Printable Penn State football depth chart: Michigan week
The lead-in is complete. Penn State and Michigan are set to clash on Saturday afternoon at Beaver Stadium (FOX, noon) for positioning among the Big Ten’s best in the regular season’s final month.
And the Nittany Lions are shaping up to be, if not a completely healthy team, then close to it.
While receiver Harrison Trey Wallace remained sidelined as of practice on Wednesday, the apparent result of an injury sustained to his right shoulder in the first half of Penn State’s win over Indiana on Oct. 28, two key pieces to the defense appear set to return.
Defensive ends Chop Robinson and Amin Vanover, after traveling to Maryland last weekend, are expected back in the lineup for Penn State on Saturday.
“Well, first of all, I think it’s very telling, right, we talked about our depth, that we have two of our better defensive ends out of that game, in Chop and Amin, and then specifically, Chop maybe our most explosive defensive player, having him out of that game, and still be able to play the way we played,” head coach James Franklin said. “So the opportunity and the possibility to have both of those guys back this week will be significant.
“I thought being able to travel [Robinson] was big, not only from a rehab standpoint to get him with our trainers and doctors, but also from a morale standpoint. That was something we talked about in the locker room. Not just finding a way to get a win and playing well. But also playing for Chop with his inability to play last week. So we’re hopeful to have both of those guys back.”
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Michigan remains a tough test
On the other sideline, Michigan is expected to be without head coach Jim Harbaugh. Still, with or without their leader, the Nittany Lions are preparing to face a Wolverines program loaded with talent.
“They have two really talented backs that have been very productive over the last two years. Behind an offensive line that won the offensive line of the year the last two years in college football. To go along with a talented tight end room. The reality though is this year where they’re having all of their success is with their quarterback and with their receivers, (Roman Wilson and tight end Colston Loveland),” Franklin said. “They’re the most explosive passing offense in the country. It is all set up with their running game. But it’s a different Michigan offense than maybe we’ve been used to over the last two years.
“We got to be able to defend both. But the challenge is, obviously their front, and then the combination of tailbacks that they’re able to use.”
Here, we present a handy printable depth chart for Penn State’s projected lineup for the game.
