This weekend is the final Penn State home game and final regular season game for the Nittany Lions. After a season that felt like it flew by, the team is looking for a strong finish. Some players had exceptional seasons, some not so much. All around, this team has something to be proud of, having at least nine wins this season. Here are three players to watch in the final Penn State home game.
Final Penn State Home Game: Sean Clifford
Whether you love him or hate him, quarterback Sean Clifford has been an essential player to the Nittany Lions offense. In his final Penn State home game, Clifford will work hard to end on a high note. Clifford has been with the team since 2018, and this weekend that will come to a close at Beaver Stadium in his last regular season game.
This season, Clifford has had a total of 191 completions out of 306 attempts for 2,341 yards, according to Sports Reference. Clifford has also thrown for 18 touchdowns this season and seven interceptions. Although he may not be the most accurate quarterback, he has averaged 7.7 yards per attempt, which does help the team. This weekend will be his final home game, and head coach James Franklin has made it clear he hopes the fans show appreciation for Clifford during his Senior Day.
James Franklin on Sean Clifford: “I hope he gets the type of appreciation and recognition that he deserves (on Senior Day next week). We’ll see.”
— Audrey Snyder (@audsnyder4) November 15, 2022
Be sure to watch the senior quarterback this weekend in his final Penn State home game, after five years with the team, and many of those years as the starter.
Final Penn State Home Game: PJ Mustipher
Defensive tackle, PJ Mustipher will be greatly missed by Nittany Lions fans. After being on the team since 2018, this weekend will be Mustipher’s final Penn State home game. He is a player who puts the defense on his back and has done a great job for the team.
This season, Mustipher has had a total of 28 combined tackles, 15 of which were solo, according to Sports Reference. The biggest statistic missing this season is that he has no sacks. This is something that could potentially change, as Mustipher plays his final game at Beaver Stadium. Despite no sacks, there have been many other guys on the defensive line to sack the opposing team’s quarterback. While that may not sound great for Mustpher, it is his push that the offensive line looks to stop, which helps other players get the sack. Be sure to watch for Mustipher to potentially get a sack this season against Michigan State.
Final Penn State Home Game: Mitchell Tinsley
After only spending one season with the Nittany Lions, Mitchell Tinsley’s presence has been felt. Tinsley has been a great addition to this team and has been a huge part of all nine Nittany Lions wins.
This season, Tinsley has had 44 receptions for 515 yards, averaging 11.7 yards per catch, according to Sports Reference. It is the 11.7 yards averaged that truly stands out about this wide receiver. Tinsley is a reliable player to get the ball to, and trust he will get as many yards as possible. Tinsley also has four touchdowns this season and will look for more. Fellow wide receiver, Parker Washington will not play in the final Penn State home game. This will make Tinsley an even more important player to rely on against Michigan State. Hopefully, Tinsley will add more touchdowns to his stat sheet, and have a strong final 2022 game in Beaver Stadium.
Final Penn State Home Game: Ji’Ayir Brown
Penn State senior safety Ji’Ayir Brown is the final player on this list of Nittany Lions to watch. Brown has done a great job in the Penn State secondary this season, as well as in past seasons with the Nittany Lions. Brown will be an important player to watch in the final Penn State home game of the 2022 season, as the team looks to close out with a win.
This season, Brown has had a total of 59 combined tackles, 43 of which were solo, and 5.5 tackles for loss, according to Sports Reference. In addition to those already great numbers, Brown has had three sacks, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery for a touchdown. As a safety, Brown has also caught three interceptions this season for 92 yards. Brown will be missed by this defense, after having such a strong impact. Turnovers have a strong impact on bringing in wins, and Brown put this team on his back to ensure opposing offenses cannot score easily.
Be sure to watch these players, and the rest of the Nittany Lions, in the final Penn State home game of the 2022 season. The team will face off against Michigan State at 4:00 Eastern, in hopes to end the regular season with a win.
For more NFL and NCAA content:
Check out my post on the future of the Rutgers quarterback position. Also, check out my most recent article on this week’s NFL Underestimated Player Spotlight.
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