Tag: Smith Vilbert

Penn State player availability report for Rutgers released

Penn State has officially ruled out wide receiver Harrison Wallace III vs. Rutgers.

As expected, Penn State will be in pretty good shape when it comes to its player availability for the regular season home finale on Saturday afternoon. Penn State will only be missing one key player that wasn’t already accounted for this season, and head coach James Franklin already confirmed that news earlier in the week.

Wide receiver [autotag]Harrison Wallace III[/autotag] was officially ruled out of action on Saturday morning according to the Big Ten-mandated player availability report for the Nittany Lions. Wallace was injured in late October against Indiana and has not been on the field since that point in time. It remains unknown at this time, at least publicly, whether he will be able to return to the field next week in the regular season finale against Michigan State in Detroit.

Here is a look at the updated player availability report for Penn State for this afternoon’s game against Rutgers.

OUT

  • Harrison Wallace III
  • [autotag]Tyler Johnson[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Tyler Holzworth[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Feyisayo Oluleye[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Jashaun Green[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Joey Palko[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Liam Powers[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Jim Fitzgerald[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Jason Estrella[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Smith Vilbert[/autotag]

QUESTIONABLE

  • [autotag]Ibrahim Traore[/autotag]
  • [autotag]Alex Birchmeier[/autotag]

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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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Penn State availability report for Northwestern released

Penn State’s player availability report is released; Harrison Wallace III’s status vs. Northwestern is questionable

With kickoff approaching in the early afternoon window, Penn State has released its player availability report for its Week 5 game at Northwestern. And once again, it will rule out a wide receiver and a pair of defensive linemen.

Wide receiver [autotag]Malick Meiga[/autotag], and defensive ends [autotag]Jameial Lyons[/autotag] and [autotag]Smith Vilbert[/autotag] were the three players ruled out of action for Saturday’s game at Northwestern on the Penn State player availability report, which is required by the Big Ten this season two hours prior to kickoff.

Wide receiver [autotag]Harrison Wallace III[/autotag] is listed as questionable. He has been questionable the past two weeks. He did not play two weeks ago despite being able to play, and he was limited last week in a home game against Iowa. How much he sees the field against Northwestern remains to be seen.

Northwestern has also ruled out four players this week. Wide receiver Ricky Ahumaraeze, defensive back Theran Johnson, and tight ends Chris Petrucci and Jack Fitzgerald have been ruled out for the Wildcats. Tight end Marshall Lang is listed as questionable.

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Penn State rules out a number of players for Iowa game

Penn State has released its player availability report for Iowa. Here is who is ruled out for the game.

Penn State will be down a number of players this week when they host the Iowa Hawkeyes for the Whiteout game on Saturday night. In all, Penn State has ruled out 12 players for the primetime matchup with Iowa, including wide receiver Malick Meiga.

Meiga was out of action last week at Illinois and his absence from the field will carry over to Week 4. Penn State has also listed wide receiver Harrison Wallace III as questionable for the game. He was also questionable last week at Illinois and was held off the field as a bit of a precaution. How much he sees the field in Week 4 will be seen as the game plays out.

Penn State has also included defensive lineman Smith Vilbert among the players out of action this week. Vilbert also missed last week’s game at Illinois.

Here is the updated player availability report from Penn State with kickoff approaching.

OUT

  • WR Malick Meiga
  • WR Tyler Johnson
  • RB David Kency Jr.
  • RB Amiel Davis
  • WR Feyisayo Oluleye
  • S Jashaun Green
  • DE Mason Robinson
  • DE Joey Palko
  • OL Jim Fitzgerald
  • WR Jan Mahlert
  • DE Smith Vilbert

QUESTIONABLE

  • WR Harrison Wallace III

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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Reports say Penn State DE Smith Vilbert to miss 2023 season with injury

Reports from Penn State football media day say Nittany Lions are down a DE for the 2023 season.

Penn State football media day was without a notable face in the crowd on Sunday afternoon at Beaver Stadium, and it appears there is a good reason for that. Defensive end [autotag]Smith Vilbert[/autotag] was absent from the media day and he may not be seen at all this season on the football field. According to multiple reports on Sunday from Penn State media day, Vilbert will miss the 2023 season with a season-ending injury.

Audrey Snyder of The Athletic reported the news of the season-ending injury to Vilbert first via X, formerly known as Twitter. The specifics of the nature of the injury have not been reported. Lions247 later confirmed the season-ending injury status as well in a separate report.

The 2023 season was to be Vilbert’s redshirt senior season. The former three-star recruit in the Class of 2019 could take advantage of the NCAA’s extra year of eligibility due to the COVID season and return for a sixth year if he chooses to do so. That is a decision that will have to be made later this year.

Vilbert appeared in just one game last season with no stats to show for it. He appeared in 12 games in 2021 and recorded seven tackles with three sacks. All three sacks came in Penn State’s Outback Bowl loss to Arkansas, but he tied the school record for most sacks in a postseason bowl game, and tied the Outback Bowl record for most sacks in a game.

Vilbert was not expected to be a starter this season on the defensive line, but he was expected to work his way into the defensive line rotation under defensive coordinator Manny Diaz. Penn State will have other options with Amin Vanover and Zuriah Fisher to look forward to. Dani Dennis-Sutton will remain one of the top players in the rotation behind the starting lineup with Chop Robinson and Adisa Isaac expected to start on the ends.

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2023 Penn State football snapshot profile: No. 92 Smith Vilbert

How much playing time will defensive end Smith Vilbert get in 2023 for Penn State?

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 in our series is a look at one of Penn State’s veteran backups on the defensive line, Smith Vilbert. Vilbert is entering his redshirt senior season and should be counted on to continue adding depth to the roster at a position Penn State happens to be pretty strong. Here is a snapshot look at Smith Vilbert entering the 2023 college football season.

Penn State snapshot profile: No. 92 Smith Vilbert

Penn State snapshot profile: Where Smith Vilbert fits into the DE outlook in 2022 and 2023.

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.

[autotag]Smith Vilbert[/autotag] is coming off a 2021 season that saw 12 appearances as a redshirt sophomore, including one start for the Nittany Lions. Vilbert continue to gain experience and develop as a resourceful defensive lineman and could very well be involved in the game plan this fall for new defensive coordinator [autotag]Manny Diaz[/autotag].

Blue-White Game Report Card: Grading Penn State’s spring football game

The grades are in for Penn State’s performance in the Blue-White Game.

Penn State’s spring game wasn’t exactly lighting up the scoreboard, even in a modified scoring system. And fans wanting to see drastic improvement from the program that has gone .500 over the past two seasons may be left wondering if Penn State is set up for another mediocre season in Happy Valley after watching the Blue-White Game. But Penn State’s final spring practice of the year had some positive developments and some reminders that help is on the way over the summer.

And now the grades are in for Penn State’s performance during the Blue-White Game. Here’s how each position group was graded for the spring game in Beaver Stadium on Saturday.

Quarterback: C

Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports

A recurring theme when it comes to the offensive grades following Penn State’s game is probably chalked up to a simple “Eh, it could have been better.” That was the basic takeaway from the performance of the quarterbacks overall, but any expectation of any passer just lighting up the spring game may have been unreasonable.

We were never likely to see a whole lot out of [autotag]Sean Clifford[/autotag], the sixth-year senior who really has little more to prove at this point. We know pretty much exactly what Clifford is, and if given time to process the field, he can make plays. But he had some overthrown passes at times. He did, however, throw the game’s only touchdown of the game.

The backup competition behind Clifford is the real storyline here, and the future of [autotag]Drew Allar[/autotag] is what fans are eager to witness. But a rough spring debut for the true freshman shows there is still work to be done in the big picture. If based solely on one afternoon, [autotag]Christian Veilleux[/autotag] proved he should be the team’s primary backup option heading into the season, although Allar should improve quickly.

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Next: Grading the running backs

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Inside the Box Score: The key stats from Penn State’s Blue-White Game

Inside the box score with some key stats from Penn State’s Blue-White Game.

Penn State’s Blue-White Game showed the Nittany Lions are still a bit of a work in progress in some key areas, but there were still some players and developments worth being optimistic about moving into the summer. And the final box score from a spring scrimmage like Penn State’s can oftentimes be misleading or unnecessarily overanalyzed. Nonetheless, it is a starting point for evaluating just where the Nittany Lions are heading once the 2022 season begins.

So, with the caution of not wanting to get too carried away with the official stats shared by Penn State from the Blue-White Game on Saturday afternoon, let’s dive headfirst into the key stats from the final spring practice of the season before Penn State moves to the next stage of its offseason.

And why not start with the quarterback position?

Quarterbacks

Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports
  • [autotag]Christian Veilleux[/autotag]: 5-of-14, 75 yards
  • [autotag]Drew Allar[/autotag]: 6-of-14, 61 yards, 2 interceptions, 1 sack
  • [autotag]Sean Clifford[/autotag]: 4-of-7, 41 yards, 1 touchdown
  • [autotag]Beau Pribula[/autotag]: 2-of-3, 7 yards, 2 sacks

Sean Clifford had some decent production in his time on the field, including the game’s only touchdown pass (to transfer addition Mitchell Tinsley. Clifford also had the best performance from passers in seven-on-seven drills, for whatever that is worth.

Christian Veilleux had the most complete performance among those vying for backup consideration to Clifford. This could have been expected given he already has some in-game experience from last season.

Don’t get too down when reviewing the stat line for five-star quarterback Drew Allar, because he was not given much help at times by his receivers dropping passes or having a ball bounce off their hands. But he did have a number of throws that seemed to be just a tad behind his intended targets. And Beau Pribula also had some freshman moments, which was to be expected.

NEXT: Who were the top running backs in the Blue-White Game?

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