Chop Robinson OUT vs. Indiana

Penn State rules DE Chop Robinson out vs. Indiana in pregame player availability report.

It was likely anticipated that Penn State would be without the services of defensive end Chop Robinson on Saturday against Indiana. Those expectations were met with the release of Penn State’s player availability report leading up to kickoff against the Hoosiers from Beaver Stadium.

Robinson was officially ruled out of action for the Indiana game. Robinson, who left last week’s game at Ohio State after a blow to the head, was one of 12 players listed as out for the home game against the Hoosiers.

Here is a look at everyone ruled out by Penn State:

  • Tyler Johnson
  • Mehki Flowers
  • Elliot Washington II
  • Tyler Holzworth
  • Feyisayo Oluleye
  • Chop Robinson
  • Kaveion Keys
  • Ian Harvie
  • Liam Powers
  • Jim Fitzgerald
  • Andrew Rappleyea
  • Smith Vilbert

Penn State also listed four players as questionable for the game, including Amin Vanover. Here is who is listed as questionable for the Nittany Lions:

  • Amin Vanover
  • Mason Stahl
  • Carmelo Taylor
  • Mason Robinson

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Status of Chop Robinson still unknown for Indiana game

After a blow to the head last week, it remains uncertain if Penn State will have this top defensive player this weekend.

Penn State defensive end [autotag]Chop Robinson[/autotag] has been regarded as one of the best defensive linemen in the nation this season. This is why his departure from last week’s game at Ohio State after taking a blow to the head was especially noteworthy. After leaving and not returning last week in Columbus, head coach [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] remains uncertain what the status of Robinson may be this weekend against Indiana.

Franklin said this week he hopes to see Robinson return sooner rather than later, but there has been no public comment on whether sooner could be as soon as this weekend in Beaver Stadium.

Obviously, when it comes to head trauma, there is more caution than ever before in the history of the sport of football. And while cameras caught some potentially disturbing results following his collision last weekend, it is always better to play things as safely as possible before rushing any player back on the field. The Big Ten also has pretty strong concussion procedures to help ensure no player is back on the field when they probably should not be.

Franklin did note he does not believe Robinson’s medical concern will be of the season-ending variety. That is always positive news.

If Robinson is not available, as most seem to believe will ultimately be the case, expect Penn State to bump [autotag]Dani Dennis-Sutton[/autotag] into the starting role for the week. But also expect some opportunities for freshman [autotag]Jamieal Lyons[/autotag] to get involved. This weekend would be his fourth appearance, the last before exhausting a redshirt season of eligibility for this season.

It also helps that Penn State should be able to get by this week without one of their top defensive players. Penn State hosts Indiana this weekend. Both teams are coming off a loss, and Penn State should be able to use the home cooking to get back on track against a Hoosiers program that is 0-4 in Big Ten play this season and just 2-5 overall. Indiana’s only two wins this season have come against Indiana State, an FCS school, and Akron, by two points in overtime.

Indiana has been outscored 44-17 at Maryland, 52-7 at Michigan, and 31-14 at home against Rutgers coming into this weekend’s matchup with the Nittany Lions. So Penn State’s defense should be in good shape, and the offense could have the stage set for a nice confidence boost after last week’s demoralizing performance.

Some positive injury updates?

There is good news for Penn State’s injury report, however. Offensive guard [autotag]JB Nelson[/autotag] may be fully available this week after having his own medical scare a few weeks back at Northwestern. He may even get the start at guard this week.

[autotag]Amin Vanover[/autotag] could possibly return to the field this weekend as well. Vanover also left the Ohio State game with an injury last week. He is said to be a game-day decision for the Nittany Lions.

Penn State hosts Indiana on Saturday, Oct. 28 at 12:00 p.m. ET on CBS.

Best photos from Penn State’s blowout of UMass

Best photos from Penn State’s homecoming win over UMass.

The weather may not have been fantastic, but just about everything else about Penn State’s victory over UMass was. From big special teams returns, a monster defensive performance, and steady offensive production against an overmatched opponent, Penn State was ready to send the fans and alums home with a win to smile about.

Penn State dominated UMass, 63-0, in front of a homecoming crowd willing to sit through the first batch of cold and damp fall weather to his State College for a football Saturday this season. And it did lead to some memorable photos to look back on as well.

Here are some of the best photos from Penn State’s latest win against the UMass Minutemen in Week 7 of the college football season.

Penn State availability report for Illinois released

Penn State availability report: Daequan Hardy actuive, Harrison Wallace III listed as questionable vs. Illinois

Penn State is about to open up its Big Ten slate on the road at Illinois for a noon eastern kickoff on national TV, and the depth at wide receiver could be a slight concern for the matchup. Penn State’s player availability report for Week 3 against Illinois confirmed the Nittany Lions will be without wide receiver [autotag]Malick Meiga[/autotag] and [autotag]Harrison Wallace III[/autotag] is listed as questionable.

The big news with the latest player availability report from Penn State is cornerback [autotag]Daequan Hardy[/autotag], defensive tackle [autotag]Coziah Izzard[/autotag], and defensive end [autotag]Amin Vanover[/autotag] are all active.

Wallace III is Penn State’s second-leading receiver after the first two games of the season. Wallace is tied for a team-high 10 receptions and has 98 receiving yards.

Meiga has appeared in just one game this season, in which he caught 1 pass for 7 yards. This is the second game in a row Meiga, who contributes mostly on special teams will be out of action.

Penn State has also ruled out defensive end [autotag]Smith Vilbert[/autotag] for the game this weekend. Redshirt freshman defensive tackle [autotag]Kaleb Artis[/autotag] is also listed as questionable for the game this weekend against Illinois.

Illinois has a largely clean availability report. The only player on this week’s report from the Illini is defensive back Demetrius Hill, who will be out.

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2023 Penn State football snapshot profile: No. 15 Amin Vanover

What to expect from Penn State defensive end Amin Vanover in 2023.

Going into the 2023 football season, Nittany Lions Wire will be looking at each scholarship player listed on the Penn State roster. Over the preseason, each profile will cover where the player is from, how recruiting websites rated them coming out of high school, and what role they will play for James Franklin this season.

Sporting a new uniform number this year, and continuing in our player-by-play preview, is [autotag]Amin Vanover[/autotag]. Vanover is entering his fourth season with the program and could be one of the top backups on the roster at a key position. Here is a snapshot look at Vanover entering the 2023 college football season.

Penn State football snapshot profile: No. 56 Amin Vanover

Snapshot profile of Penn State defensive end Amin Vanover heading into 2022.

Going into the 2022 football season, Nittany Lions Wire will be looking at each scholarship player listed on the Penn State roster.

Over the preseason, each profile will cover where the player is from, how recruiting websites rated them coming out of high school, and what role they will play for [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] this season.

The next player is defensive end [autotag]Amin Vanover[/autotag]. Vanover has had limited snaps for Penn State in his two years with the teams thus far.

However, he looks to hopefully earn more time on the field in 2022, with even more competition, headlined by defensive end [autotag]Dani Dennis-Sutton[/autotag].

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PJ Mustipher finding other ways to lead while continuing rehab

New Penn State defensive cooridnator Manny Diaz is among those impressed with the leadership of rehabbing PJ Mustipher this spring.

Penn State’s defensive line has been a fairly consistent unit over the years, and one where the ability to create playmakers has been demonstrated routinely. A year removed from sending [autotag]Odafe Oweh[/autotag] off to the first round of the NFL draft, the eyes are on [autotag]Arnold Ebiketie[/autotag] to see if he can sneak into the first round of the 2022 NFL draft. Meanwhile, in State College, [autotag]PJ Mustipher[/autotag] is coming back for one more season with Penn State with the hopes of becoming another early-round draft pick. But before that, he needs to continue rehabbing from a knee injury that has placed him on the sidelines this spring.

Despite being inactive on the practice field, Mustipher has been providing the kind of leadership that he will be relied on in his sixth season of eligibility. And it did not take long for Mustipher to show new defensive coordinator [autotag]Manny Diaz[/autotag] why he will be a valuable asset to the defensive line.

“[Mustipher] is not even practicing but, man, you feel his presence every day,” Diaz said to reporters, according to Lions 247. “And he makes sure that he’s on the defensive lineman. He’s on the defense in general.”

Mustipher has been helping to keep his teammates fired up and driving to improve this spring. Among those benefitting from Mustipher’s leadership and encouragement has been newcomer Zane Durant, who has been raising eyebrows this spring after enrolling early with other members of the Class of 2022.

The defensive line looks to be one of the most exciting position groups for Penn State in 2022, and the eventual return of a healthy Mustipher will be a key part of that equation. The early opportunity for Durant to get involved will be helpful, as will the eventual arrivals of [autotag]Dani Dennis-Sutton[/autotag] (five-star addition in the Class of 2022) and Maryland transfer [autotag]Demeioun Robinson[/autotag].

Despite not having any of those three players in the Blue-White Game, the entire defensive line unit will be worth watching in the Penn State spring game. The unit did lose promising Zuriah Fisher for the 2022 season due to a spring injury recently, but eyes will be on [autotag]Adisa Isaac[/autotag] (who is coming off his own injury from last season) and [autotag]Nick Tarburton[/autotag]. The Blue-White Game should also be a good opportunity for other players to get some good playing time, including [autotag]Smith Vilbert[/autotag], [autotag]Rodney McGraw[/autotag], and [autotag]Amin Vanover[/autotag].

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