Penn State redshirt report: Which Lions went over the eligibility threshold against Northwestern?
Penn State played some freshmen in a 17-7 win over Northwestern. However, the Lions’ inability to build a big lead meant that one first-year player didn’t see time for the first time this season while others did not get a chance to earn reps late in the game.
” I think we have done what we needed to do up to this point,” head coach James Franklin said. “We’re 5-0. We’re ready, but our objective is obviously to be ready. Come next Saturday, that’s when we have to be ready, not today. There’s a lot of work that goes into that.
“We have done what we needed to do up till this point. By being 5-0, we’ve won a lot of different ways. I think there’s value in that. I’d love for them all to be pretty wins and sexy wins, but that’s not the game we play.”
Which freshmen have burned their redshirt, who hasn’t, and how many have each played in so far? Here’s the rundown after five weeks.
Penn State redshirt report
Five Penn State players have now played in all five games this season. That means they are over the single-season limit of four and can no longer preserve a year of eligibility. The list of players includes running backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen, receiver Omari Evans, linebacker Abdul Carter, and defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton, and defensive tackle Zane Durant.
The two running backs combined for 42 carries for 173 yards on Saturday. Singleton scored a touchdown but also fumbled twice. Allen fumbled once.
Evans did not record a catch nor Dennis-Sutton a tackle. Carter finished with two tackles, one of which went for loss.
Penn State also played safety KJ Winston against the Wildcats. That marked his fourth game of the year. So, the Lions will burn his redshirt, too, if they play him in one contest. Quarterback Drew Allar is at that mark, as well.
“It’s not something that we talked about on the headset,” Franklin said when asked if the Lions considered playing Allar.
“Obviously, we’d like for him to get in the game. But, it’s not something that we talked about. It’s not something I brought up. It’s not something Mike (Yurcich) brought up.”
Finally, Class of 2022 signee and guard JB Nelson did not play in his fourth game of the season Saturday.
Game-by-game breakdown
Five games (burned redshirt) – RB Nick Singleton, RB Kaytron Allen, WR Omari Evans, DE Dani Dennis-Sutton, DT Zane Durant, LB Abdul Carter
Four Games – QB Drew Allar, Saf. KJ Winston
Three games: CB Cam Miller
Two games: WR Kaden Saunders, OL JB Nelson
One game: OL Drew Shelton, OL Vega Ioane, LB Keon Wylie, CB Cristian Driver, Saf. Mehki Flowers,
Zero Games – QB Beau Pribula, WR Anthony Ivey, WR Tyler Johnson, TE Jerry Cross, OL Maleek McNeil, DT Kaleb Artis, P Alex Bacchetta
