Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1410640
O C T O B E R 2 0 2 1 3 7 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M play well and get some of those guys off the field and out of the game early so that we can be as fresh as possible come Sunday practice, that wasn't go- ing to come at the expense of winning and playing well, but if you had said be- fore the game that it would play out that way, I would have been happy." Simply looking at the stat sheet, the highlight was backup quarter- back Ta'Quan Roberson connecting with tight end Theo Johnson for a 23- yard touchdown, the first score of both players' college careers. Roberson, a redshirt sophomore, saw action on two possessions in the fourth quarter. Franklin had hoped to give him a third series, but that opportunity failed to materialize when Ball State was able to hold the ball for the final two minutes. Junior athlete Marquis Wilson also had a noteworthy performance in the victory over the Cardinals. He's not a new player, having seen extensive action at cornerback the past two seasons, but he's in a new role this year as a part- time wide receiver. Against Ball State, Wilson became the first player since Justin King in 2005 to play offense and defense for the Nittany Lions in a game and finished with one catch for three yards in addition to two tackles. "You think about it a lot because it's an opportunity, so you never know when it's going to come or how it's going to come, so you just have to be ready," Wilson said. "You get excited, especially being out here getting a lot of [attention from] fans and everything. The emotion and everything gets to you, but just being a little older, I was able to control it, just calm down, and just take the moment in and do the best that I can." Another backup cornerback, redshirt sophomore Daequan Hardy, also made a big impact on the game. It might not be entirely fair to list him as a newcomer, since the third-year player is Penn State's starting slot corner. But he saw more time than usual in a regular role, and he made it count. Hardy finished with three tack- les and an interception that came as a result of a well-covered pass. Senior wide receiver Jahan Dotson said that Hardy has been impressing him for a while now. "He had a huge interception down there," Dotson said. "It's been great to see him ball out, locking up guys one- on-one, trusting his training. We see him in practice every day, and he's do- ing a great job and translating it to the field." There are of course some other play- ers deserving of a shout-out. Redshirt sophomore safety Tyler Rudolph had five tackles and played plenty before he was ejected for targeting in the sec- ond half, and true freshman corner- back Kalen King had three tackles and a forced fumble. King continues to show why so many are betting big on his fu- ture in blue and white. Three other freshman-eligible play- ers — linebackers Tyler Elsdon and Ja- mari Buddin and defensive tackle Fa- torma Mulbah — also recorded tackles. And the final late addition to Penn State's 2021 recruiting class — Iowa Western transfer Jordan van den Berg — made his debut at defensive tackle. Van den Berg has sophomore eligibility at PSU after playing eight games at Iowa Western this past spring. All told, the victory over the Cardi- nals was one that everyone at Penn State could feel good about. A lot of players contributed, and that's going to help both later this season and further down the road. " I t 's r e a l i m p o r t a n t ," s e n i o r safety Jonathan Sutherland said. "We're trying to get as many guys experience [as possible], getting them snaps and reps, so that when their number is called later in the year, they have that game experience." ■ These 2022 Prospects Are Most Likely To See Playing Time Next Year During his tenure in Happy Valley, James Franklin has never been shy about playing true freshmen if the coaching staff believes they are ready to see the field. That's great news for Penn State fans, because the program's most devoted followers are always eager to see the next crop of young talent that will lead the Nittany Lions in the future. With that in mind, let's take a look at the class of 2022 and see which players might be able to step on the field early in their time at PSU. The most obvious place to start would be with Rivals.com five-star defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton. The 6-foot-5, 252-pound prospect reshaped his body over the past 18 months and in doing so has become a top player in the class. His college-ready frame and size will help speed his transition, and Dennis-Sutton has also shown that he knows how to use his hands and length to win battles. His natural position is strongside defensive end, and while that spot is filled with players who don't seem ready to move on anytime soon, Dennis-Sutton should at least push for a rotational role early. Another possibility is Lackawanna College offensive lineman JB Nelson. The 6-5, 320-pound right tackle showed enough talent in only a handful of games this past spring to earn a Penn State offer. On top of that, he'll have another season of college football under his belt before he gets to campus, making him more than your typical freshman. His power, technique, size and quickness are all college-ready. The last part is simply conditioning, which he's already been working on. There are a handful of offensive players in the Lions' 2022 class who have the skills and athleticism necessary to see playing time if they are given the chance. Receiver Kaden Saunders is a highlight factory with the speed and ball skills to play in the slot or out wide. His work after the catch is impressive as well. Fellow receiver Cristian Driver is probably the most advanced route runner I've scouted and has the quickness, mental approach and maturity to make an impact early as well. While it's a crowded room, running backs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen also have the skills to see the field. Singleton added the necessary lower-body weight before his senior year to be a pure tailback prospect with superstar potential. Allen is a big back (5-11, 215) with quickness and lateral agility, and he's getting premier coaching at IMG Academy in Florida. That mix could put him in position to play a variety of roles for Penn State depending on the situation. All told, this is a deep and talented class. While there are a handful of other players who have the skills to be included, these are the best of that group. — Thomas Frank Carr