Penn State vs. Northwestern depth chart: Defense
Penn State football takes on the Northwestern Wildcats on Saturday at 3:30, and to get you ready for the game, Blue White Illustrated is providing you with the “official” depth chart. Despite the Nittany Lions declining to provide an official depth chart each week, we’re giving fans the information they need to know whose on the field each week. The defense has rotated depth heavily this season, with the low-tide mark of 28 players seeing the field in week one.
To see the offensive depth chart, click here.
To get the printable depth chart, click here.
Penn State defensive line
Defensive end
46 Nick Tarburton (R-Sr)
44 Chop Robinson (So.)
56 Amin Vanover (So.)
Defensive tackle
51 Hakeem Beamon (R-Jr)
28 Zane Durant (Fr.)
55 Fatorma Mulbah (R-So)
Defensive tackle
97 PJ Mustipher (Sr+)
91 D’Von Ellies (R-Jr)
52 Jordan van den Berg (R-Fr)
Defensive end
20 Adisa Isaac (R-Jr)
33 Dani Dennis-Sutton (Fr.)
94 Jake Wilson (R-So)
Lowdown:
The depth chart doesn’t change, but the snaps for freshman defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton may. The five-star pass rusher dominated garbage time the last two weeks in Penn State’s blowout victories. He had five pressures and two sacks on only ten rushes in the final drive against Central Michigan last Saturday. He may be earning more playing time during regular game action.
On the other side, we’ll keep an eye out for an official change, but Chop Robinson remains the backup in name to Nick Tarburton. That’s despite the fact he’s out-snapped the veteran every week aside from a blowout win over Ohio.
Lions linebackers
WILL linebacker
23 Curtis Jacobs (So.)
11 Abdul Carter (Fr.)
42 Jamari Buddin (R-Fr.)
Middle linebacker
43 Tyler Elsdon (So.)
41 Kobe King (So.)
39 Robbie Dwyer (R-Jr)
SAM linebacker
0 Jonathan Sutherland (R-Sr.+)
34 Dominic DeLuca (R-Fr.)
48 Cody Romano (So.)
The lowdown: This is likely the last week for backup Abdul Carter to see snaps anywhere other than Will linebacker before the barrage of tough Big Ten game start after the bye. He could be practicing elsewhere during the week, but we haven’t seen any signs of number 11 moving around the defense in games. On the other hand, he’s steadily improved his down-to-down play each week, so he’s likely close to time share with starter Curtis Jacobs shortly.
Penn State secondary
Safety
16 Ji’Ayir Brown (Sr.+)
7 Jaylen Reed (So.)
21 KJ Winston (Fr.)
Safety
2 Keaton Ellis (Jr.)
6 Zakee Wheatley (R-Fr.)
29 Sebastian Costantini (R-Jr.)
Lowdown:
Cornerback
9 Joey Porter Jr. (R-Jr.)
8 Marquis Wilson (Jr.)
24 Jeffrey Davis Jr. (R-Fr.)
Cornerback
3 Johnny Dixon (Jr.) OR 4 Kalen King (So.)
5 Cam Miller (Fr.)
Nickel
25 Daequan Hardy (R-Jr.)
3 Johnny Dixon (Jr.)
The lowdown: Penn State kept three linebackers on the field against Central Michigan’s run-heavy, condensed formations on Saturday, which limited the snaps for struggling slot corner Daequan Hardy. If Penn State can put up a lead and force Northwestern to throw often, he could easily see a bounce back in playing time this week. If not, expect more Jonathan Sutherland patrolling underneath coverage and run fitting against Northwestern’s stout ground game.
