2021 CFP SEASON PREVIEW AUTUMN 11

PENN STATE
#3 B1G EAST: CONF 4-5, HOME 2-3, AWAY 2-2
HC: James Franklin(8) OC: Mike Yurcich(1) DC: Brent Pry(8)/Anthony Poindexter(1)
OFFENSE:
QB: Will Levis (421 YDS, 1 TD passing, 260 YDS, 3 TD rushing) transferred to Kentucky. Returns Sean Clifford (1883
YDS, 16 TD, 9 INT passing, 335 YDS, 3 TD rushing) who split time with Levis last season. This will be the third year
starting for Clifford. Backup could be Ta’Quan Roberson (2019 4-star) or redshirt freshman Mason Stahl.
RB: Returns 220lb Keyvone Lee (438 YDS, 4 TD), Devyn Ford (274 YDS, 3 TD), Caziah Holmes (227 YDS, 2 TD), 237lb
Noah Cain (3 carries for 13 YDS in 2020, 443 YDS, 8 TD in 2019).
WR: Returns leading receiver Jahan Dotson (884 YDS, 8 TD) who could be the best receiver in CFB in 2021. 4-star
Parker Washington (489 YDS, 6 TD) will enter his second season with the program. Also returns Keandre Lambert-
Smith (138 YDS), Daniel George (73 YDS) and Cam Sullivan-Brown (119 YDS in 3 seasons).
TE: Lost Pat Freiermuth (310 YDS, 1 TD) to the NFL. 6’7 Zack Kuntz (26 YDS in 3 years) transferred to ODU. Returns
Brenton Strange (164 YDS, 2 TD) and Theo Johnson (56 YDS).
OL: Lost C Michal Menet and RG Will Fries to the NFL. Returns starters 308lb LG Mike Miranda (9 starts), 320lb LT
Rasheed Walker (9 starts) and 315lb RT Caedan Wallace (7 starts). Harvard Center 320lb Eric Wilson transferred in
and will compete with 315lb Juice Scruggs, 314lb Des Holmes and 300lb Sal Wormley for the two open spots along
the line.
DEFENSE:
DL: Lost DEs Shaka Toney (31 TOT, 5 sacks) and Jayson Oweh (38 TOT) to the NFL. DE Shane Simmons (16 TOT, 3
sacks) entered the transfer portal. DT Anthony Shelton (13 TOT, 3.5 sacks) transferred to Florida. Returns DE Adisa
Isaac (13 TOT, 1.5 sacks), DT Hakeem Beamon (7 TOT), Fred Hansard (6 TOT) and Dvon Ellies (3 TOT, 1 sack). DE
Arnold Ebiketie (42 TOT, 4 sacks) transferred in from Temple. DT Derrick Tangelo (40 TOT, 2 sacks, 3 FF) transferred
in from Duke.
LB: Lost ILB Micah Parsons (2020 opt out, 191 TOT in 2 years) to the NFL. Lance Dixon (9 TOT) transferred to WVU.
Returns leading tackler Jesse Luketa (59 TOT), Ellis Brooks (58 TOT, 1 sack), Brandon Smith (37 TOT, 2 sacks, 1 INT),
Curtis Jacobs (9 TOT) and Charlie Katshir (5 TOT).
SF: Lost Lamont Wade (37 TOT, 1 INT) to the NFL. Returns Jaquan Brisker (57 TOT, 1 INT) who is one of the best
safeties in CFB. Also returns Jonathan Sutherland (13 TOT), Ji’Ayir Brown (6 TOT) and Drew Hartlaub (4 TOT).
CB: 2018 3-star John Dixon (37 TOT, 1 INT) transferred in from South Carolina where he started 8 games in 2020.
Returns Joey Porter Jr (34 TOT, 1 sack), Keaton Ellis (12 TOT, 1 INT), Tariq Castro-Fields (12 TOT), Marquis Wilson
(12 TOT) and Daequan Hardy (10 TOT, 1 sack).
SPECIAL TEAMS:
KR: Returns Jake Pinegar (27/28 PAT, 9/13 FG) and Jordan Stout (2/5 FG).
PR: Jordan Stout (41.5 YD AVG) handled punts.
SPIN
Happy Valley, PA – The defense ranked 17 th best in total YDS/G allowed (328.8). Brought
in Yurcich who was the OC for Texas last year which ranked (7 th PTS/G with 42.7) and
(19 th YDS/G with 475.4), an upgrade from PSU’s 430 YDS/G and 29.8 PTS/G in 2020. The
Lions were not ready for the start of last season- star LB Micah Parsons opted out, RB
Journey Brown medically retired after his backup Devyn Ford transferred- and it showed
with 5 straight losses. Never fully recovered from the loss to Indiana in week 1. Should
bounce back after a very disappointing 2020. PSU has a four-game win streak over
Wisconsin who they play first. The non-conference games are tougher than some would
think but 3-0 is a real possibility in those games. It will be great to see the crowd at full
capacity again in Beaver Stadium for a white out game.
Twitter @Autumn_Eleven