Tag: Coziah Izzard

Best photos from Penn State’s road win at Northwestern

Check out the best images from Penn State’s road win at Northwestern.

The game itself may not have been the prettiest of performances from the Penn State Nittany Lions, but a 41-13 win at Northwestern had plenty of terrific images from a hard-fought victory. Penn State’s second road game of the year sent Penn State to a 5-0 record overall and 3-0 in the Big Ten on what looked like a beautiful afternoon for some college football.

Penn State’s defense racked up 7 sacks against Northwestern and held the Wildcats offense to fewer than 200 yards. The Penn State offense took a while to get things going but did its part to help pull away after being tied 10-10 at halftime.

Here are some of the best images from Penn State’s latest road victory against Northwestern.

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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Penn State vs. Illinois: Stream, injury report, broadcast info for Saturday

How to watch Penn State’s road game at Illinois on Saturday.

Big Ten play is officially here this weekend for Penn State and Illinois. The Illini will be looking to score a sizable upset against the Nittany Lions, who look to continue playing well and taking care of business in the first month of the season. Penn State’s first road test of the season will be showcased on Fox as the Big Noon Kickoff game, although the Fox pregame show will be broadcasting from another venue this weekend.

Penn State owns the all-time series lead on Illinois although the Illini came away victorious in the most recent meeting between these two schools with a dramatic nine-overtime game in 2021.

Here is how to catch this weekend’s Big Ten matchup between the Nittany Lions and Illini.

  • Date: Saturday, Sept. 16
  • Time: 12 p.m. ET
  • TV Channel: Fox
  • Live Stream: fuboTV (watch here)

Penn State vs. Illinois injury report

Penn State’s injury report will feature a long list of players as questionable for this weekend’s matchup, including wide receiver [autotag]KeAndre Lambert-Smith[/autotag], cornerback [autotag]Daequan Hardy[/autotag], and defensive end [autotag]Coziah Izzard[/autotag]. Penn State does not typically get too detailed with injury situations but the Big Ten has likely forced the issue a bit with the mandated player availability reports. Hardy and Izzard have already missed playing time this season and Lambert-Smith was banged up a little bit last week against Delaware. We’ll pay close attention to this week’s player availability report prior to kickoff.

Illinois is seemingly in better shape as far as player availability this week. Only backup cornerback Tyson Rooks has been noted as questionable for this weekend minus the small handful of players already ruled out for the season.

Players to Watch

Penn State

Nick Singleton, Running Back – This could be the big game we have been waiting for for Nick Singleton. Although he scored three times last week, Singleton could be in for some big gains this week against an Illini defense that ranks at the bottom of the Big Ten through two weeks against the run (224 rushing yards allowed per game).

2023 stats: 25 carries, 117 yards, 4 TDs, 2 kickoff returns, 45 kickoff return yards

Illinois

Isaiah Williams, Wide Receiver – The big playmaker for the Illini is Isaiah Williams, and Penn State head coach James Franklin knows he will be the player the Illini want to get the football in every way possible. Williams has yet to score this season, but that drought isn’t likely to carry on much longer.

2023 stats: 11 receptions, 150 yards, 0 touchdowns

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2023 Penn State football snapshot profile: No. 99 Coziah Izzard

Coziah Izzard may be Penn State’s top backup defensive tackle 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.

Next up is a look at one of Penn State’s returning defensive linemen, [autotag]Coziah Izzard[/autotag]. Izzard missed out on spring practices this year due to injury but is expected to return to the mix when fall camp opens for the Nittany Lions in August. Izzard should be a key p[layer for the defensive line this season, even if he is not a starting player. Here is a snapshot look at Izzard heading into the 2023 college football season.

James Franklin shared positive injury news for key players who missed spring

Penn State head coach James Franklin shared a status update for a few notable players ahead of fall camp.

After being without a few notable players for spring football practices due to various injury issues, Penn State head coach [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] had a much more positive outlook for those missing pieces as he looked ahead to the start of fall practices.

Franklin was asked about the expected availability of tight ends [autotag]Theo Johnson[/autotag] and [autotag]Tyler Warren[/autotag], defensive tackle [autotag]Coziah Izzard[/autotag], and linebacker [autotag]Tyler Elsdon[/autotag] when meeting with the media on Thursday. And the head coach seems to think all systems will be go for them for the start of the season.

“All those guys are back fully doing workouts and should be should be ready for camp,” Franklin reportedly said to reporters.

Franklin didn’t disclose any information regarding the specifics of the injury issues those players had that held them out of spring practices, but his words on Thursday are encouraging for a team expected to utilize each of those players as key players on offense or defense this fall.

Johnson and Warren in particular should be the key players at tight end this season after losing Brenton Strange. The absence of Johnson and Warren during the spring helped get some younger players some extra reps.

Izzard is a player that could easily be thrown into the defensive line rotation even if he is not starting this fall. Elsdon is a player competing for a starting job at middle linebacker with Kobe King.

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Penn State spring football preview: Defensive Line

Now that a new coach is in place, here’s a quick look at the Penn State defensive line situation this spring

It’s an exciting time for the defensive line unit at Penn State. Coach [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] recently announced that [autotag]Deion Barnes[/autotag] would be the new defensive line coach for the upcoming season.

Barnes, who played defensive line at Penn State from 2012-2014, is taking over the role after the departure of [autotag]John Scott Jr.[/autotag]

It seems like a natural progression for Barnes who served as a graduate assistant and was involved in the development of multiple players going to the NFL.

While the news of this hire is certainly exciting, the other electrifying thing surrounding the defensive line is they might be the best unit of Penn State football this season.

[autotag]Chop Robinson[/autotag] and [autotag]Adisa Isaac[/autotag] are the headliners of the line, but there are other players that could have a big year as well.

Here are names to watch as spring practices get underway.

Chop Robinson

Robert Goddin-USA TODAY Sports

Measurables: 6’3″ 240 lbs.

Year: Junior

Expected Role: Starting Defensive End

Chop Robinson was an absolute star for Penn State in 2022-23. After transferring in from Maryland, he was a game wrecker for the Nittany Lions. He recorded 26 total tackles, 10 of them for loss, and had 5.5 sacks.

His PFF grade of 90.6 ranked him sixth out of 862 edge rushers last season. Robinson’s pass rush grade had him fourth in the country. It’s crazy to think that he can improve his run defense to become an even better player. Robinson will be a household name if continues to produce like he did last year.

Coziah Izzard

AP Photo/Barry Reeger

Measurables: 6’3″ 292 lbs.

Year: Redshirt Junior

Expected Role: Starting Defensive Tackle

This is the starting position on the defensive line that should be watched. [autotag]Coziah Izzard[/autotag] is the projected starter, but he’ll be battling to secure that title. Last season he was expected to start alongside [autotag]PJ Mustipher[/autotag], but missed the first four games of the season due to the decision of coach Franklin.

After a bursting onto the scene in 2021 with 21 tackles and two sacks, he recorded 10 tackles and two sacks in nine games last season. Izzard has tons of talent and should be able to produce this year whether he’s a starter or not.

NEXT: Other potential starters up front

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PSU football: Top 2022 moments from DT Coziah Izzard

Check out the best images of Penn Stat defensive lineman Coziah Izzard from the 2022 season.

Penn State is just a few weeks away from its Rose Bowl matchup against Utah. The Nittany Lions have only seen two players opt out of the bowl game. Another notable Nittany Lion that announced his return to Penn State in 2023 is defensive end [autotag]Coziah Izzard[/autotag].

He had a bit of a quiet season, with just seven tackles and two sacks. However, Izzard is an interesting name to watch going into 2023 to see if he can make that leap in production. With PJ Mustipher leaving, Izzard is one of those next players in line to take over that leadership role on the defensive line.

Penn State has plenty of youth on its defense, and we saw much of it this season. The Nittany Lions have plenty of returning players for next season, and Izzard is one of them.

Here are the top moments from Fashanu throughout the 2022 season.

Best photos from Penn State’s win over the Spartans

Here are some of the best photos from Penn State’s victory over Michigan State.

Penn State found a way to take care of Michigan State in the final game of the 2022 regular season on Saturday. Penn State’s 35-16 victory was keyed by four touchdown passes from [autotag]Sean Clifford[/autotag] and big plays by the defense when it needed it the most.

Penn State’s win improved the Nittany Lions to 10-2 for the regular season, and they hope that will be enough to send the team to a New Years Six bowl game this bowl season. But, perhaps more importantly in the moment, it brings the Land Grant Trophy back to Happy Valley after the Spartans took ownership of the ugly duckling of Big Ten trophies last season.

Here are some of the best photos from Penn State’s Week 13 victory over Michigan State to close up the regular season with double-digit wins.

Nittany Lions Wire Roundtable: Who will be Penn State’s breakout player in 2022?

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?

Sam Dehring, Contributor
@sam_dehring68

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].

Kevin McGuire, Editor
@KevinOnCFB

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.

Andrew Harbaugh, Contributor
@MandrewNFL

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.

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Penn State DT enters transfer portal

Penn State saw a defensive tackle enter the transfer portal as the transfer portal deadline approaches

The final week of April is expected to be a busy one for transfer portal activity. With the deadline for players to notify their current schools of their desire to enter the transfer portal looming and spring football practices wrapping up around the country, there may not be a day that goes by without a flurry of transfer portal headlines. On Monday, one of those headlines came out of State College with news that defensive tackle [autotag]Cole Brevard[/autotag] has placed his name in the transfer portal.

News of the Penn State defensive tackle entering the transfer portal comes just a couple of days after Penn State wrapped spring practices with the Blue-White Game on Saturday. Brevard did play in the game, recording one tackle in the official box score from the modified scrimmage.

Brevard appeared in one game last season, marking his only playing time in his two seasons in Happy Valley. Brevard was a former four-star recruit out of high school from Indiana. Brevard committed to Penn Stae’s Class of 2020 in April of 2019 and enrolled early in 2020.

Brevard’s departure is not too shocking considering the immediate outlook many are projecting for the defensive line in the fall for the 2022 season. [autotag]PJ Mustipher[/autotag] will return as a healthy veteran and freshmen [autotag]Zane Durant[/autotag] and [autotag]Dani Dennis-Sutton[/autotag] are players expected to take on a role on the defensive line. Penn State has also added to the defensive line depth with the addition of Maryland transfer [autotag]Demeioun Robinson[/autotag]. Penn State is also expected to have players like [autotag]Coziah Izzard[/autotag] and [autotag]D’Von Ellies[/autotag] contribute on the defensive line this fall, making for a crowded and deep rotation already.

Brevard redshirted the 2020 season but can make up that year thanks to the NCAA’s granting of a free year of eligibility for all student-athletes impacted by the 2020 pandemic’s wrath on the sports calendar. Brevard will have four years of eligibility at his disposal as a result with whatever new school he may end up transferring to.

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