2021_Penn_State_Nittany_Lions_football_team

2021 Penn State Nittany Lions football team

2021 Penn State Nittany Lions football team

American college football season


The 2021 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented Pennsylvania State University in the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team competed as a member of the Big Ten Conference and played their home games at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. The team was led by eighth-year head coach James Franklin.

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The Nittany Lions had a promising start to the season, going 5–0 and beating a ranked Wisconsin and Auburn, to reach number 4 in the AP poll. However during their game against #3 Iowa, quarterback Sean Clifford was injured, stalling all momentum they had, allowing Iowa to come back and beat them 23–20. The next week they played an unranked Illinois to hopefully regain momentum ahead of playing rival Ohio State on the road, however they lost in a record breaking 9OT. The Nittany Lions would then lose the next four of their last six games, finishing their season at 7–6 after losing to Arkansas in the Outback Bowl.

Offseason

Players drafted into the NFL

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Preseason

Preseason Big Ten poll

Cleveland.com has polled sports journalists representing all member schools as a de facto preseason media poll since 2011, making this the first preseason Big Ten poll since 2010. For the 2021 poll, Penn State was projected to finish second in the East Division.[1]

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Personnel

Coaching staff

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Roster

2021 Penn State Nittany Lions football roster

Quarterback

  •  2 Ta'Quan Roberson – Redshirt freshman (5'11, 195)
  •  9 Christian Veilleuxfreshman (6'4, 197)
  • 14 Sean CliffordRedshirt junior (6'2, 217)
  • 17 Mason Stahl – freshman (6'0, 204)

Running back

  • 10 John Lovett – senior (6'0, 205)
  • 21 Noah Cain – sophomore (5'10, 226)
  • 24 Keyvone Lee – freshman (6'0, 230)
  • 26 Caziah Holmes – freshman (5'11, 209)
  • 28 Devyn Ford – sophomore (5'11, 205)
  • 38 Tank Smith – Redshirt freshman (5'7, 227)

Wide receiver

  •  3 Parker Washingtonfreshman (5'10, 205)
  •  5 Jahan Dotsonjunior (5'11, 182)
  •  6 Cam Sullivan-Brown – Redshirt junior (6'0, 191)
  • 11 Daniel George – Redshirt sophomore (6'2, 210)
  • 13 KeAndre Lambert-Smithfreshman (6'1, 185)
  • 19 Jaden Dottin – freshman (6'2, 190)
  • 29 Henry Fessler – Redshirt sophomore (5'10, 182)
  • 80 Malick Meiga – freshman (6'4, 198)
  • 80 Justin Weller – Redshirt junior (6'0, 194)
  • 83 Johnny Crise – freshman (6'5, 201)
  • 84 Benjamin Wilson – senior (6'2, 212)
  • 88 Norval Black – junior (6'1, 178)
  • 89 Winston Eubanks – Redshirt senior (6'0, 191)

Tight end

Placekicker

  • 90 Rafael Checa – Redshirt sophomore (6'2, 203)
  • 92 Jake Pinegar – junior (6'2, 192)
  • 95 Vlad Hilling – Redshirt sophomore (5'10, 213)
  • 96 Anthony DaSilva – Redshirt freshman (5'11, 157)
 

Offensive lineman

  • 50 Will Knutsson – Redshirt sophomore (6'2, 319)
  • 51 Jimmy Christ – freshman (6'7, 298)
  • 52 Blake Zalar – Redshirt freshman (6'1, 286)
  • 53 Rasheed WalkerRedshirt sophomore (6'6, 310)
  • 55 Anthony Whigan – Redshirt junior (6'4, 315)
  • 57 Ibrahim Traore – freshman (6'5, 325)
  • 59 Kaleb Konigus – Redshirt sophomore (6'2, 291)
  • 63 Collin De Boef – Redshirt sophomore (6'5, 264)
  • 66 Nick Dawkins – freshman (6'4, 310)
  • 70 Juice ScruggsRedshirt sophomore (6'3, 302)
  • 72 Bryce Effner – Redshirt sophomore (6'5, 301)
  • 73 Mike Miranda – Redshirt junior (6'3, 301)
  • 74 Olu Fashanufreshman (6'6, 300)
  • 75 Des Holmes – Redshirt junior (6'5, 312)
  • 77 Sal Wormley – Redshirt freshman (6'3, 317)
  • 78 Golden Israel-Achumba – freshman (6'4, 345)
  • 79 Caedan WallaceRedshirt freshman (6'5, 313)
  • Nate Bruce – freshman (6'4, 344)
  • Landon Tengwall – freshman (6'6, 321)

Defensive lineman

  • 17 Arnold Ebiketie – DE – Redshirt senior (6'3, 238)
  • 20 Adisa Isaac – DE – sophomore (6'4, 251)
  • 27 Aeneas Hawkins – DT – Redshirt sophomore (6'2, 288)
  • 33 Bryce Mostella – DE – freshman (6'6, 248)
  • 44 Joseph Darkwa – DT – Redshirt freshman (6'5, 293)
  • 46 Nick Tarburton – DE – Redshirt sophomore (6'3, 252)
  • 51 Hakeem Beamon – DE – Redshirt freshman (6'3, 292)
  • 53 Fred Hansard – DT – Redshirt junior (6'3, 324)
  • 54 Fatorma Mulbah – DT – freshman (6'3, 289)
  • 56 Amin Vanover – DT – freshman (6'4, 279)
  • 91 Dvon Ellies – DT – Redshirt freshman (6'1, 296)
  • 92 Smith Vilbert – DE – Redshirt freshman (6'6, 251)
  • 94 Jake Wilson – DE – freshman (6'3, 241)
  • 95 Cole Brevard – DT – freshman (6'3, 312)
  • 97 P. J. Mustipher – DT – junior (6'4, 300)
  • 98 Dan Vasey – DE – Redshirt junior (6'4, 251)
  • 99 Coziah Izzard – DT – freshman (6'3, 290)
  • Rodney McGraw – DE – freshman (6'5, 254)
  • Derrick Tangelo – DT – senior (6'2, 298)

Punter

  • 93 Levi Forrest – freshman (6'5, 184)
  • 93 Bradley King – Redshirt junior (6'2, 214)
  • 98 Jordan StoutRedshirt junior (6'3, 208)
  • 96 Barney Amor – Redshirt junior (6'1, 200)
 

Linebacker

  • 12 Brandon Smithsophomore (6'3, 244)
  • 13 Ellis Brooks – Redshirt junior (6'1, 233)
  • 23 Curtis Jacobsfreshman (6'1, 226)
  • 34 Dominic DeLuca – freshman (6'1, 202)
  • 36 Zuriah Fisher – freshman (6'3, 244)
  • 39 Robbie Dwyer – Redshirt freshman(6'1, 247)
  • 40 Jesse Luketajunior (6'3, 242)
  • 41 Kobe King – freshman (6'1, 236)
  • 43 Tyler Elsdon – freshman (6'2, 230)
  • 45 Charlie Katshir – Redshirt sophomore (6'3, 231)
  • 47 Alex Furmanek – Redshirt freshman(6'2, 265)
  • 50 Max Chizmar – Redshirt junior (6'2, 229)

Defensive back

  •  0 Jonathan Sutherland – S – Redshirt junior (5'11, 202)
  •  1 Jaquan Brisker – S – senior (6'1, 210)
  •  2 Keaton Ellis – CB – sophomore (5'11, 186)
  •  4 Kalen King – CB – freshman (5'11, 177)
  •  5 Tariq Castro-Fields – CB – senior (6'0, 191)
  •  8 Marquis Wilson – CB – sophomore (5'11, 181)
  •  9 Joey Porter Jr. – CB – Redshirt freshman (6'2, 193)
  • 15 Enzo Jennings – S – freshman (6'1, 197)
  • 16 Ji'Ayir Brown – S – junior (5'11, 209)
  • 17 Joseph Johnson III – CB – freshman (6'2, 168)
  • 21 Tyler Rudolph – S – Redshirt freshman (6'0, 203)
  • 25 Daequan Hardy – CB – Redshirt freshman (5'9, 180)
  • 27 Jaden Seider – S – Redshirt freshman (5'10, 174)
  • 29 Sebastian Costantini – CB – Redshirt freshman (5'11, 185)
  • 32 Dylan Farronato – S – Redshirt freshman (5'11, 187)
  • 48 Cody Romano – S – Redshirt sophomore (6'2, 207)
  • Jeffrey Davis Jr – CB – freshman (6'0, 174)
  • Johnny Dixon – CB – sophomore (6'0, 183)

Long snappers

  • 49 Michael Wright – freshman (6'1, 197)
  • 91 Chris StollRedshirt junior (6'2, 242)

Source:[3]

Schedule

Spring game

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Penn State did not host their annual Blue vs. White scrimmage. In lieu of the Blue vs. White game, the university invited the freshmen class to Beaver Stadium for what was meant to be the final spring practice on April 17.[4] More than 7,500 Penn State freshmen attended. Following backlash from students and the public, an extra practice was scheduled for April 23, initially limited to Penn State seniors with an in-person class, but soon opened tickets to all seniors, then to the general public.[5]

Regular season

The Nittany Lions hosted three non-conference games: the Ball State Cardinals from the Mid-American Conference (MAC), the Auburn Tigers (first ever regular season meeting) from the Southeastern Conference (SEC), and the Villanova Wildcats an FCS school from the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA).

PSU played Big Ten opponents Wisconsin, Indiana, Iowa, Illinois, Ohio State, Maryland, Michigan, Rutgers, and Michigan State. The schedule consisted of seven home games and five road games.

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[6]

Game summaries

At No. 12 Wisconsin

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No. 19 Penn State at No. 12 Wisconsin – Game summary

at Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, Wisconsin

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Ball State

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Ball State at No. 11 Penn State – Game summary

at Beaver Stadium, University Park, Pennsylvania

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No. 22 Auburn

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No. 22 Auburn at No. 10 Penn State – Game summary

at Beaver Stadium, University Park, Pennsylvania

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No. 11 (FCS) Villanova

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No. 11 (FCS) Villanova at No. 6 Penn State – Game summary

at Beaver Stadium, University Park, Pennsylvania

  • Date: September 25
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: 70 °F (21 °C); sunny
  • Game attendance: 105,790
  • Referee: Jerry McGinn
  • TV announcers (BTN): Mark Followill (play-by-play), Matt Millen (analyst), and Elise Menaker (sideline)
  • Pregame line: None (due to Villanova's FCS status) • Odds to win: Penn State 96.8% • ESPN box score, GoPSUsports.com
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Indiana

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Indiana at No. 4 Penn State – Game summary

at Beaver Stadium, University Park, Pennsylvania

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At No. 3 Iowa

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No. 4 Penn State at No. 3 Iowa – Game summary

at Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, Iowa

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Illinois

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Illinois at No. 7 Penn State – Game summary

at Beaver Stadium, University Park, Pennsylvania

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At No. 5 Ohio State

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No. 20 Penn State at No. 5 Ohio State – Game summary

at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

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At Maryland

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No. 22AP Penn State at Maryland – Game summary

at Maryland Stadium, College Park, Maryland

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No. 9AP/6CFP Michigan

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No. 9AP/6CFP Michigan at No. 22AP Penn State – Game summary

at Beaver Stadium, University Park, Pennsylvania

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Rutgers

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Rutgers at Penn State – Game summary

at Beaver Stadium, University Park, Pennsylvania

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At No. 12AP/CFP Michigan State

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Penn State at No. 12AP/CFP Michigan State – Game summary

at Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, Michigan

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vs. No. 22AP/21CFP Arkansas (Outback Bowl)

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Arkansas vs. Penn State – Game summary

at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida

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Rankings

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Awards and honors

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References

  1. "Ohio State football voted overwhelming 2021 Big Ten favorite in cleveland.com preseason poll". Cleveland.com. July 11, 2020.
  2. "Football Coaching Staff". GoPSUsports.com. Penn State Nittany Lions. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  3. "2021 Football Roster". GoPSUSports.com. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
  4. Morganstein, Justin (March 17, 2021). "Penn State football to allow freshmen students to attend final spring practice". Daily Collegian. The Daily Collegian. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
  5. Patrick, Evan (April 21, 2021). "Penn State to allow seniors, general public to attend special football spring practice". Daily Collegian. The Daily Collegian. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
  6. "2021 Penn State Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  7. "2021 FWAA All-America Team". College Football Poll. December 10, 2021. Retrieved September 27, 2022.

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