The 2018 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented Pennsylvania State University in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was led by fifth-year head coach James Franklin and played its home games in Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. They were a member of the East Division of the Big Ten Conference.
Penn State, coming off an 11–2, Fiesta Bowl-winning season in 2017, began the year at 10th in the preseason AP Poll. They narrowly escaped an upset in their first game of the year by defeating Appalachian State in overtime. The Nittany Lions won their first four games and entered an anticipated home game against No. 4 Ohio State at No. 9, but lost to the Buckeyes by a score of 26–27. The following week the team was upset by Michigan State on homecoming. The team rebounded with a home win against then-No. 18 Iowa, but was blown out the following week by Michigan 42–7. The Nittany Lions finished the regular season in third in the Big Ten East with a conference record of 6–3. They were invited to the Citrus Bowl, where they lost to Kentucky to finish the year at 9–4.
Senior quarterback Trace McSorley led the team in passing, finishing with 2,530 passing yards and 18 passing touchdowns to go along with 12 rushing touchdowns. He was named second team All-Big Ten by both the media and coaches. During the season, McSorley became the all-time school record holder in several categories, including career passing yards, completions, passing touchdowns, and total touchdowns responsible for. Junior running back Miles Sanders finished in second in the conference in rushing with 1,274 yards. On defense, cornerback Amani Oruwariye and lineman Yetur Gross-Matos were named first-team all-conference by the media.
Offseason
Staff changes On November 29, 2017, it was announced that offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Joe Moorhead was hired to be the head coach for the Mississippi State Bulldogs.Sammon, Will."Mississippi State hires Joe Moorhead as its next football coach", The Clarion-Ledger, November 29, 2017, retrieved March 22, 2018. Shortly after, it was reported that running backs coach and special teams coordinator Charles Huff would be joining Moorhead at Mississippi State as his assistant head coach, run game coordinator, and running backs coach.Sammon, Will."How Joe Moorhead assembled his first staff at Mississippi State", The Clarion-Ledger, January 17, 2018, retrieved March 22, 2018. On December 1, 2017, James Franklin announced that tight ends coach Ricky Rahne would replace Moorhead as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.Juliano, Joe."Penn State hires two football assistants, promotes a third", The Philadelphia Inquirer, December 1, 2017, retrieved March 22, 2018. It was also announced that former Maryland offensive line coach Tyler Bowen was hired to coach tight ends and consultant Phil Galiano was hired to coordinate special teams and assist with the defensive line. On January 12, 2018, former Army wide receivers coach David Corley Jr. was hired to the staff as the running backs coach.Rubin, Andrew."James Franklin hires Army's David Corley to be Penn State football's running backs coach", The Daily Collegian, January 12, 2018, retrieved March 22, 2018. Corley was hired as the 10th assistant coach because of a new rule change by the NCAA, that expanded staff sizes by one.Silverstein, Adam."College football teams can hire 10th on-field assistant coach starting in 2018", CBSSports.com, April 14, 2017, retrieved March 22, 2018. On January 24, 2018, wide receivers coach Josh Gattis announced that he would be leaving to serve as the co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach for the Alabama Crimson Tide.Juliano, Joe."Penn State assistant Josh Gattis announces he is leaving for Alabama", The Philadelphia Inquirer, January 24, 2018, retrieved March 22, 2018. The next day it was announced that former Florida Gators running backs coach Ja'Juan Seider would be joining Penn State in the same capacity and David Corley Jr. would be coaching the wide receivers.DiPaola, Jerry."Penn State hires Ja'Juan Seider as RBs coach", Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, January 25, 2018, retrieved March 23, 2018. It was also announced that defensive line coach Sean Spencer received the title of associate head coach, a title previously held by defensive coordinator Brent Pry.Levarse, Derek."Penn State hires Ja’Juan Seider as running backs coach in staffing shift", Times Leader, January 25, 2018, retrieved March 23, 2018.
Recruiting The Nittany Lions signed 23 recruits.
2018 NFL draft
Saquon Barkley Running back 1 2 New York Giants Mike Gesicki Tight end 2 42 Miami Dolphins Troy Apke Safety 4 109 Washington Redskins DaeSean Hamilton Wide receiver 4 113 Denver Broncos Marcus Allen Safety 5 148 Pittsburgh Steelers Christian Campbell Cornerback 6 182 Arizona Cardinals Jason Cabinda Linebacker UFA Oakland Raiders Saeed Blacknall Wide receiver UFA Oakland Raiders Grant Haley Cornerback UFA New York Giants Brendan Mahon Guard UFA Carolina Panthers Curtis Cothran Defensive tackle UFA Minnesota Vikings Parker Cothren Defensive lineman UFA Pittsburgh Steelers Tyler Davis Kicker UFA Buffalo Bills
Offseason departures DaeSean Hamilton Sr WR Stafford, Virginia Graduated Marcus Allen Sr S Upper Marlboro, Maryland Graduated Saeed Blacknall Sr WR Manalapan, New Jersey Graduated Christian Campbell Sr CB Phenix City, Alabama Graduated Mike Gesicki Sr TE Manahawkin, New Jersey Graduated Grant Haley Sr CB Atlanta, Georgia Graduated Troy Apke Sr S Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania Graduated Jason Cabinda Sr LB Buena Park, California Graduated Curtis Cothran Sr DT Newtown, Pennsylvania Graduated Parker Cothren Sr DT Huntsville, Alabama Graduated Tyler Davis Sr K St. Charles, Illinois Graduated Brendan Mahon Sr G Randolph, New Jersey Graduated Saquon Barkley Jr RB Whitehall, Pennsylvania Declared for NFL draft Crae McCracken Fr OL Williamsport, Pennsylvania Transferred Andre Robinson So RB Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania Transferred Alex Barbir Fr K Cumming, Georgia Transferred Corey Bolds Fr DT Paterson, New Jersey Transferred Manny Bowen Jr LB Barnegat, New Jersey Dismissed from program Irvin Charles So WR Sicklerville, New Jersey Dismissed from program Robert Martin So OL Sparta, New Jersey Retired
Returning starters
Offense Player Class Position Trace McSorley Senior Quarterback Juwan Johnson Junior Wide receiver Ryan Bates Junior Offensive tackle Connor McGovern Junior Center/Guard Steven Gonzalez Junior Guard Will Fries Sophomore Offensive tackle DeAndre Thompkins Senior Wide receiver Chasz Wright Senior Offensive tackle Miles Sanders Junior Running backReference:Penn State Game Notes, GoPSUSports.com, August 27, 2018, retrieved September 24, 2018
Defense Player Class Position Kevin Givens Junior Defensive tackle Shareef Miller Junior Defensive end Koa Farmer Senior Linebacker Nick Scott Senior SafetyReference:
Special teams Player Class Position Blake Gillikin Junior Punter Kyle Vasey Senior Long snapper DeAndre Thompkins Senior Punt returnerReference:
Position key BackBCenterCCornerbackCBDefensive backDBDefensive endDEDefensive linemanDLDefensive tackleDTEndEFullbackFBGuardGHalfbackHBKickerKKickoff returnerKROffensive tackleOTOffensive linemanOLLinebackerLBLong snapperLSPunterPPunt returnerPRQuarterbackQBRunning backRBSafetySTight endTEWide receiverWR
Preseason
Award watch lists Rimington TrophyConnor McGovernCJRChuck Bednarik AwardShareef MillerDEJRMaxwell AwardTrace McSorleyQBSRDavey O'Brien AwardTrace McSorleyQBSRDoak Walker AwardMiles SandersRBJRJohn Mackey AwardJonathan HollandTEJRButkus AwardKoa FarmerLBSRBronko Nagurski TrophyAmani OruwariyeCBSROutland TrophyRyan BatesOLSRConnor McGovernCJRRay Guy AwardBlake GillikinP/KJRWuerffel TrophyTrace McSorleyQBSRWalter Camp AwardTrace McSorleyQBSRTed Hendricks AwardShareef MillerDEJRJohnny Unitas Golden Arm AwardTrace McSorleyQBSRManning AwardTrace McSorleyQBSR
Personnel
Roster Seniors Trace McSorley and Nick Scott, and junior Blake Gillikin were elected by their teammates as captains.Schlarp, Thomas."Captains selected for Penn State football", The Daily Collegian, April 14, 2018, retrieved April 15, 2018. Running Back C. J. Holmes is a transfer from Notre Dame.Burns, Patrick."Notre Dame transfer running back takes walk on spot at Penn State", The Daily Collegian, July 2, 2018, retrieved August 5, 2018. On August 4, 2018, Linebacker Manny Bowen returned to the program after being dismissed near the end of the 2017 season.Burns, Patrick."Manny Bowen officially rejoins Penn State football program" The Daily Collegian, August 4, 2018, retrieved August 5, 2018.
Depth chart As of August 28, 2018
Coaching staff Position Name Alma materHead coach James FranklinEast Stroudsburg (1994)Defensive coordinator/linebackersBrent PryBuffalo (1993)Offensive coordinator/ quarterbacksRicky RahneCornell (2002)Tight ends/ Offensive Recruiting CoordinatorTyler BowenMaryland (2010) Safeties/co-Defensive coordinatorTim Banks Central Michigan University (1994) Defensive line/Run Game Coordinator/Associate Head coachSean SpencerClarion (1995) Offensive line Matt Limegrover University of Chicago (1990)Cornerbacks/Defensive Recruiting CoordinatorTerry SmithPenn State (1991)Running backsJa'Juan SeiderWest Virginia University (2000)Wide receiversDavid CorleyCollege of William & Mary (2002)Special teams coordinator/assistant defensive linePhil GalianoShippensburg University (1999) Strength and conditioning Dwight Galt Maryland (1981) Graduate Assistant Sean Cascarano University of Virginia (2013) Graduate Assistant Mark Dupuis University of Connecticut (2011) Graduate Assistant Matt Fleischacker Penn State (2016) Graduate Assistant Kevin Smith Urbana University (2014)
Schedule Spring game Date Time Spring Game Site TV Result Attendance April 21 3:00p.m. Blue vs. White Beaver Stadium • University Park, PA BTNRubin, Andrew."Penn State football sets kickoff time for Blue-White game | Game to air live on Big Ten Network", The Daily Collegian, February 22, 2018, retrieved February 24, 2018. Blue 21–10 71,000Juliano, Joe."Extended playing time in Penn State spring game no problem for Trace McSorley", The Philadelphia Inquirer, April 21, 2018, retrieved April 22, 2018.
Regular season The team hosted two of the three non-conference games against the Appalachian State Mountaineers (first ever meeting) from the Sun Belt Conference and the Kent State Golden Flashes from the Mid-American Conference (MAC). They traveled to the Pittsburgh Panthers from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
During the 2018 Nittany Lions season, Penn State faced Big Ten conference opponents Illinois, Ohio State, Michigan State, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Wisconsin, Rutgers and Maryland. Their annual homecoming game was played on October 13. The 2018 regular season schedule consisted of 7 home games and 5 away.
Game summaries
Appalachian State
At Pittsburgh
Kent State
At Illinois
No. 4 Ohio State
Michigan State
At Indiana
No. 18 Iowa
At No. 5 Michigan
Wisconsin
At Rutgers
Maryland
Vs. No. 16 Kentucky (Citrus Bowl)
Rankings
Awards and honors All-Big Ten Amani Oruwariye DB 1 1 Yetur Gross-Matos DL 3 1 Trace McSorley QB 2 2 Miles Sanders RB 2 2 Connor McGovern OG 3 3 Ryan Bates OT 3 3 Shareef Miller DL 3 3 K. J. Hamler WR HM HM Pat Freiermuth TE HM HM Steven Gonzalez OG HM HM Garrett Taylor DB HM HM John Reid DB HM HM Robert Windsor DL HM HM K. J. Hamler PR/KR HM HM Micah Parsons DL – HM Nick Scott DB – HMHM = Honorable mention. Reference:
Players drafted into the NFL
2 53 Miles Sanders RB Philadelphia Eagles 4 138 Shareef Miller DE Philadelphia Eagles 5 146 Amani Oruwariye CB Detroit Lions 6 197 Trace McSorley QB Baltimore Ravens 7 243 Nick Scott S Los Angeles Rams
References