Tag: Jesse Luketa

Jim Harbaugh was impressed by what he saw out of Sean Clifford

What did Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh say about Penn State QB Sean Clifford?

Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh had plenty of reasons to smile after coaching his Wolverines to a hard-fought victory over Penn State on Saturday in Week 11, but he was more than willing to heap praise on a few individual Nittany Lions on Monday. Harbaugh served up some high regard for Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford and defensive linemen Arnold Ebiketie and Jesse Luketa during his regular Monday media availability.

“I’ve gotta say Sean Clifford really was impressive in the football game,” Harbaugh said of Penn State’s starting quarterback, according to our friends at Wolverines Wire. After sharing some comments on his quarterback, Cade McNamara, and how both defenses were knocking people down all afternoon, Harbaugh turned to the other side to commend Clifford for the way he battled.

“The amount of times we knocked him down, it was multiple,” Harbaugh recalled. Michigan sacked Clifford a total of seven times in the game. “Had some really tough, aggressive hits — for him to bounce back the way he did, for him to come back and make some of the throws that he made, that was really impressive.”

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Despite a rough afternoon behind a Penn State offensive line with few answers for Michigan’s defensive front, Clifford managed to lead Penn State to a lead on the Wolverines midway through the fourth quarter. Unfortunately for Penn State, the defense was unable to protect the lead in the fourth quarter and Clifford was unable to come up with the heroics needed with one final offensive opportunity.

Harbaugh also had some good things to say about two of Penn State’s top players up front on defense, Jesse Luketa and Arnold Ebiketie.

“We have really talented pass rushers, well-documented — David Ojabo and Aidan Hutchinson — and they had tremendous games,” Harbaugh said of his two top defensive players before once again turning to praise Penn State’s defensive contributors. “And also Penn State’s outside backers, defensive ends — 40 and 17 — they were really good, too. It was a real battle out there. Both sides really battled in this game. Both teams I thought were a credit to football.”

This has been a particularly tough second half of the season for Penn State, but it is clear they are battling and winning the respect of their opponents even in defeat.

Helmet sticker to Isaiah Hole of Wolverines Wire for sending along the transcription of Harbaugh’s media availability to us for use in this post.

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Report Card: Grading Penn State’s win over Indiana

The grades are in for Penn State following their Week 5 win over Indiana

Penn State defeated Indiana 24-0 at Beaver Stadium on Saturday night. Indiana struggled in every aspect of the game. On the other hand, the Nittany Lions were in full control of this game all night. There were plenty of key moments on both sides of the ball from Penn State.

Let’s take a more in-depth look at the performance by Penn State in Week 5 and grade how each area did.

Quarterbacks: A-

Despite throwing an interception in the first half, which really was just good coverage, Sean Clifford had a heck of a game Saturday night. Even though Indiana has been up and down all season thus far, Clifford still looked more confident than ever. He continues to put himself on the map as one of the best quarterbacks in the Big Ten.

Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports

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Next: Running Backs

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Penn State’s defensive keys against Villanova

Penn State’s defense has been stellar this season, and that should continue against Villanova this weekend.

Penn State looks to follow up its big win over Auburn by avoiding a major letdown this weekend against Villanova. The defense has been locked in from the start of the season and the Nittany Lions should be in a good spot this weekend against the talented FCS program.

Let’s take a look at the top three defensive keys to a Nittany Lions win on Saturday.

Listen: How Penn State Jesse Luketa’s pick-six sounded vs Ball State

LISTEN: Compare how the call of Jesse Luketa’s pick-six for Penn State sounded on TV and on radio.

Penn State’s defense once again helped to set the tone for a win in Week 2 against Ball State. The Nittany Lions saw contributions from all over the field on defense, including from Jesse Luketa. Luketa has been thrown in a couple of different assignments to start the year as Penn State looks to figure a few roster spots out, and he has handled that dual responsibility just fine.

On Saturday, Luketa turned in one of the more athletic plays of the day with an interception and a return for a touchdown. Here’s how the play sounded to those watching on TV…

O course, Penn State fans want to know how the play sounded on radio with the voice of Penn State athletics Steve jones at the microphone…

Penn State is now 2-0 on the season and preparing for a top 25 battle with the Auburn Tigers on Saturday in front of the Whiteout at Beaver Stadium on ABC Saturday Night Football.

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WATCH: Jesse Luketa snags INT with one hand, returns it for TD vs Ball State

WATCH: Jesse Luketa makes AWESOME one-handed INT and returns it for a touchdown vs Ball State

Penn State has its first defensive touchdown of the 2021 season, and they have Jesse Luketa to thank for it. Luketa’s third-quarter interception of Ball State quarterback Drew Plitt was a big one as it continued to pad Penn State’s lead on the defending MAC champions.

Luketa dropped back in coverage after lining up at defensive end, which he has been doing since halftime after Ellis Brooks returned to the field following his first-half suspension (for a targeting ejection last week). Recognizing the offensive scheme, Luketa dropped back in coverage rather than provide pressure on the edge, and he put himself in the perfect position to make an amazing highlight-worthy pick.

And once he got his hand on the football, there was nothing standing in his way on a short return to the end zone.

Penn State has started to put this game on ice, so we may not see much more of Luketa and other starters on either side of the football.

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Top 21 players for the Nittany Lions entering 2021

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.

The Big Ten’s top five outside linebackers heading into 2021

The #Buckeyes are breaking in three new starters at linebacker, but something tells me big things are coming from a certain OSU linebacker.

Ohio State football kicks off in less than a month, and we have been rolling through the best of the best of the Big Ten at each position. We have already completed our list of top five quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, offensive tackles, guards, centers, and defensive ends.

The Buckeyes are absolutely dominant on the defensive line, but with all three starting linebackers from the 2020 season gone, is there anyone talented enough to make this list?

We roll through it with the understanding that this is all for fun and there’s sure to be some surprises, injuries, and disappointments along the way.

What Penn State linebacker is spending time at fall camp playing defensive end?

Penn State starting linebacker Jesse Luketa will spend much of fall camp working at a different position. Here’s why.

With the news that one of Penn State’s top rising defensive ends may be lost for the 2021 season, what to do at the position has become a big question as fall camp opens for the Nittany Lions. And it appears Penn State is already working one of their linebackers at the position, just in case.

Penn State head coach James Franklin announced on Saturday that defensive end Adisa Isaac may not be likely to play this season due to an offseason non-football injury. With that in mind, Penn State has been working one of their linebackers at the defensive end position this offseason.

Jesse Luketa will still remain a linebacker, primarily, but the Nittany Lions are working him more at defensive end during fall camp to give him more time growing at the position should he happen to be needed at the spot. Given his experience at the linebacker position, Penn State doesn’t feel the need to work him too much at his regular position. But with a need at defensive end, a possible position change could come in handy if Luketa is deemed the top option to replace Isaac at the end of the line.

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Everything James Franklin said after Penn State’s final spring football practices

James Franklin has plenty of reasons to be optimistic about Penn State football in 2021, but notes there is still work to be done.

Penn State put a bow on its 2021 spring football practice schedule on Friday night with a second live practice in Beaver Stadium open to fans. Now, head coach James Franklin and his staff begin the next phase of the offseason schedule as the Nittany Lions begin preparing for the 2021 season opener on the road at Wisconsin.

A year after the pandemic destroyed the entire offseason schedule, things are beginning to get back to some degree of normal, although some offseason plans still require some alterations. But Franklin, his staff and the entire roster know what the goals are for 2021, and the work is already underway to prove the 2020 season was just a bizarre year going against the grain of where Penn State really is as a program.

Here is a roundup of everything James Franklin had to say in his post-practice press conferences the last two weeks.

James Franklin pretty much named two starting linebackers for 2021

Penn State linebackers Jesse Luketa and Ellis Brooks should once again be fixtures for the Penn State defense.

Entering the 2021 season, the situation at the linebacker situation for Penn State appeared to be pretty much settled. But on Friday night, head coach James Franklin pretty much made it clear he knows exactly who will be starting for Penn State at a couple of linebacker spots in 2021.

Jesse Luketa and Ellis Brooks were both players Franklin recognized as starters for the Penn State defense. But asked if there was an update on the two competing for a starting spot at middle linebacker, Franklin responded by saying he and his staff view both as starters on the Penn State defense,

“We view both of them as starters for us,” Franklin said in his post-practice press conference on Friday evening. “They will both be starters for us at the linebacker position, whether it’s mike linebacker or one of the outside linebacker positions.”

It doesn’t come as much a surprise that both are viewed as starters for Penn State. In 2020, both Luketa and Brooks started games for the Penn State defense all season long following the decision of Micah Parsons to opt out of the 2020 season. Luketa was the player who filled the void left by Parsons, and he emerged as a leader of the defense as a result rather quickly. Brandon Smith joined Luketa and Brooks on top of the depth chart at the linebacker positions. All three are expected to be the starting trio for the Nittany Lions again in the fall.

Luketa is a player that could play some different roles for the defense though, which Franklin alluded to. Franklin said there may be some discussions with Luketa about playing some different positions that would allow for some flexibility on the defense and allow Luketa to improve his potential NFL draft stock moving forward. What exactly that role may end up being remains to be seen.

Franklin has stated he believes in the linebacking trio he has ready to go in 2021, suggesting lettermen of the program will be incredibly proud of what Luketa, Brooks and Smith end up displaying for Linebacker U.

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