2023 College Football Catalog: Previewing the Penn State Nittany Lions
Josh Frey
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Just like the NFL season is right around the corner, college campuses are preparing to welcome back their football squads for the fall season. As the summer progresses we will be taking a look into how many of the FBS college football programs fared in 2022, what they did during the offseason, and how they can find success during the 2023 season. As we continue our tour through the Big Ten, today, we move onto the Penn State Nittany Lions.
Overview
2022 Results
- W @ Purdue
- W vs. Ohio
- W @ Auburn
- W vs. Central Michigan
- W vs. Northwestern
- L @ (5) Michigan
- W vs. Minnesota
- L vs. (2) Ohio State
- W @ Indiana
- W vs. Maryland
- W @ Rutgers
- W vs. Michigan State
- W vs. (7) Utah (Rose Bowl)
Overall Record: 11-2 (7-2)
All-Big Ten Members
- RB Nicholas Singleton (Coaches and Media Third-Team)
- C Juice Scruggs (Coaches Third-Team)
- OT Olu Fashanu (Coaches Second-Team, Media Third-Team)
- TE Brenton Strange (Coaches Third-Team)
- DL P.J. Mustipher (Coaches Second-Team, Media Third-Team)
- DL Adisa Isaac (Coaches Third-Team)
- LB Abdul Carter (Coaches Third-Team, Media Second-Team)
- DB Joey Porter Jr. (Coaches and Media First-Team)
- DB Ji’Ayir Brown (Coaches and Media Third-Team)
- KR Nicholas Singleton (Media Second-Team)
Recent Vikings Draft Picks
- LB Gerald Hodges (2013 Draft; R4, P120)
- LB Michael Mauti (2013 Draft; R7, P213)
2023 Draft Selections
- R2, P32: CB Joey Porter Jr. (Pittsburgh Steelers)
- R2, P61: TE Brenton Strange (Jacksonville Jaguars)
- R2, P62: C Juice Scruggs (Houston Texans)
- R3, P87: S Ji’Ayir Brown (San Francisco 49ers)
- R5, P149: QB Sean Clifford (Green Bay Packers)
- R6, P185: WR Parker Washington (Jacksonville Jaguars)
2023 Schedule
- 9/2 vs. West Virginia
- 9/9 vs. Delaware
- 9/16 @ Illinois
- 9/23 vs. Iowa
- 9/30 @ Northwestern
- 10/14 vs. UMass
- 10/21 @ Ohio State
- 10/28 vs. Indiana
- 11/4 @ Maryland
- 11/11 vs. Michigan
- 11/18 vs. Rutgers
- 11/24 @ Michigan State
Notable Additions
- RB Trey Potts (transfer portal, Minnesota)
- WR Malik McClain (transfer portal, Florida State)
- WR Dante Cephas (transfer portal, Kent State)
- WR Carmelo Taylor (four-star recruit)
- TE Andrew Rappleyea (four-star recruit)
- OT J’Ven Williams (five-star recruit)
- OT Chimdy Onoh (four-star recruit)
- IOL Alex Birchmeier (four-star recruit)
- IOL Anthony Donkoh (four-star recruit)
- DL Alonzo Ford (transfer portal, Old Dominion)
- EDGE Jameial Lyons (four-star recruit)
- EDGE Ta’Mere Robinson (four-star recruit)
- LB Tony Rojas (four-star recruit)
- LB Kaveion Keys (four-star recruit)
- CB Audavion Collins (transfer portal, Mississippi State)
- S King Mack (four-star recruit)
- S DaKaari Nelson (four-star recruit)
- S Elliot Washington (four-star recruit)
Notable Losses
- QB Sean Clifford (NFL Draft, Green Bay Packers)
- QB Christian Veilleux (transfer portal, Pitt)
- RB Devyn Ford (transfer portal, Notre Dame)
- RB Keyvone Lee (transfer portal, Mississippi State)
- WR Parker Washington (NFL Draft, Jacksonville Jaguars)
- TE Brenton Strange (NFL Draft, Jacksonville Jaguars)
- OT Jimmy Christ (transfer portal, Virginia)
- C Juice Scruggs (NFL Draft, Houston Texans)
- DL Fatorma Mulbah (transfer portal, West Virginia)
- EDGE Rodney McGraw (transfer portal, Louisville)
- LB Jamari Buddin (transfer portal, New Mexico State)
- CB Marquis Wilson (transfer portal, Purdue)
- CB Joey Porter Jr. (NFL Draft, Pittsburgh Steelers)
- S Ji’Ayir Brown (NFL Draft, San Francisco 49ers)
Keys to 2023
A Revived Rushing Attack Must Carry the Offense
Not only do the Lions no longer have Sean Clifford at quarterback, but one of the thinnest positions on their roster comes at wide receiver. They lost Jahan Dotson to the NFL last year, and now, their top receiver from 2022, Parker Washington, heads to the big stage in 2023 after being selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in April.
As a result, the team must rely on the rushing attack that was a surprise addition to their offense last year. Freshmen Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen combined for over 1900 rushing yards last year and scored 22 times for the team, and they both return this fall. The program also adds Minnesota transfer Trey Potts, who was a strong backup to Mo Ibrahim over the past few years.
Next Man Up in the Secondary
Both CB Joey Porter Jr. and S Ji’Ayir Brown are headed to the NFL for 2023, but that doesn’t mean Penn State’s defense is going to take a huge step backwards. Manny Diaz runs an aggressive defense, and it helped the Lions become a top-10 unit last season en route to the Rose Bowl.
This year, we should see some great things from CBs Kalen King and Johnny Dixon. With another strong season from the duo, they both have a chance to become the next first-round talents out of the program.
Can They Knock off the Big Dogs?
At the end of the day, nothing matters for this program if they can’t find a way to knock off the top two teams in the Big Ten. Just like every season since 2013, Penn State faces both Michigan and Ohio State this year. The two programs have been duking it out for the top spot in the conference for the past few seasons, and 2023 looks to be no different.
However, if Penn State can find a way to remain competitive, and perhaps even knock off one of the two titans in the Big Ten, they could find their way into the Big Ten title game for the first time since 2016.
Prediction
- W vs. West Virginia
- W vs. Delaware
- W @ Illinois
- W vs. Iowa
- W @ Northwestern
- W vs. UMass
- L @ Ohio State
- W vs. Indiana
- W @ Maryland
- L vs. Michigan
- W vs. Rutgers
- W @ Michigan State
Overall Record: 10-2 (7-2)
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.