Things begun great for Penn State last season. Victories at Wisconsin to start the season, a home win over Auburn, and a shutout victory over Indiana to open 5-0. Regrettably for HC James Franklin, his Nittany Lions won only twice in the final seven regular-season games. To make matters worse, losing to Arkansas in the Outback Bowl to cap off a 7-6 season. Can a bounce back Nittany Lions team be displayed in 2022?
Since being hired at Penn State, Franklin has carried plenty success. Currently, the past two seasons have not favored the Nittany Lions, but they have rewarded the HC. James Franklin agreed to a new 10-year, $70 million contract with Penn State. Penn State enters the season unranked for the first time since 2016.
Who Will Step Up For Nittany Lions?
The excellent news for Penn State is that the experienced QB Sean Clifford is back under center. He has been the QB for 33 games across the past three seasons.
The run game is a mystery heading into 2022. RB Keyvone Lee led the team in rushing yards and yards per attempt, but only found the end zone twice. There is optimism, as incoming freshmen RBs Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton are highly publicized prospects. Who could easily force their way into a major piece of the offensive gameplan. Penn State did not have a 100-yard rusher last season. That is something which will not sit well with the old-school trustworthy.
The defense has some issues, returning only 57% production which ranked 103rd in the nation. New defensive coordinator, Manny Diaz, will have his hands full. He will try to regain that swagger he once had at The U. LB Curtis Jacobs is the only returning linebacker for Penn State. The secondary is talented where S Ji’Ayir Brown and CB Joey Porter Jr. are top-notch, and joining the tussle with CB Kalen King and S Jaylen Reed. The secondary might be one of the best in the Big Ten if things break in the right direction.
2022 PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS SCHEDULE
- Thu., Sept. 1 – at Purdue
- Sat., Sept. 10 – vs. Ohio
- Sat., Sept. 17 – at Auburn
- Sat., Sept. 24 – vs. Central Michigan
- Sat., Oct. 1 – vs. Northwestern
- Sat., Oct. 15 – at Michigan
- Sat., Oct. 22 – vs. Minnesota
- Sat., Oct. 29 – vs. Ohio State
- Sat., Nov. 5 – at Indiana
- Sat., Nov. 12 – vs. Maryland
- Sat., Nov. 19 – at Rutgers
- Sat., Nov. 26 – vs. Michigan State
A bounce back Nittany Lions team is what I expect this season. James Franklin will have his guys prepared differently than last season. I do not expect the Nittany Lions to lose 5 out of 7 games this season.
Penn State opens on the road against a conference foe, Purdue, which can be a challenging way to start. The Nittany Lions also head to Jordan-Hare to face Auburn, where the Tigers will be hungry for revenge. If Clifford can get some help in the run game, and the front seven develops quickly. This will easily be a team which makes a bowl, maybe another New Year’s Day bowl game. However, I envision at least four losses, but a strong bounce back 9-4 after the bowl game in preparation for a breakout 2023 season.
