Projected Penn State printable depth chart: Maryland week
Penn State football no longer provides an official depth chart. So, Blue-White Illustrated has taken up the task of projecting one each week, presented here as a printable file.
Given Penn State’s injury concerns, it’s likely to come in handy for Nittany Lions’ fans this weekend.
Relying on depth as the program closes out the final three games of the regular season, head coach James Franklin acknowledged this week its importance.
“It was a point of emphasis,” Franklin said. “Not only did I think we did a better job of playing guys and developing guys and getting more depth that was already currently in the roster, but then also, there just seems to be more guys in this freshman class that have been ready to play.
“There’s just been a bunch of examples of young guys playing. Then there’s another group of guys that are close that you guys don’t get to see every single day in practice. I think it’s been good, but obviously it’s been needed. I think that’s also a major differentiator in college football, is depth, because you’re going to deal with it. Everybody is. Your second-line players and your third-line players better be good enough to win in the Big Ten with and beyond.”
That point of emphasis will be put to the test this week.
Injury concerns for Indiana week
Landon Tengwall is done for the season, the injury announced Tuesday by head coach James Franklin, including surgery. However, he’s not alone on the Penn State offensive line.
Olu Fashanu missed the Indiana game and did not travel with the team for it. He also was not at practice on Wednesday, absent since late in the Nittany Lions’ loss to Ohio State on Oct. 29.
Injury concerns also had an effect on Hunter Nourzad and Sal Wormley up front against the Hoosiers. Their situations are unclear heading into the Maryland game, but they both were at practice on Wednesday.
On the other side of the ball, Penn State’s linebackers are a concern this week. Starter Curtis Jacobs was forced out of the Indiana game due to injury and was not at practice on Wednesday. Fellow linebacker, Tyler Elsdon, was at practice for the Nittany Lions but also missed a significant number of reps against the Hoosiers.
