There is a lot that will go into Penn State’s fight to win this weekend. The Nittany Lions are set to face off against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Beaver Stadium. Both teams are coming off a win; however, Ohio State has not yet lost a game this season. Here are three players to watch in Penn State’s fight to take down the number two team.
Penn State’s Fight: Kaytron Allen
Penn State running back, Kaytron Allen is a big difference maker for this Nittany Lions team. Between Allen and Nick Singleton, Penn State has a bright future in its running back core. Allen did not score a touchdown last weekend against the Minnesota Gophers, but he did a great job moving the ball downfield to set the team up in the red zone. Allen will be a big aspect in Penn State’s fight to beat Ohio State this weekend.
This Season
Penn State recruited two fantastic freshmen this season between Allen and Singleton having a great year so far. Allen has only scored four touchdowns this season but averages 5.1 yards per carry according to Sports Reference. Allen is a reliable player to get positive yards on the field. Through seven games Allen totals 398 rushing yards and 52 receiving yards. For only being a true freshman, these are great stats to have, and will only improve.
Joe Hermitt/jhermitt@pennlive.com
VS Minnesota
Last weekend, despite not scoring a touchdown, Allen had a very solid game. ESPN has Allen rushing for 77 yards in 15 attempts. The most important part of last week’s stats was his average of 5.1 yards per attempt. That is a great average per carry to have because it demonstrates that he is a guy the team can rely on to get the first down. This is crucial for a team that cannot always rely on the passing game.
Allen may not be the top scorer, but he still has a huge impact on the field. His longest play was a 14-yard rush, which is a larger advantage than it sounds. Allen can also catch when quarterback Sean Clifford is under pressure. This gives Clifford another target when everyone else is covered. If Allen can get open for a pass as well, it could boost the hopes in Penn State’s fight to beat Ohio State this weekend.
Penn State’s Fight: Mitchell Tinsley
Senior wide receiver Mitchell Tinsley has been having a great season for the Nittany Lions. Tinsley is a clutch player that will do what it takes to make the catch. This makes him such a difference-maker for the Nittany Lions and may be just what they need in Penn State’s fight to beat the Buckeyes.
This Season
Tinsley has been a receiver the team can rely on in this Penn State offense. According to Sports Reference, Tinsley has averaged 12.1 yards per reception. This proves he is a player to rely on to get a first down or make up any yards lost through penalties and tackles for loss. Despite only having four touchdowns so far this season, he also totals 340 yards for 28 receptions. If Clifford can get Tinsley the ball more, this Penn State offense is in good hands for the rest of the season. Hopefully, Tinsley can get more touchdowns in Penn State’s fight to pull an upset this weekend.
VS Minnesota
Tinsley had himself a game vs Minnesota during the White Out. According to ESPN, Tinsley had four receptions and 58 total yards. While that may not seem like much, he averaged 14.5 yards per attempt and one touchdown. Tinsley’s most notable play was a 30-yard catch down the field. Not only was this his longest play, but it was also a one-handed grab in tight coverage. Watch the video here, posted by the Big Ten Network.
Tinsley making these tough catches is a huge difference-maker. Clifford is not always the most accurate thrower, but if Tinsley can make the catch, that will make it much easier for the Nittany Lions to move the ball downfield. His significant catches can be very beneficial in the endzone, and Penn State fans can potentially see that this weekend.
Penn State’s Fight: Abdul Carter
Freshman linebacker, Abdul Carter has been a bright point of the Nittnay Lion’s defense. In only his freshman year, he has done a great job at holding off opposing teams’ offenses. The other linebacker on the team is senior Ji’Ayir Brown. With this being Brown’s senior season, it is great for the team to know they have a remarkable young player with a lot of potential. Carter will be a big part of Penn State’s fight to defeat Ohio State.
This Season
Carter is not one of the most talked about players on the Nittany Lions but has been a great addition to the team this season. According to Sports Reference, Carter has 31 total tackles, 20 of which were solo tackles. On top of that, he has had two pass deflections, one forced fumble, and 1.5 sacks. While these are lower statistics, he is only a freshman and will continue to grow and get better. This weekend in Penn State’s fight to win vs the Buckeyes, Carter could finally have his first interception.
VS Minnesota
In the game vs Minnesota, the Golden Gophers only scored 17 points. This has a lot to do with the linebacker core holding off Minnesota’s run game. The Gopher’s running back, Mohamed Ibrahim has a strong ability to break tackles. While Ibrahim had 102 rushing yards, between Carter and Brown on defense the run game was not enough for Minnesota to win.
Carter had eight total tackles, and 3 Solo in the game against Minnesota according to ESPN. On top of that, he also totaled 0.5 sacks and one pass deflection. While this may not seem like a lot, he is so young that these stats will only increase by the time he is three years into his collegiate career. Carter is a great team player and the way he can go in for the sack will be crucial in Penn State’s fight to upset Ohio State. If Carter can put pressure on quarterback C.J. Stroud, that can cause more inaccurate passes and potentially force turnovers.
The Nittany Lions will face the Ohio State Buckeyes this Saturday at 12 o’clock eastern. Be sure to watch these three players during Penn State’s fight to pull a huge Big Ten upset.
For more NFL and NCAA football content:
Check out my Penn State article about what went wrong in the student section of the 2022 White Out and how dangerous it was for students. Also, check out my most recent article to see who I chose this week for my underestimated player spotlight.
