Penn State Nittany Lions 2024 Preview | Full Depth Chart and Schedule Breakdowns

Intro/2023 Season Review what is up everybody welcome back to our top 25 series we are at number 11 today we're talking pin State nitty Lions we're talking those fans out there they have to root for a James Franklin Le team so there'll be a lot of hate for James Franklin out there unless you love him um but if you don't we're gonna be talking about him and kind of what he's underperformed but we are gonna be talking about this very very solid Penn State team that could be one of the best teams that James Franklin has had in his tenure there at Penn State so we're going to be diving into the preview notable losses talking recruits talking the schedule talking transfers and that great defense they have but before we get into that we are going to be looking at last year's team which was very good 10 and three last year they finished 13th in the final AP pole um very very good on offense and defense we'll kind of dive into the numbers here in a minute um Drew Allard was okay 25 touchdowns two interceptions the numbers weren't necessarily as good as some people wanted but they have a very very solid rushing attack out there with Allen and Singleton that one-two punch um they finished a year 10 and three like I said but the big elephant in the room for Penn State is every year they can't beat two teams Ohio State and Michigan right that's kind of been the consistent the last few years in James Franklin tenure they've had Ohio State there on the Run they've had Michigan kind of this last year Michigan just didn't throw a pass in the second half and they couldn't stop them those are the games that kind of matter then they lost to all miss and the peach bow um which was a loss that I feel like they shouldn't have lost to but again those bull games are tough because who's in who's out and especially when you're not playing in the in the Big Time college football playoff you really can't hold those against them but when you looking at this their offense they're they're 2024 Offense stacked man and last year you saw that like you know when you look at points per game they're 15th they avered 34 points per game yards per play they were top 50 when you look at Red Zone scoring they were number five they scored very well in the Red Zone which was actually one of those things that they didn't do very well the previous few years and Red Zone scoring went up when you see that up there 94% Red Zone scoring there you have to like that but from a passing perspective they struggled and and you're looking at just you know every metrics they're in the 80s and 70s you're talking about passes per game passing yards per game even rushing they were okay yards per rush though they were 37th which was their best metric but rushes per game was about 43rd rushing yards per game about 36 so they're in that range there really they kind of were better because their defense was there and the game scripts that they had there and they didn't turn the ball over Drew Aller the one thing he doesn't do he doesn't turn the ball over he they were number one in the nation last year for interception throwing percentage so they were right there but he's got to take that next step right this is it this is his this is his season here yep new offensive coordin coordinator uh Andy codal Nikki is in there and I think that's going to do wonders for Drew Aller to me this is obviously you lose your your starting tackles on both sides good programs that produce good offensive linemen have that turnover and are easily able to plug players in it might not be as good as when you had Olu um they also lose their starting center and Hunter orad good good player um so losing three offensive linemen from that starting group does kind of you know impact you but they can overcome it because they're they're Penn State where I think they significantly got better it's it's crazy saying this but Julian Fleming is a massive upgrade to what this wide receiver room has been um and kandre lamber Smith we've liked him there's been you know attitude issues I think uh there's been drop issues there's been drop issues with this entire group there's been receivers not really running the right routes at times there's been problems in that group so to me Julian Fleming being a consistent guy that you can rely on Tyler Warren now steps into a a more prominent receiving role that's a fantastic tight end one of my top tight ends in this 2025 NFL draft kayen Saunders is a guy that I have liked since he was a recruit I've been banging this drum I I kind of stopped believing but it sounds like he's ready to be an impact player Drew Aller and him have a really good relationship they came in as GRS together and then this rushing attack is still going to be good so I here to push my Drew Aller propaganda I think this kid is going to have a good year I think he's going to be uh you know hitting his potential in this new offense with Andy coton Nicki calling a better offense than what we've seen I'm very very optimistic that this can be the year for this Penn State offense kot Nikki open that baby up man you gotta just open that offense up I think that's the big thing I think they've I think James Franklin is way too conservative and he's been way too conservative for whatever reason let Aller throw the football let him get it out there let him make some mistakes if he needs to but the biggest thing is they just had no explosive plays last year they just didn't have any explosive plays like and that's really big part of that offense and I know we're I can't believe we're talking about Julian fiming being a big upgrade but we are I mean he is kind of there because I think he could be that solid piece for them I think he can just be that kind of that glue guy right think of like Jordan Whittington from Texas last year some of those guys that just are very solid guys he's he's again he's a senior so he's definitely had that that role filled he's at Ohio State he knows what it takes there um they other got Harrison Wallace the third he is explosive so if like if he can get in his offense and be that guy I really think that explosiveness could be there they just got to open it up they have two of the best running backs in the Big 10 easily in Singleton and Allen um and Quinn Martin Jor is a stud too if he gets out there so like they have guys out there they just got to open this baby up let him fly baby let him fly let this offense fly and that's where you're going to Penn State really developed there from a notable losses standpoint I mean yes they're tackles that's really Notable Losses the big one and then Theo Johnson they they definitely develop tight ends though and you saw that like you mentioned with the tight end position obviously the offensive line was that that that was a loss um and Theo Johnson being there but I think that they have enough Talent on that line to kind of bounce back a little bit this year yeah we could have put Keandre Lambert Smith on this as well but like I said I think this might be addition by subtraction when all a sudden done so to me Tyler Warren can step into that Theo Johnson roll I think the depth uh at at tight end I don't know how to say the kid's name Andel Andrew rle yeah R rle yay I don't know I'm sorry but that kid can play he's their tight end three right now and so they've got depth there offensive line I I think they did a good job in replacing them so I think it's it's in an okay spot enough time for Drew Aller to make plays out there and that's really all you need yeah 100 perc and let's talk about tight ends Luke 2024 Offensive Recruits Reynolds out here at the 2024 class number one rated tight end coming to Penn State um and you know what Franklin kind of cooked a little bit at the on the recruiting Trail top 15 class again um they don't really go after transfers we'll kind of mention that and kind of talk about it but they definitely get some homegrown guys Luke Reynolds is there number one tied in there um Cooper cousins he's kind of slotted in that could maybe be out there 66323 when I was going through the numbers and looking at 247 articles and they talked about Cooper cousins really being that guy they like and he's ready now he's a big boy number two rated interior offensive lineman they did a really good job um grunk Meer as well 62190 number Eighth rated quarterback there um Quint Martin Jr is kind of that prize piece for them he looked really good in the spring game and a couple runs that he had but again Penn State does a fantastic job developing running backs if you're looking for running back talent and running back value and NFL guys Penn State's the place to look and Quint Martin Jr looks like he's gonna kind of go right into that role Liam Andrews all these guys here um Garrett ston they did a very very good job addressing needs and they have a hell of the class coming in they do um obviously Luke Reynolds is the prize Cooper cousins is an impact player grunk Meer is my qb1 and Quinton Martin Jr is my rb1 so they got two of my top players as far as you know our rankings go where I'm kind of hesitant they did not get receivers they have struggled to get receivers in that's just been James Franklin's way over the last few years unfortunately Kaden Saunders was of their their highest rated recruits um it's they they need to refocus on that I think receivers will look at this offense after this year and say fine we'll go there James Franklin struggled in state a little bit and he's struggling in the 2025 class so there needs to be a correction there but to me this is still a fantastic class you have to be happy uh getting you know all of this Talent especially at the top uh there's a reason Penn State's still in the top 15 of recruiting um I just think maybe we can set the bar a little bit higher maybe we can go get a festar wide receiver for once in a blue mode you know we need to see it happen yeah I mean they we know the positions they recruit well tight end and lineman and then running back right Cory Smith's the other guy um I didn't even mention really him but number 25 rer running back fourstar kid as well out of Wisconsin very very solid more of that lightning to kind of Quinton Martin Thunder kind of that smaller frame that 5'11 170 in that range uh like I said Key Offensive Transfers their transfers they don't really go after guys when you're looking at there a transfer Pho ranking 57th overall uh fliming you like jillan fliming from Ohio State he's been fine there um you know noan R um Ruchi you know 68300 from Wisconsin anytime you get a 68 300 guy offensive tag from Wisconsin that's not a bad get there Chase Meyer as well kind of gives them that kicker that they maybe have needed in the past we've seen them lose games close games to these big teams um because of special teams but just solid nothing nothing crazy yeah I just I that's what I threw this up for put the kicker on the on the graphic just to to put another player on the graphic he's not really an offensive player but you know what we're throwing him in with the offense Fleming to me uh but we're going to see what he is I think he showed off some some pretty good stuff at Ohio State you know from Ohio State Standards maybe not but from Penn State Standards this might be the best wide receiver that they've seen in the last decade so um sad to say but also happy to be saying it because I think draer needs someone like Julian Fleming so fine just not a lot on the trans portal here no not really let's go to in players so Drew all's out there the guys Impact Players - Offense that you know I want to mention Nicholas Singleton and KRON Allen to me are very very solid I mean you could argue I know Ohio State's got Judkins and Henderson but Singleton and Allen are right up there is the best duo in the Big 10 and I you know part of me really thinks KRON Allen is a better NFL running back I love Singleton I'm very high in Singleton I think he's excellent when he gets outside of the um outside of the you know on the edge and really takes it he is a big play guy single can be that guy there I would love for backs to get more involved in the receiving game I think that helps out Drew all and they haven't done that and I hope you know with this new offensive system coming in and new offensive coordinator they do that a little bit more um Allen to me is is a solid running back and Allen to me is one of those guys that can just they can lean on down the stretch Singleton can be that big play guy but both of these guys are fantastic and I think that if they lean on them but also allow all to really Step Up make some big throws and and just have some fun with it this could be a top offense in college football this year it should be it should be with the talent that they have drew Aller is one of the most talented quarterbacks in the country if not the most talented from a an upside perspective the kid has a cannon and he was throwing two yard out routes last year so if we can stop doing that that would be fantastic KRON Allen's an interesting one I don't know uh what he is athletically but also it doesn't matter because he is just so skilled between the tackles like you said um and then Singleton is that that bursty guy I think both of them had a downish year last year and were still super productive like as far as expectations go cotal Nikki's offense is a very very good rushing offense as well and so I think these guys could take that step forward and maybe take a little bit off of valer um and I I think that I mean Julian Fleming should also be on this list but um you know Tyler Warren can be their their go-to tight end Target I think think this is a good offense yeah I didn't make this one so don't say I'm a Michigan bias for not putting Julian Fleming uh on the on the impact players there um but let's go to the defense defense is loaded when we're talking 2024 Defensive Breakdown about defense out here they are absolutely stacked and they dare I say they could maybe be better than last year even though last year they allowed the fewest total yards and fewest yards per play in 2023 and the most sacks so when you think of that their defense was absolutely loaded last year opponent yards per Rush opponents only average 2.2 yards per Rush last year except for Michigan Michigan was a little bit of a different beast but overall they definitely kind of held him to you know a 75 yards per game that was number one in the country last year their passing defense was great too and they were number one in sack percentage last year so they were the number one sack um getting team last year their front seven did a great job out there um and they were a top unit they were one of the best defenses in college football had they opened up the offense a little bit we could have been talking about a big 10 Championship that's really where we're looking at the Penn day team yeah I think you know there is a big loss here and that's chop Robinson that's the biggest loss to me um but moving Abdel Carter to a full-time Edge rusher should alleviate some of that that problem you know he played a lot of linebacker last year uh Danny Dennis Sutton is my top Edge rusher in this class and I know that is as much a hot take as you can find on draft social media right now on draft Twitter or whatever but that kid can play I think he was their best uh just overall Edge Defender last year I think uh Robinson offered a lot as a pass rusher but he wasn't good against the Run Dennis suton does both Abdul Carter can be that guy that's really good at being a good pass rusher and he needs to develop against the run as well they have the best linebacker room I think in the Big 10 um and that's including Iowa who we've already talked about who has you know one of the most elite defenses I've ever seen on paper but Kobe King and dominant Duca has you know two of your starters right there just just elite elite players right there and then Kevin Winston Jr looks like a potential first round pick as a safety and that's hard to come by this team looked good on defense once again we we knew that yeah I mean and also they lost just to bring it up they did lose their defensive coordinator man Diaz he went to Duke uh to be their head coach there but they brought in Tom Allen and Tom Allen is one of the more accomplished coaches other coming from Indiana head coach um and he's definitely one of those guys and they talked about him and you mentioned it too um moving Abdul Carter from linebacker to end as well that was kind of a move Carter wanted it too but Allen came in and said hey where do we make our best pieces where do we need to fit these guys and they did that so that tells me that hey he wants them to definitely compete and I do think that they're deep at tackle like they have a lot of guys they have sixe seniors out there um they have a very very deep secondary it's loaded like the Penn State's ready to go they're ready to go out there um as far as losses go Notable Losses yeah you hit the big one when we're talking about chop you know when we're thinking of like what he brought to this team um and everything there uh you know but Johnny Dixon kin King as well that's probably another one when we're thinking of like um guys out there you know he had a couple pass deflections uh but he was definitely someone out there that did some things out there Johnny Dixon as well he had three pass deflection he had an interception um DeQuan Hardy is another fun one out there you know seven pass deflection two interceptions 22 tackles out there very very very solid kick returner as well um and and Isaac and these other guys out there who who's the guy that stands out to you I know you talk about chop but is anybody else on this list that's a big loss I mean all of them but I think every year we do this we're going to have a long list of Penn State Defenders that they lost yeah but the the good thing is that they've just been so consistently replacing those players uh with players that can be even better you know I I think a few years ago this list was probably even a little bit longer uh and then all of these players stepped into prominent roles and and succeeded so this is obviously a good thing about the culture of that defensive program um but yeah I mean kayin King was kind of disappointing at times last year Adisa Isaac was a pleasant surprise um Penn State fans probably projected that but like he really came on last year they're gonna be fine though that's the that's the good thing they're gonna be fine and that's how much talent they have like when you're thinking of that defensive side even though they lost these guys it's like oh yeah we lost them but we're just we're just going like we're just going to plug in play and we'll be fine there and recruiting wise you know he 2024 Defensive Recruits does a good job on the defensive side for the recruits with James Franklin uh and I think really John Mitchell is kind of their big guy 13th rated cornerback out there um out there from Florida and when you're looking at what he does very very fast I you know according to like what I looked up eighth fastest 40 yard dash of the day when they did camps down there so very fast um when you're looking at too very good man and Zone cover guy so you like that and he does a pretty good job here and they have when you're looking at like pedigrees here Chris Mitchell former W you know wide receiver out there he that's his brother Nick Mitchell as well as a linebacker in the SEC so has that pedigree that you have to really like with this with with the guy out there dejon Lane is there Xavier Gillum Jaylen Harvey guys that just plug and play but really Mitchell's a big piece in this off in the defense excuse me yeah Mitchell is for sure uh one guy that I think is gonna be something is dwan Wayne um he is a fast dude he uh he also runs track I don't know if he's running at Penn State I I probably should know that but um he was an elite track runner um ran like sub 11 uh 100 meters um so that's always a good time I think they're going to find a spot for him he is still a little bit Raw on on the actual like football playing front but uh they're going to find a way to get him on the field whether that's you know as a safety flying around the field whether that's you know as a corner he had over 60 tackles last year uh as a senior so I'm excited to see him play but this is a good class in terms of like filling out de they always develop their talent so just keep on doing what you're doing James Franklin on this front yeah watch jayen Harvey too Edge kid um they really like this kid 62266 they talked about him being very versatile Edge defensive line so they love those type of guys because I think they get in they get him in the weight room Harvey could be a guy thaty yeah yeah we need an edge we're gonna move you outside or hey we need some inside help um we need that versatility up front and and they do that they do a very very very solid job of kind of adding those pieces there from a trans perspective again remember we talked about it they don't really add that many transfer guys in the in front the portal Key Defensive Transfers there Jaylen Kimber was probably the highest rated transfer out there former Florida kid um coming over there and AJ Harris as well he was right there coming from Georgia to Penn State and then Jordan mayor and again like we've talked about plenty of times we like the guys coming from the pedigree of like hey SEC teams coming over and and high high high you know college pedigrees that they can these are not like Joo prospects these are not low G4 or G5 prospects these are SEC talibo and in Wisconsin uh for Jordan Meyers so these are guys are coming ready to go and ready to contribute right away yeah AJ Harris was uh the number two Corner in the in the portal uh per 247 I disagree with that I think trar Mohammad should have been ahead of him but either way he's a top top five Corner in the portal that is coming over to Penn State and should slide in I kind of help ease losing your starting three corners so yeah um and Kimber same thing like I I think these two guys can be impact players for them um but even if not they've got enough depth they're gonna find players out there so they'll be all right yeah no they'll be all right now when we look at that impact Impact Players - Defense Abdul Carter we talked about Danny Dennis Sutton I'm glad you put him on this list because I think both those guys are going to be huge for them coming after the quarterback getting that pressure and kind of trying to lead the you know Inca again and and sacks Jill chin coming after there uh Kevin Winston Jr Dominic Duca um outside of Carter what guy in here stands out to you it's got to be Dennis Sutton um I could talk I could Rave about all four of these players but Dennis Sutton to me I flip on the film and I just I just can't get enough of how he does every little thing the right way in a way that is program changing um you know he defends the run with tenacity he consistently wins on the edge he doesn't get the Highlights uh as much as some of the other guys because his wins are just consistently uh he's getting around the guy he might not get the sack production I think that's coming this year I think this is going to be a team um that's going to just load up on sacks I think they're going to get creative with their pressure looks uh Winston Junior's going to hold down the back end this is a a crazy crazy defense uh I'm excited to watch it yeah and another name that we could see possibly on this list is Tony Rojos uh linebacker he love they love this kid like they talk about him kind of diving into everything um Penn State boards love this kid they think that he can be the next linebacker out there um so that's definitely another name to watch there now when we're talking about wins and we're going over this you know over under 10 and a half nine and a half 2024 Schedule it depends kind of where they're at um when we first started is it was at nine and a half now it's kind of jumped up a little bit to 10 and a half and I think that's interesting um I think that has a lot to do with like maybe their schedule and kind of how it plays out at West Virginia versus Bowling Green versus Ken State Illinois USC UCLA Wisconson not a ton of tough games on this schedule until they get to Ohio State so is this the year they clip Ohio State Christian yeah where you at with this Penn stage Squad it can be I don't know if it will be and it's funny pre pre-recording this I I told Kevin I talked to a Penn State fan and he said uh the Ohio State game is my Super Bowl um and I know what's going to happen every year and it sucks and and I hate that for Penn State fans that that's how it's been uh Ohio State loaded up on Talent so it's really really tough to imagine that Penn State gets by them but it won't matter Penn State is going to be playing in the college football playoff uh because I don't think they drop a game I think they hit the over here I think they're 11- one uh they lose to Ohio State but then they that could be good enough to compete for the Big 10 title with the new rules so um I'm I think that they sweep the rest of their schedule pretty easily at USC might be tough but like USC doesn't have a front seven on either side that uh or an offensive line or a defensive ront seven that can hold up so to me this is a an easy over I'll I'll lock it I'll I'll lock the over uh even though it's the highest over under we've seen I think all right yeah you love Penn State there I'm gonna I'm gonna say over as well because the schedule lines up perfectly as long as every St as long as all stays healthy if all's there I do think that it hits over pretty pretty consistently there I think the at Wisconsin is a trap game for them though I think Wisconsin is going to be a little bit better this year and I think that offense is going to be a little bit better but right before Ohio State you come in there undefeated just beat an at USC which is a tough travel game going all the way out to California coming back then going at Wisconsin it's always a tough one that's one that you got to be a little nervous about if you're a Penn State fan there but outside of that they should win every other game like when you're looking at this this schedule and the thing with USC that you brought up that's important USC does not have guys to block them like they don't they they will struggle USC is going to struggle up front on both sides of football because they have not recruited that position very well you can to have Zachariah Branch all want but if you can't have the time to throw it to kid you're you're done and I think that's where Penn State's going to really ramp up that game Wisconsin Ohio state is are two toughest the two toughest games if they lose to Wisconsin you're sweating that over a little bit because now they got to be Ohio State but they get Ohio State at home if it's gonna be anytime they win it's gonna be at home and I'm guarantee you that's probably gonna be the N the white out right that's gonna be the white out game and they're gonna probably be ready to go yeah I mean they should have beat Ohio State in Columbus last year uh quite frankly Aller had a rough game um I just I think Ohio state was the better team that day but quite I mean Penn State should have won that game it should have been a different narrative and maybe that speaks to James Franklin um not being the guy and and maybe we find that out this year maybe they get to the playoff have to play Ohio State again and lose again and then that's the end of him um but I'm curious to see how it all plays out I think this is an 11- win team I think this is one of the most talented teams in the nation right now so what do okay so as we kind of wrap this up we both think that they can Outro - Overall Outlook definitely get to 11 wins and they can definitely go to the playoff here um but what are we doing with James Franklin so it goes the playoff you know he's coming back we understand that there um but are they capped with Franklin head coach I've been a very big Franklin hater for a long time I as a Michigan fan I love him because I feel like that we could beat him every year because they have James Franklin but he does recruit well when you're watching that I think the big thing for him he can't let it go I feel like he can't like let his players just Play and play loose and I think this team feels that because every time I watch Penn State play and I watched Penn State play for a long time I have a lot of respect for the Penn State program as a Michigan fan I actually enjoy playing Penn State because I actually like their fans they're not they're not Ohio State people so when you think of that like when you watch the games though it really takes on the what their coach is and I feel like he gets tight and the players get tight and a lot of those close games that they've had they've lost because their players are I think afraid to make that mistake and then they end up doing that and I feel like that comes from the head coach and that's where I really struggle with Penn State because I they have all the talent in the world but their leader is a guy that won't let them just go play football he tends to want to control everything and you're not going to win a big 10 title like that I struggle with it because now in this 2025 class he's kind of struggling to get his instate recruits and so if he loses the recruiting aspect I think it it's done um because that's the draw right now is I'm recruiting well you know um I think we could put it together and I think this is the year that they do put it together um that said I think this could be one of those where then they hang on for too long because say Drew all has this massive year he goes to the draft I mean like I like grank Meer I don't know that they'd be a a capable team to turn it over to grank Meer right away because they haven't recruited wide receivers and and things like that so um I'm I'm curious to see what it does but I do think they make the playoffs and so um I I think their ceiling is capped I think there's a chance though when you have talented quarterbacks like Dreer they could go get a win in the playoffs and then we're talking about Franklin in in a different light but he's been a big game uh choker uh to be completely honest and I think I don't I don't necessarily know if that continues I think they can beat Ohio State I just don't think it happens this year and so I would have to agree the ceiling is capped for them but I mean hey that defensive line can get after Howard and I think that could definitely affect him and that's one of those things to kind of look at if they have that offense to go with it but we'll see the transfer portal also opens things up but he hasn't done a very good job there either and so that's the other thing like if he's gonna struggle there what does Penn State's program look like but let us know what do you think Penn State fans I'm really interested in your take on James Franklin like where do you feel like he's at do you believe in drawler I me know there's a lot of guys out there that still do there are some pen State fans that don't but where do you think this team lies for you guys so we appreciate you guys watching as always hit that like subscribe button you know if you like college football NFL Fantasy Draft that's what we do here on this channel and we have a lot of fun with it so appreciate you guys we'll check you guys on the next one [Music] [Music]