*** Penn State boasts both experience and exciting newcomers on offense but will also break in seven new defensive starters and a new DC (Manny Diaz).
Is Penn State still a year away? Since enjoying their third top-10 finish in four seasons in 2019, James Franklin's Nittany Lions are 11-11. They have had three offensive coordinators in the last three seasons, fielded their worst offense in seven seasons last fall and just lost stalwart defensive coordinator Brent Pry, who took the Virginia Tech head coaching job.
In such a high-pressure gig, it's easy to begin assuming that Franklin is grasping at straws and falling into a win-or-else situation. Instead, Franklin signed a mammoth contract extension last November, then signed a top-10 recruiting class in February. There is plenty of context in that 11-11 record -- five of those losses came at the start of a disjointed 2020 season, and they responded with nine consecutive wins before an injury to quarterback Sean Clifford, and a shaky backup QB situation, derailed the offense.
Offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich has posted huge point and yardage totals everywhere he's been at the FBS level, and it seems he has a solid amount to work with in 2022. Clifford returns for his sixth year at State College; he's a willing and exciting runner, and he can be used heavily in that regard now that the backup quarterback situation seems to be in better hands between four-star freshman Drew Allar and redshirt freshman Christian Veilleux. The running back corps was disappointing last year but could get an immediate boost from five-star freshman Nicholas Singleton. The receiving corps loses first-round receiver Jahan Dotson but returns virtually everyone else (including 820-yard slot man Parker Washington) and adds 1,400-yard receiver Mitchell Tinsley from Western Kentucky. The line offers upside on the interior, though depth could be shaky.
Defensively, Manny Diaz inherits a group loaded with upside and light on experience. Sophomore linebacker Curtis Jacobs could be ready for a breakout season, as could Maryland transfer Chop Robinson at end and yet another four-star freshman, end Dani Dennis-Sutton. The secondary boasts exciting corners Joey Porter Jr. and Kalen King and senior safety Ji'Ayir Brown. Tackle PJ Mustipher could be a difference maker after missing half of last season to injury.
There's a lot of youth and a lot of "coulds" in those last two paragraphs, though. Against a schedule that features five projected top-25 opponents, it feels like asking for a huge surge is a bit much. The Nittany Lions will have a chance to win virtually every game they play, but emerging from 2022 with the stars aligned for 2023 might be the most important outcome of the season.
Is Penn State still a year away? Since enjoying their third top-10 finish in four seasons in 2019, James Franklin's Nittany Lions are 11-11. They have had three offensive coordinators in the last three seasons, fielded their worst offense in seven seasons last fall and just lost stalwart defensive coordinator Brent Pry, who took the Virginia Tech head coaching job.
In such a high-pressure gig, it's easy to begin assuming that Franklin is grasping at straws and falling into a win-or-else situation. Instead, Franklin signed a mammoth contract extension last November, then signed a top-10 recruiting class in February. There is plenty of context in that 11-11 record -- five of those losses came at the start of a disjointed 2020 season, and they responded with nine consecutive wins before an injury to quarterback Sean Clifford, and a shaky backup QB situation, derailed the offense.
Offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich has posted huge point and yardage totals everywhere he's been at the FBS level, and it seems he has a solid amount to work with in 2022. Clifford returns for his sixth year at State College; he's a willing and exciting runner, and he can be used heavily in that regard now that the backup quarterback situation seems to be in better hands between four-star freshman Drew Allar and redshirt freshman Christian Veilleux. The running back corps was disappointing last year but could get an immediate boost from five-star freshman Nicholas Singleton. The receiving corps loses first-round receiver Jahan Dotson but returns virtually everyone else (including 820-yard slot man Parker Washington) and adds 1,400-yard receiver Mitchell Tinsley from Western Kentucky. The line offers upside on the interior, though depth could be shaky.
Defensively, Manny Diaz inherits a group loaded with upside and light on experience. Sophomore linebacker Curtis Jacobs could be ready for a breakout season, as could Maryland transfer Chop Robinson at end and yet another four-star freshman, end Dani Dennis-Sutton. The secondary boasts exciting corners Joey Porter Jr. and Kalen King and senior safety Ji'Ayir Brown. Tackle PJ Mustipher could be a difference maker after missing half of last season to injury.
There's a lot of youth and a lot of "coulds" in those last two paragraphs, though. Against a schedule that features five projected top-25 opponents, it feels like asking for a huge surge is a bit much. The Nittany Lions will have a chance to win virtually every game they play, but emerging from 2022 with the stars aligned for 2023 might be the most important outcome of the season.
