Tag: Mitchell Tinsley

Winners and losers from Penn State’s win over Purdue

Who stood out in Penn State’s 2022 season opener at Purdue, and who has some work to do?

In what turned into an eventual win, there is plenty for Penn State to work on before the home opener next week against Ohio. They ended up scoring a game-winning touchdown with under two minutes left in the game.

The Nittany Lions had their moments, they just couldn’t build the momentum for more than a quarter. Despite how negative this all sounds, and there is plenty to be down about, we also saw a ton to look forward to.

We saw flashes from a supremely talented freshman recruiting class that points to the future of the program being in good hands. For now, it seems that the veteran presence on the team is still going to be relied upon.

Apart from the actual winner and loser of the game, there are more individual performances to highlight. Some were on the field, some were off. The spotlight hits everyone in a game like this.

Inside the box score: Key stats from Penn State vs. Purdue

Inside the box score: Key stats from Penn State’s season opener at Purdue

Penn State and Purdue packed plenty of fireworks in a game that ran off the rails in multiple ways. Penn State came out on top with a 35-31 victory that had seven lead changes.

Penn State’s Sean Clifford arguably came out on top in the battle of the sixth-year quarterbacks in the box score as well.

Here is a look at some of the key stats from Penn State’s Week 1 performance against the Boilermakers.

Instant reaction: Sean Clifford delivers thrilling win for Penn State at Purdue

Instant reaction from Penn State’s wild 35-31 victory at Purdue to start the 2022 season

It certainly wasn’t looking pretty for Penn State after 55 minutes of football had been played. Fortunately for the Nittany Lions, college football is a 60-minute game, and quarterback [autotag]Sean Clifford[/autotag] made the most of it with some late-game heroics. Clifford hit running back [autotag]Keyvone Lee[/autotag] for a 10-yard touchdown with 57 seconds left in the game to give Penn State a 35-31 victory at Purdue on Thursday night.

Clifford passed for four touchdowns and ran for one more in the victory. It all happened on a night when he temporarily left the game in the third quarter, and he ended his season debut with 282 passing yards and 11 rushing yards.

Penn State held a 21-10 lead at halftime thanks in large part to tight end [autotag]Brenton Strange[/autotag] scoring on a 67-yard pass in the closing seconds of the first half, courtesy of some broken tackles and solid blocking as he chugged the remainder of the field. But Purdue quarterback Aidan O’Connell led Purdue to a strong third quarter that saw the home team score two touchdowns and work the Penn State defense to perfection at times. Penn State’s offense was out of sync in the third quarter as Clifford left the game briefly for an undisclosed reason, leaving the keys to the offense temporarily in the hands of true freshman [autotag]Drew Allar[/autotag]. Allar led the offense for just one series before Clifford returned for the remainder of the game.

A season after struggling to run the football, Penn State showed there is still room to improve with its running game in 2022. The Nittany Lions spread the ball around for most of the game and got four different running backs involved, including freshmen [autotag]Nick Singleton[/autotag] and [autotag]Kaytron Allen[/autotag] and veterans [autotag]Keyvone Lee[/autotag] and [autotag]Devyn Ford[/autotag].

[autotag]Mitchell Tinsley[/autotag] scored his first Penn State touchdown in the second quarter, and [autotag]KeAndre Lambert-Smith[/autotag] made a nice play to give Penn State a lead with a catch and run and broken tackles in the fourth quarter. On Penn State’s next offensive series after taking a 28-24 lead on Purdue, Clifford overthrew Tinsley over the middle and was easily picked off by Jefferson, who returned the interception for the go-ahead score and the play of the game at that point.

Next up for Penn State is the home opener at Beaver Stadium next Saturday against Ohio. Purdue will host Indiana State.

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Who are the experts picking for Penn State’s matchup at Purdue?

Penn State is a popular pick for the experts in its Week 1 matchup at Purdue.

College football is officially back! Penn State will open up its season at Purdue against the Boilermakers on Thursday night.

Several experts have already submitted their picks for this week. The Nittany Lions come into this season with some key talent lost on their defense but a strong offense after the addition of Western Kentucky transfer wide receiver [autotag]Mitchell Tinsley[/autotag].

As for Purdue, many analysts are high on senior quarterback Aidan O’Connell and expect him to take a leap in 2022. While Penn State lost [autotag]Jahan Dotson[/autotag] to the NFL, Purdue is without both David Bell (NFL) and Milton Wright (ruled academically ineligible). In addition, they will have big shoes to fill replacing George Karlaftis.

So, who are the experts picking for this matchup?

To start, ESPN currently has Penn State with a 60.2% to beat Purdue while the Boilermakers have a 39.8% chance to win.

Next up, we’ve got the writers over at College Football News. Of the multitude of writers they have, their consensus pick was that Penn State would defeat the Boilermakers.

Now, let’s head over to the Sportsbook Wire and take a look at the Tipico betting lines. As of Sunday, the spread has Penn State with a -3.5 and the money line is Penn State at -170 and Purdue at +141.

If you want to break down the rosters a bit more, Dotson is a big loss for Penn State, but with the addition of Tinsley and still having [autotag]Parker Washington[/autotag] and [autotag]KeAndre Lambert-Smith[/autotag] and even a talented tight end duo in [autotag]Theo Johnson[/autotag] and [autotag]Brenton Strange[/autotag], much of their success will lie on [autotag]Sean Clifford[/autotag].

As for Purdue, losing Bell and Wright will be tough for them, but they do have pass-catchers with plenty of experience. Broc Thompson enters his second season at Purdue after transferring in from Marshall, and Charlie Jones comes in after spending a year at Buffalo and Iowa. O’Connell is also poised for a big season as well.

It all starts Thursday for the Nittany Lions as they take on Purdue under the lights. As of right now, many experts have the Boilermakers handing Penn State their first loss of the season right away in Week 1.

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Nittany Lions Wire preseason predictions: Penn State’s offensive MVP

Our staff predictions for 2022 highlight our preseason MVP picks for Penn State’s offense.

As the start of a new Penn State football season inches up on us, our staff has gone on the record to share our picks for this season’s offensive and defensive MVPs. While there is some consensus opinion on the defensive side of the football, we each came up with a different pick on offense.

Perhaps that is telling on how we are evaluating and projecting this season to go for the Nittany Lions. There is some good talent and potential across the offensive roster, but much of the success may rely on the supporting cast up front on the line of scrimmage. But if there is one thing to take away from our offensive MVP predictions, it is that we all seem to think this could be a fun year for the passing game.

Here is a look at our offensive MVP picks for this season in Happy Valley. For our defensive MVP picks, click here.

Offensive MVP

Sam Dehring, Contributor
@sam_dehring68

Prediction: Parker Washington, wide receiver

I think Penn State’s offensive MVP will be Parker Washington. He has shown that he has the talent to be Penn State’s WR1 and help elevate that offense.

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Andrew Harbaugh, Contributor
@MandrewNFL

Prediction: Mitchell Tinsley, wide receiver

Is he going to be second fiddle to Parker Washington but he is going to benefit the most from him being on the opposite side of him. Together they avoid double teams but Tinsley’s play style is what will make him the MVP. He has a chance to turn this team into a true passing attack that can thrive in the Big Ten.

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Kevin McGuire, Editor
@KevinOnCFB

Prediction: Sean Clifford, quarterback

I really like some of the assets Sean Clifford has around him this season, especially at the receiver position. The running back situation is also worth recognizing but Clifford’s success will ultimately rely on how much the offensive line helps him out. I expect better results up front this season and I believe Clifford will thrive in a second year with Mike Yurcich.

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Several Nittany Lions on Senior Bowl Watchlist

These Penn State football players are on the watch list for this season’s Senior Bowl.

The Senior Bowl will be occurring for the 73rd time this coming February, as per usual Penn State is going to have some players on the roster. Last year Jahan Dotson made the game and showcased in front of all 32 NFL teams and because of that he was able to impress one. All it takes is just one team to fall in love with you and you can become a first-round pick, for Dotson that was the Washington Commanders.

This year, it appears more Nittany Lions may have a shot at impressing NFL teams down in Mobile, Alabama.

The Senior Bowl watches players all year round. They have a scouting staff like your normal NFL team and is led by Super Bowl winning scout and executive Jim Nagy. Nagy and his staff comb over every football team at every level looking for talent to watch as the season progresses. This year there are four players who have caught the eye of the staff down in Mobile.

Two on offense are Sean Clifford with should be no surprise. The sixth-year Nittany Lion quarterback will be approaching legendary status with the Penn State community. He is close to owning most passing records but he is bound for the NFL after this year. Teams should enjoy the way he carries himself off the field but if he makes it down to the Senior Bowl then he may be able to impress them on the field as well.

A surprise name for Penn State fans may be the other offensive player, [autotag]Mitchell Tinsley[/autotag]. [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] went to the transfer portal and found the perfect compliment to [autotag]Parker Washington[/autotag] for this upcoming season. Expectations will be high for the former Western Kentucky player this year.

On defense you have the other two players as both [autotag]P.J. Mustipher[/autotag] and [autotag]Ji’Ayir Brown[/autotag] are on the list as well. Brown has gone from junior college to Penn State team captain. With new defensive coordinator [autotag]Manny Diaz[/autotag] he could see a big year, as could Mustipher. What will be critical for Mustipher is how his knee rebounds after injuring it last season.

More Penn State players may be able to play there way onto the Senior Bowl radar, for now though, these four names have the best chance at representing the team.

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Everything James Franklin said at Penn State football media day

Everything James Franklin talked about during his Penn State media day press conference

Penn State’s first week of fall camp was capped on Saturday with the annual football media day. Head coach [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] highlighted the day’s schedule from Beaver Stadium as he once again had a chance to meet with the media and answer some questions that face the team going into the 2022 season.

As is typically the case, the Penn State media day event allowed Franklin to echo some thoughts and comments he shared recently at Big Ten media day, but Franklin also threw out some nuggets providing a little more in-depth insight into what to potentially expect out of the team in 2022 such as a pair of defensive players that may be more of a factor on the roster than some may have been anticipating.

Here is a roundup of everything Franklin talked about during his media day press conference on Saturday.

2022 Penn State football: Nittany Lions’ wide receivers preview

A quick look at what Penn State has on the roster at the wide receiver position heading into the 2022 season.

Penn State is prepping for a season in which the program hopes to redeem itself on the national stage. After back-to-back seasons of mediocre results, Penn State is aiming to bounce back and prove themselves worthy of being in the Big Ten championship hunt, if not a little bit more.

Penn State kicks off the 2022 season with a Thursday night primetime matchup at Purdue on September 1. After losing a first-round NFL draft pick in [autotag]Jahan Dotson[/autotag], Penn State has some big shoes to fill at wide receiver., Fortunately, the depth of the position could be in Penn State’s favor with the returns of [autotag]Parker Washington[/autotag] and [autotag]KeAndre Lambert-Smith[/autotag] and the addition of transfer [autotag]Mitchell Tinsley[/autotag]. And there are some young receivers to look forward to as well.

Here is a look at what Penn State has on the roster at the wide receiver position for 2022, starting with the top three receivers that should be a factor with the first-team offense this fall.

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.

Follow Nittany Lions Wire on Twitter and like us on Facebook for continuing Penn State coverage and discussion. Let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

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Big Ten Media Days: James Franklin excited about offensive depth of Nittany Lions in 2022

James Franklin hyped Penn State’s offensive depth at Big Ten media day.

Penn State head coach [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] took to the podium on Wednesday, the second day of the Big Ten football media day event in Indianapolis, and stressed how optimistic he is about what the Nittany Lions will look like on offense this fall. The key theme for the offensive side of the ball was depth, and Franklin could not have been more excited about what he feels his program has to offer this upcoming season with the football.

“One of the things that probably stands out about our team right now is I love our overall depth,” Franklin said in his opening remarks at his press conference at Big Ten media day. “I think our overall depth is as good as it’s been in a number of years. I think a couple of the things that have factored into that is obviously we had a very well-regarded recruiting class coming in, a combination of some transfer student-athletes, not a lot, and a junior college player.”

Penn State signed a consensus top 10 recruiting class in the Class of 2022, one of the best in program history to date, for a good mix of some talented freshmen to look forward to. Penn State also plugged some key holes on the roster with additions through the transfer portal, including wide receiver [autotag]Mitchell Tinsley[/autotag] from Western Kentucky and [autotag]Hunter Nourzad[/autotag] from Cornell, one of the top offensive linemen in the transfer portal this offseason.

“In this class, what we’ve been able to evaluate since they’ve been on campus, is there’s probably a larger number of those young men that we feel like are going to be able to impact our program and our organization earlier in their careers than probably normal, in our normal recruiting classes,” Franklin said. “So we’re excited about that.”

Franklin notes improved depth at quarterback in 2022

One of the biggest detriments to the Penn State roster was the lack of depth at the quarterback position. The transfer of Will Levis to Kentukcy hurt Penn State on the depth chart and the pursuit of a coveted quarterback transfer ultimately came up empty, leaving Penn State with a lack of experience behind Sean Clifford. That came back to bite Penn State in a big way most notably in the first loss of the season at Iowa.

But this year could be a different story, according to Franklin.

“Kind of going through our roster, you look at the quarterback position, obviously returning an experienced player at the quarterback position, a starter, a guy who’s been a captain for three years,” Franklin said, referring to Clifford coming back for a sixth year of eligibility. “But this year our depth at the quarterback position with four quarterbacks that we feel very, very strong about, we feel great about the competition in that room.”

Backing up Clifford is [autotag]Christian Veilleux[/autotag], who got some playing time in last season in place of an injured Clifford late in the year. Penn State also adds one of the top passers in the Class of 2022, [autotag]Drew Allar[/autotag]. Allar is expected by many to be the next in line to be Penn State’s full-time starter when Clifford leaves the program, but Veilleux is not about to fade away just yet either.

Of course, it may not matter who is playing quarterback if the offensive line still struggles in the fall.

NEXT: Franklin wants the offensive line to prove themselves

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