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Penn State’s offense was in an uphill battle against the Iowa defense after Sean Clifford was knocked out. Inside the box score…
Penn State held onto the lead for well over the majority of this game. However, penalties really hurt them big time and it came back to bite them. And the offense was a mess after the injury to starting quarterback Sean Clifford.
Let’s take a look at the key factors that lead to Penn State eventually losing this football game.
Penn State head coach James Franklin says PSU was fortunate to land Arnold Ebiketie through the transfer portal
Penn State head coach James Franklin had one more chance to speak with the media on Wednesday after football practice as the Nittany Lions continue to prepare for this weekend’s home opener against Ball State.
One of the standout players from Penn State’s season-opening victory at Wisconsin in week 1 was transfer defensive end Arnold Ebiketie, so it was expected Franklin would be asked about the impact the former Temple player has already had with his new teammates. Franklin was pleased with Ebiketie’s ability to disrupt the Wisconsin offense, which was one of the big selling points in attempting to secure his commitment through the transfer portal.
“We felt fortunate to be able to get him,” Franklin noted while reflecting on what Penn State looks for in adding a transfer or graduate transfer player. “We thought he could have an impact.”
Franklin did note Penn State has worked on beefing up Ebiketie a bit since his arrival in Happy Valley from Philadelphia.
“The one thing we’ve been working on is putting a little weight on him,” Franklin said.
Franklin also stressed how much things are different in a team preparation standpoint with having a more normal routine this season compared to last year. Hear everything Franklin had to say in his Wednesday post-practice media scrum.
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5 takeaways from Penn State’s Week 1 victory over the Wisconsin Badgers
Penn State opened the 2021 season with a smile. It was good vibes on the return flight to Happy Valley after Penn State held on to pull an upset of Wisconsin in Madison on Saturday, and there was plenty to review in the aftermath of the thrilling 16-10 victory.
Before we dive into some of the main takeaways from Penn State’s showing against the Badgers, it should be noted how terrific it was to see fans back in a Big Ten stadium rocking out during a big-time matchup between ranked opponents. We didn’t have this last year, and Wisconsin fans brought it in the first game of the season. It was a joy to witness through the television and here’s looking forward to when Penn state fans get a chance to cheer on their team in Beaver Stadium next week and in two weeks for the first whiteout game since 2019.
Just look at this photo from the game in awe.
And now to some takeaways from the game itself. While Penn State’s defense had three takeaways, I’m serving up five takeaways I had after watching the game.
Let’s start with the player of the game…
What more needs to be said about the gutsy performance by safety Jaquan Brisker? Brisker came into the season regarded as the best player on Penn State’s defense, and arguably the entire roster. And despite having to receive medical attention on the field, on the sideline, in the medical tent multiple times throughout the game, it was Brisker who helped deliver one of the biggest plays of the game.
Brisker came up in the clutch on a day his team needed him to do so, and he did so despite clearly playing through some discomfort at times.
LISTEN: How Jaquan Brisker’s big INT sounded on TV and Penn State radio
Another defensive standout from the game who battled his own medical issue at one point was defensive end Arnold Ebiketie. The transfer from Temple asserted himself in a big way by creating pressure and coming up with some key tackles on the defensive line against one of the better offensive lines in the Big Ten.
We should very much be looking forward to more havoc from Penn State’s new defensive end star.
Penn State’s defense was challenged all game long, and they answered the call just about every single darn time against the Badgers.
Penn State’s defense turned in one of the gutsiest performances they have in a number of years. And it needed it.
Penn State opened the season in one of the toughest spots to start a season, on the road against Wisconsin with fans fired up to be back in the stands and jumping around in Camp Randall Stadium. Wisconsin’s defense has been one of the best defenses in the Big Ten in recent years, but Penn State’s defense was the one making the biggest plays in the season-opening 16-10 victory.
Penn State forced three turnovers, including a game-sealing interception by Ji’Ayir Brown in the closing moments. For a defense that gave up 365 yards and 29 first downs, it was all about bending and not breaking. Penn State’s defense bent, but they absolutely would not break.
Jaquan Brisker, Penn State’s All-America-caliber safety, fought through discomfort and injury concerns all game long, coming back on the field all four times he required some degree of medical attention either on the field or on the sideline, or both, And Brisker made some terrific plays in the fourth quarter, including a big pass breakup on a first down to setup a third and long that helped draw a punt by the Badgers.
Defensive end Arnold Ebekitie left the game at one point and headed to the locker room for additional treatment, but he returned to get right back into the mix in the trenches as well.
Despite being on the football field for over 20 minutes in the first half, Penn State’s defense came up big when it needed it the most. Two Wisconsin red zone trips in the first half netted zero points with a blocked field goal and Nick Tarburton pouncing on a botched handoff exchange by Wisconsin quarterback Graham Mertz.
For a game that was absolutely stellar by the defense, it was the timing of the lone Wisconsin touchdown drive that felt like a blow. Penn State’s defense forced a three-and-out on the first series of the second half and Jahan Dotson gave Penn State a 7-0 lead with a 49-yard reception from Sean Clifford on a busted play by the Badgers defense. But Wisconsin’s offense returned the favor with a 10-play drive spanning 75 yards for a game-tying score.
In the grand scheme of things, the timing of the touchdown drive doesn’t really matter. But having a shutdown defensive series netting zero points would have been good to see in that particular spot.
Penn state’s defense was on the field for nearly 43 minutes (42:51, officially). This isn’t a service academy we’re talking about. It was Wisconsin. Allowing just 10 points and coming up with as many red zone stops as they did gets this season starting on the right foot.
Now, a path to a 4-0 September lays in Happy Valley with the next three games at home, including a primetime showdown with Auburn in Week 3. This was one Penn State needed to set the right tone. That tone was set by the defense.
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Penn State football returns soon. Who are the key players to watch for the Nittany Lions in 2021?
Penn State enters the 2021 college football season with a bit of a chip on their shoulders. Following a rare losing season played during a pandemic, James Franklin and the Nittany Lions are eager to prove they are better than their 2020 record would indicate. With a challenging schedule right out of the gate, Penn State will have plenty of opportunities to prove itself to the masses this fall.
And they will do so with enough talent on the roster to make some things happen. With experience at quarterback, one of the top wide receivers in the Big Ten, and one of the nation’s top defensive secondaries to rely on, there are a lot of good ingredients for a successful season in Happy Valley. Every position has a chance to play a key role in the fortunes of Penn State this season too.
Here is a look at 21 key players Penn State has on the roster in 2021, listed in no particular order.
5 questions Penn State will be asked during Big Ten media day
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The summer convergence of Big Ten media, coaches, and players will take place this week in Chicago. As they arrive in the Windy City from Happy Valley, Penn State head coach James Franklin and his player representatives will have some tough questions to answer after last season.
Penn State limped out of the gates of the modified 2020 season to a historically bad 0-5 record before turning a corner and ending the season on a four-game winning streak. The Nittany Lions missed an opportunity to even their record and avoid a losing season by deciding as a team not to participate in a postseason bowl game at the end of a trying year. But perhaps the biggest question for Penn State to answer in 2021 was whether or not you can chalk up the 2020 season to being a product of unique circumstances or if it is a sign of a program on the decline.
Head coach James Franklin will be very likely to be asked some questions riding along the lines of wondering how Penn State bounces back in 2021 after last year’s setbacks. You can fully expect Franklin to push forward and leave 2020 behind him, but it is an important question to raise for anyone trying to figure out who Penn State is in 2021.
Prior to last season, Penn State had won 11 games three out of the previous four seasons with three appearances in a New Years Six bowl game and winning two of them. This is why the 2020 results were so surprising for many. Injuries and player availability throughout the week were issues as well, as Penn State at times may have been riding a thinner roster than realized at times due to COVID protocols.
So when Franklin is asked about last season and what to expect this season, expect the standard response that Penn State has a lot going right in the program and they are ready to prove something after last season.
As things stand right now, Penn State’s offense is Sean Clifford or bust, or so it would seem. One of the main talking points during the spring football practice season was what Penn State will do to add depth and exp[erience at the quarterback position. Pulling a target from the transfer portal seemed obvious, and Penn State did make a push to add to its roster at the position before ultimately losing out on TJ Finley from LSU. Spring has now come and gone and the summer is half over and Penn State still has not found a suitable passer in the transfer portal to pad the depth chart.
So, is this still part of the game plan, or is Penn State now going to move forward running the risk of not having experience behind Clifford? The ceiling may be pretty high for options like Taquan Roberson and Christian Veilleux, but Franklin made it seem pretty clear he’d much prefer to have a more experienced option available should he need it this fall.
Eight Penn State platers appear on PFF’s preseason All-Big Ten team for 2021, including a couple of First-Team honors.
The Pro Football Focus preseason All-American team may have been light on Nittany Lion representation, but the eAll-Big Ten team is a different story. As you would expect,m once you focus on just one conference, Penn State figures to receive much more attention in forming a preseason All-Big Ten team. And the PFF preseason All-Big Ten team entering the 2021 season is certainly proof of that.
In all, eight players appear on the PFF All-Big ten team at least once as a First-Team, Second-Team, Third-Team, or honorable mention on offense, defense, or special teams. Wide receiver Jahan Dotson actually appears twice on the preseason All-Big Ten list as both a wide receiver and as a punt returner.
You can check out the full PFF preseason All-Big ten roster here. Below is a full list of which Penn State players are named on the list.
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New Penn State transfer addition Arnold Ebiketie could be in line for a position change at the next level according to Mel Kiper.
The 2021 NFL draft saw the Baltimore Ravens draft Penn State defensive end Odafe Oweh with a late first-round draft pick. The Ravens immediately moved to utilize Oweh at the linebacker position in their defensive scheme. It seems one of Penn State’s newest additions could be following a similar path to the NFL.
ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper recently released his top 25 prospects for the 2022 NFL draft. In addition, Kiper also broke down his top 10 rankings for individual positions. Penn State wide receiver Jahan Dotson made the top 10 at the receiver position and offensive tackle Rasheed Walker was among Kiper’s top 10 offensive tackles. One more Nittany Lion made a top 10 position ranking for Kiper. That was Temple transfer Arnold Ebiketie.
Ebikietie came to Penn State from Temple to continue thriving at the defensive end position, and thus plug a hole on the Penn State defensive line for the upcoming season. But Kiper is scouting Ebiketie as an outside linebacker, similar to Oweh.
Ebiketie is Kiper’s eighth-best outside linebacker for the 2022 NFL draft, and the position change would seem to make some sense. Ebiketie may have a frame more suited for an outside linebacker position at the next level, although there doesn’t seem to be any concern about his stature for what Penn State needs out of him at defensive end.
Penn State has produced a pretty solid line of defensive linemen over the years, and Ebiketie looks to be able to continue that tradition in the coming year.
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Penn State plugged a hole with a quality addition from the transfer portal from the Temple Owls.
Penn State has been pretty active in the transfer portal this offseason, and there could still be more to come. With James Franklin and his staff expected to pull a quarterback out of the transfer portal between now and the start of the season, the Nittany Lions are poised to have more key players added through the transfer portal than ever before.
One transfer addition has already been labeled one of the best transfer additions of the year, according to USA TODAY. Defensive end Arnold Ebiketie, who transferred to Penn State from Temple, was included in a list of the 15 biggest transfers of the college football offseason, up to this point at least.
“The Nittany Lions lost some key players on defense to the portal but picked up a nice addition with Ebiketie,” Erick Smith of USA TODAY wrote. “He led the Owls with 8½ tackles for loss and four sacks and was second with 42 tackles in just six games last season.”
Penn State’s defensive line will certainly have a new look this year, with PJ Mustipher the only returning starter for the line this season. Odafe Oweh and Shaka Toney were each drafted by NFL teams in the 2021 NFL draft. Antonio Shelton opted to leave Penn State for the Florida Gators. Shane Simmons initially retired but has since decided to come out of retirement and search for a new home. Penn State has also seen Judge Culpepper transfer to Toledo and Brandon Taylor entered his name in the transfer portal as well.
Getting Ebiketie to come in from Temple, and to do so during the spring was a nice boost for the defensive line this spring.
“Enrolled for the spring semester, he’s already impressed coaches with his athletic talent and ability to make plays,” Smith wrote.
Penn State also added Duke transfer defensive tackle Derrick Tangelo to the mix. Tangelo and Ebiketie are each expected to be starters for Penn State in the fall.
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After transferring from Temple to Penn State, Arnold Ebektie is quickly gaining the respect of his new team.
Name: Arnold Ebiketie
Number: 17
Position: Defensive End
Class: Redshirt Junior
Height: 6′-3″
Weight: 244
Hometown: Silver Spring, MD
High School: Albert Einstein
Twitter: @A7chronic
Overview
When Penn State needed to fill some space on the defensive line, they didn’t have to look too far to find Arnold Ebiketie. The Temple Owl defensive lineman was ready for a new journey, and a chance to slide right into the starting mix with the Nittany Lions was just the right move for Ebiketie out of the transfer portal.
Glad to start a new journey and be part Of the penn state family #WeAre God’s plan pic.twitter.com/dv9IRuOTjQ
— matteroftime (@A7chronic) December 31, 2020
Ebiketie arrives in Happy Valley already making a name for himself, but his profile was already rising during his time with Temple. Ebiketie was named Second-Team All-AAC last season by the American Athletic Conference after leading the Owls in tackles for a loss, sacks and forced fumbles.
Ebiketie left Temple with a degree in sport and recreation management and was able to make the move to Penn State to be a part f spring practices in Happy Valley. It did not take long for Ebiketie to show off his own leadership skills. As the final week of spring practices got started, Ebiketie was recognized for his performance in the weight room.
Big shoutout to @A7chronic & Tyler Warren, our #IronLions of the week! 😤🦾#WeAre pic.twitter.com/FioUkXPdWU
— Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) April 11, 2021
Ebiketie isn’t just some football player though. He is a true athlete. In high school, he played power forward and competing in the high jump and sprints in track and field. Perhaps that athleticism will come in handy for the Nittany Lions in the trenches.
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