal of longtime head coach Pat Fitzgerald following a hazing investigation within the football program. That came on the heels of a rough season that saw them lose 11 games in a row following their victory of Nebraska in Ireland.

It was a major struggle for Northwestern on the offensive side of the ball. They went out and tried to upgrade the quarterback position during the offseason, but lost a ton of overall production on both sides of the ball. It could another tough season for the Wildcats in 2023.

Offensive Preview

Last year, Northwestern was third worst in scoring with 13.8 points per game and had the second most turnovers with 31. As mentioned, they hit the transfer portal to upgrade the quarterback room by getting Cincinnati transfer Ben Bryant. The two leading receivers from last year Malik Washington and Evan Hull were lost to transfer and the NFL Draft. They do add two transfers at wide receiver and get some production back from last year’s players.

The offensive line is replacing four starters and their best tackle in Peter Skoronski. They’ll also need to find production from the running back room after the departure of leading rusher and second leading receiver Hull. Cam Porter should step into that role along with Anthony Tyus III.

Based on the upgrade at quarterback, Northwestern will most likely try to throw the ball more. If their line can’t hold up though, that plan will be scrapped. Penn State should use their defensive front to disrupt this game early and often.

Defensive Preview

When Fitzgerald was still head coach, he hired Braun to be his new defensive coordinator from North Dakota State with the goal of upgrading that side of the ball. Braun now steps into the head coaching role but will still have his hand in the defense. The formation likely used is the 4-2-5 which plays into the secondary strength of this team.

Safety Rod Heard II will be used in multiple roles along with leading tacklers Bryce Gallagher and Xander Mueller at the linebacker position. Northwestern got several interior lineman through the transfer portal that will have to give this defense a boost.

This seems like a game Penn State will feast on the ground. Take the strength of the opponent’s defense out of the equation by using the running game to dominate this matchup.

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Early Scouting Report: Iowa Hawkeyes

An early look at the Iowa Hawkeyes, who come to Penn State for a primetime matchup in September.

The White Out game comes early this season in the fourth game of the year and the second of the Big Ten schedule. Penn State will host Iowa under the lights on CBS and create the best atmosphere in college football.

The mini-series continuing to look at the opponents on the 2023 schedule rolls on with the fourth opponent of the year and the second from the western division.

Iowa is up next.

Last Year’s Results

2022 Record: 8-5 (5-4 in conference)

Head Coach: Kirk Ferentz (25 seasons; 186-115 record)

It was an interesting year last season for the Iowa Hawkeyes. They didn’t really contend to win the west like they normally do and a lot of that had to do with their poor offense. The defense was strong as usual and allowed them to have a winning record.

The season in a nutshell was a year of streaks. Iowa State beat them for the first time in six games. They then won two games in a row, lost three in a row, then won four games in a row. Iowa ended the season with a loss to Nebraska that put them out of contention for the Big Ten championship game.

Offensive Preview

The biggest thing Iowa needs to address is their offense. They ranked last in the nation with 251.6 yards per game and eighth worst with 17.7 points per game. Cade McNamara transferred in from Michigan with the hope to fix the offensive production.

The Hawkeyes have to replace their best offensive weapon in Sam Laporta who led the team in receptions and receiving yards. As usual though, Iowa will have a good tight end room with leading touchdown receiver from 2022 Luke Lachey and Michigan transfer Erick All. All five of their offensive lineman are back for another season and they get return leading rusher Kaleb Johnson who ran for 779 yards in 2022.

The real question is if offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz will be able to create a more explosive offense this year. Facing this Penn State defense in the White Out environment is going to be difficult test for Iowa, who will most likely try to attack on the ground.

Defensive Preview

Iowa defense is a staple in college football. They’re always well coached and put players in the NFL every season. That was no different last year allowing the second fewest points per game with 13.3. That could change this year with a ton of production to replace.

Leading tackler Jack Campbell is gone, edge rusher Lukas Van Ness is gone and starting secondary players Riley Moss and Kaevon Merriweather depart as well. Who is returning for Iowa this season is All-Big Ten Cooper DeJean who had a team high five interceptions, three returned for touchdowns and was third on the team with 73 tackles. The Hawkeyes also have three players returning in the front seven who have multiple years of starting experience.

On paper it looks like a rebuild, but defensive coordinator Phil Parker has created elite defenses almost every year he’s been at Iowa. He’ll definitely have something up his sleeve to make things difficult for Penn State. With no specific areas to attack, the offensive line will have to make sure there are running lanes and time for the quarterback to throw.

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Early Scouting Report: Illinois Fighting Illini

Penn State’s Big Ten opener at Illinois may be tricky. Here’s an early scouting report on the Illini.

Penn State will kick off its 2023 Big Ten conference play against Illinois in the third week of the season. They’ll be looking to get the bad taste out of their mouth from the 2021 game that saw the Nittany Lions lose 20-18 in the NCAA’s first-ever nine-overtime game.

This is a continuation of the mini series giving an early scouting report on every team Penn State plays this season.

Illinois is next on the list.

Last Year’s Results

2022 Record: 8-5 (5-4 in conference)

Head Coach: Bret Bielema (2 seasons; 13-12 record)

It was a good season last year for the Illini. They missed out on the conference championship by one game. Illinois started the year out 7-1 before losing three straight that kept them from representing the western division.

Bielema will be tasked with replacing some top tier talent on the roster that went to the NFL. That includes their starting running back Chase Brown and top cornerback Devon Witherspoon. With new coaches in the west, they’ll look to take advantage of the last year with divisions and make it to the Big Ten championship game.

Offensive Preview

It’s the third year in a row that Bielema is going into the season with a new starting quarterback. They bring in Luke Altmyer from Ole Miss who will take over from their previous transfer Tommy DeVito. The offense will get a boost with their best receiver Isaiah Williams returning along with two of their other top four pass catchers from last season.

Running back Brown will have to be replaced after rushing 1,643 yards last season. Reggie Love III will assume the starting role after appearing in 13 games and carrying the ball 70 times. Three offensive lineman will be back as well, including both their tackles. This should help the quarterback have time to find the talented receivers and provide holes for the running backs.

Barry Lunney Jr. is in his second season as offensive coordinator for Illinois. His offensive philosophy is to have a balanced attack between the running and passing game. Bielema likes to establish the run, so most likely they’ll try to attack Penn State’s defense with play action and get their receivers open across the middle of the field.

Defensive Preview

The defense was elite last season. They led the nation in fewest points allowed with 12.8 per game. Illinois will be operating under a new defensive coordinator this season after Ryan Walters took the head coaching job at Purdue. Secondary coach Aaron Henry was promoted to take over and said he plans to keep a similar scheme.

If they want to have the same success as last year, they’ll have to get the secondary up to speed after their many departures. What helps is the Illini get their two defensive tackles, Jer’Zhan Newton and Keith Randolph Jr., back for another season. They led the team in sacks and tackles for loss. Bielema says this might be the best linebacking group he’s ever had as a coach.

There’s no doubt that this is going to be a test for the Penn State offense. The defensive tackles will put the interior of the offensive line to work and make it difficult to establish the run game. Based on the inexperienced secondary, it might be up to the passing game to generate offense if they can’t get much on the ground.

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Nittany Lions Wire game-by-game staff predictions for Penn State in 2023

Game-by-game predictions for Penn State football from the Nittany Lions Wire staff for the 2023 season.

The expectations for Penn State football in 2023 are pretty high, and it is easy to see why. Coming off an 11-2 season capped by a victory in the Rose Bowl with some big-time players on both sides of the football to look forward to this fall, and a new starting quarterback with plenty of hype, good things could be coming to Penn State this season.

Penn State is starting off the season with a consensus no. 7 ranking in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll, the AP Top 25, and the FWAA Super 16 Poll. That puts Penn State firmly on the radar for a Big Ten championship and College Football Playoff appearance, although the big question is whether or not the Nittany Lions can get ahead of either Ohio State or Michigan, or both!

Below are the game-by-game staff predictions from Nittany Lions Wire editor Kevin McGuire and contributor Brad Wakai for the upcoming Penn State football season. As you’ll see, the optimism runs pretty deep here for the season we are about to witness. What could possibly go wrong?

6 Penn State players make Bruce Feldman’s “Freak List”

Bruce Feldman included a number of Penn State players on his annual college football freaks list

The athl;eticism on the Penn State roster is well recognized by those who pay close attention. And few pay closer attention to the freakish athletic nature of college football’s finest like Bruce Feldman of The Athletic. Feldman’s “Freak List” has developed a cult following of those who are big college football fans. For those unaware, Feldman has been creating this list for around 20 years that highlights the best athletes around college football.

Hence, the term “freak.”

Feldman started with 10 players he talked about every year, but the popularity has driven him to cover more players. Coaches, teammates, parents, scouts and agents will contact him to let him know about someone who he should look at for the list.

This year, Feldman’s “Freak List” has 101 names on it with six players from Penn State getting highlighted for their athleticism. Here is where they are ranked on his list. You can view the full list of Feldman’s college football freaks for 2023 via The Athletic.

2023 Penn State position previews: Running Backs

Penn State’s running back situation is very promising in 2023 with Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen leading the way.

After a few tough years without getting much consistency out of the running game, Penn State saw the light in 2022 in the form of two impressive freshmen, [autotag]Nick Singleton[/autotag] and [autotag]Kaytron Allen[/autotag]. Singleton and Allen quickly elevated their game and took control of the ground attack as the team’s leading rushers as returning players Devyn Ford and Keyvone Lee struggled to stay on the field. Both Ford and Lee have since moved on from the Nittany Lions in search of other opportunities to play while Singleton and Allen moved forward as the core of the Penn State running game.

And there is a lot to look forward to in the form of a sophomore encore from each. But Penn State also added to the running back room with help from the transfer portal and the recruiting efforts have continued to bring in talented running backs like London Montgomery and Cam Wallace in the Class of 2023.

Here is a look at Penn State’s promising running back situation heading into the 2023 season.

Penn State football: Early scouting report on Delaware

Penn State hosts Delaware in Week 2. Here’s a way-too-early scouting report on the Blue Hens.

The second game of the season for Penn State in 2023 will be against FCS opponent Delaware. It will be the first time these teams have ever played on the football field.

The Nittany Lions played Villanova from the Colonial Athletic Association in 2021. They’re scheduled to face them again in 2025 and Delaware again in 2027.

The Big Ten had previously banned their schools from playing non FBS opponents in 2015, but changed that rule in 2017. The Blue Hens are the only non-FBS opponent on Penn State’s schedule this season.

They’re next on the mini series taking a look at the early scouting reports of every opponent on the 2023 schedule.

Last Year’s Results

2022 Record: 8-5 (4-4 in conference)

Head Coach: Ryan Carty (1 season; 8-5 record)

Ryan Carty took over the head coaching job last season after Danny Rocco was fired in 2021. Carty was a member of the 2003 national championship team and returned to his alma mater after being the offensive coordinator at Sam Houston State for four years.

He used an explosive offense to power Delaware to a winning season and an FCS playoff victory in the first round. Carty is the first coach in program history to make the FCS playoffs in his inaugural season. They beat Navy in the season opener, marking their first victory over an FBS school since 2007.

Offensive Preview

Delaware is bringing back seven starters from their explosive offense last season, including all five of their offensive lineman. The biggest replacement they’ll have to make is at quarterback. Nolan Henderson graduated after starting 34 games over four seasons.

Two quarterbacks are battling to be the starter heading into the season. Ryan O’Connor has been in the program and started four games his sophomore season. He’s competing with junior college transfer Zach Marker for the job.

Leading rusher Kyron Cumby and their best receiver Jourdan Townsend headline the returning skill position players. Three other receivers off last year’s team are back for the Blue Hens as well.

It’s an offense that is set up to continuing scoring a high amount of points in the second season of Carty’s offense.

Defensive Preview

Defense is the biggest question mark heading into the 2023 season. They are tasked with replacing nine starters from last year’s team. The headliner is defensive end Chase McGowan who led the team in sacks and tackles for loss.

The linebackers and defensive backs are inexperienced and will have to get up to speed quickly if Delaware wants to build on their successful season in 2022. Carty is confident there is talent at every position group, it’s just about getting that talent experience.

Overall, Penn State won’t have a problem with the Blue Hens. The talent gap is just too big. However, if the game becomes a rout early, many of the backups will get into the game. It will be a good test to see how the young secondary performs against a high octave passing offense.

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2023 Penn State position previews: Quarterbacks

Penn State’s highly scrutinized quarterback position has a lot of pressure on it this season.

After multiple seasons with Sean Clifford leading the Penn State offense, the torch has officially been handed off to Penn State’s next quarterback. The quarterback conversation has been in the spotlight all offseason as head coach James Franklin has embraced the idea of a true quarterback competition for the starting job this season. But has it really been much of a question of which way the quarterback position will shake out in 2023? Not to many of you reading, perhaps.

Drew Allar has long been perceived to be the successor to Clifford, even if Franklin has refrained from confirming that detail for the 2023 season as long as he possibly can. But Beau Pribula could be a contributor at the quarterback position this season as well. How will that look? That remains to be seen, although it has been a focus for offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich this offseason.

Here is a quick look at Penn State’s quarterback position for the upcoming 2023 college football season.