Assessing the Penn State football depth chart coming out of spring practice

Penn State football is off and running toward fall camp.

The Nittany Lions completed 15 spring practices roughly two weeks ago. Now, the team is preparing to start summer workouts with the spring semester in the books.

Prior to the Blue-White game, BWI projected what the Penn State depth chart might look like. Now, we’re taking another look with drills in the rearview mirror.

Quarterback

Starter: No. 14 Sean Clifford 

Backup: No. 9 Christian Veilleux

Third-string: No. 9 Beau Pribula OR No. 15 Drew Allar

The lowdown: Clifford came out of spring the unquestioned leader of the quarterback room. That will remain the case despite many fans’ desire for a competition under center. Finally, Pribula might seem to have a slight lead over Allar, but we feel the two are still neck-and-neck as they continue learning the Penn State system.

Running back

Starter: No. 24 Keyvone Lee

Backup: No. 28 Devyn Ford OR No. 10 Nick Singleton OR No. 13 Kaytron Allen

Third-string: No. 26 Caziah Holmes

The lowdown: The time to enter the portal as an undergraduate and still be eligible to play next year has come and gone. Still, all five backs remain on the roster. Lee leaves spring as the top back but after that, it’s anyone’s guess how the backup role will ultimately shake out. All three of the players listed there looked good in the Blue-White game. Position coach Ja’Juan Seider is spoiled with riches.

Wide receiver

Wide receiver

Starter: No. 3 Parker Washington

Backup: No. 85 Harrison Wallace III OR No. 82 Liam Clifford

Third-string: No. 7 Kaden Saunders

Wide receiver

Starter: No 13 KeAndre Lambert-Smith

Backup: No. 19 Jaden Dottin

Wide receiver

Starter: No. 15 Mitchell Tinsley 

Backup: No. 88 Malick Meiga

Third-string: No. 18 Omari Evans

The lowdown: One new name we’ve added here is Dottin. He saw more time than expected during the Penn State Blue-White game. Surely his snap count was aided by the fact that Washington did not participate. But, it was still notable. After Washington, Tinsley, Lambert-Smith, and Meiga, there appears to be ample opportunity for others to earn reps.

Tight end

Starter: No. 86 Brenton Strange

Backup: No. 84 Theo Johnson

Third-string: No. 44 Tyler Warren

The lowdown: This group looks exactly as it did for the Outback Bowl. And, after the Blue-White game, we have no reason to change the order.

Offensive line

Left tackle

Starter: No. 74 Olu Fashanu

Backup: No. 51 Jimmy Christ

Left guard

Starter: No. 58 Landon Tengwall

Backup: No. 55 JB Nelson

Center

Starter: No. 70 Juice Scruggs

Backup: No. 66 Nick Dawkins

Right guard

Starter: No. 77 Sal Wormley

Backup: No. 78 Golden Israel-Achumba

Right tackle

Starter: No. 79 Caedan Wallace

Backup: No. 57 Ibrahim Traore

The lowdown: The depth chart is light here, which has been exhaustively reported, at this point. One big question is this: There is going to be an odd man out inside between Wormely, Tengwall, and Cornell transfer Hunter Nourzad. Who will it be? That could be the best position battle of the offseason on offense.

Penn State defensive line

Defensive end

Starter: No. 46 Nick Tarburton

Backup: No. 92 Smith Vilbert 

No. 56 Amin Vanover

Defensive tackle

Starter: No. 99 Coziah Izzard

Backup: No. 51 Hakeem Beamon OR No. 26 Zane Durant

Defensive tackle

Starter: No. 91 D’Von Ellies

Backup: No. 52 Jordan van den Berg OR No. 26 Zane Durant

Defensive end

Starter: No. 20 Adisa Isaac

Backup: No. 92 Smith Vilbert 

Third-string: No. 56 Amin Vanover

The lowdown: One final, and unfortunate, reminder that Zuriah Fisher is out for the year. Beyond that, the Blue-White game taught us that we should expect to see a lot of both van den Berg and Durant this fall. Beamon and Isaac being back in the mix is a big boost, too. Finally, a question: What will Maryland transfer Demeioun Robinson add to the defensive end room?

Linebacker

WILL linebacker

Starter: No. 26 Curtis Jacobs

Backup: No. 42 Jamari Buddin

Middle linebacker

Starter: No. 41 Kobe King

Backup: No. 43 Tyler Elsdon

SAM linebacker

Starter: No. 0 Jonathan Sutherland

Backup: No. 42 Jamari Buddin OR No. 34 Dominic DeLuca

Backup: 

The lowdown: We removed Charlie Katshir from the list after he was seen in a sling at the Blue-White game. He should be back by the fall, but time will tell. DeLuca was added after his impressive spring game performance. Then, we bumped King over Elsdon after the latter sat out the Penn State Blue-White game. But, that battle will continue into camp.

Secondary

Cornerback

Starter: No. 9 Joey Porter Jr.

Backup: No. 25 Daequan Hardy 

Third-string: No. 3 Johnny Dixon

Safety

Starter: No. 16 Ji’Ayir Brown

Backup: No. 6 Zakee Wheatley

Safety

Starter: No. 2 Keaton Ellis 

Backup: No. 6 Zakee Wheatley OR No. 7 Jaylen Reed

Corner

Starter: No. 4 Kalen King

Backup: No. 25 Daequan Hardy 

Third-string: No. 3 Johnny Dixon

Starting slot corner

No. 25 Daequan Hardy

The lowdown: Our only change here is making Ellis the other first-team safety coming out of spring ball. But, that’s hardly etched in stone. It’s another good fall camp battle to watch.