Penn State’s Evan Royster rushed for 1,169 yards but crossed the goal line just six times last season. (AP Photo)
This is the 10th in a series of articles that preview all 12 of Ohio State’s upcoming opponents for the 2010 season.
Following a bye week, Ohio State returns home to host Penn State at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Nov. 13. Currently, the scheduled start time and the network that will broadcast the game have yet to be announced.
Last year in State College, Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor threw for two touchdowns and ran for another in his first game back in his home state as Ohio State defeated Penn State, 24-7. Defensively, the Buckeyes held the Nittany Lions to just 201 yards of total offense.
Amazingly enough, legendary head coach Joe Paterno is entering his 121th 61st season on the Penn State coaching staff and 85th 45th as head coach. It’s more than likely he has underwear older than I am.
Since 1966, Paterno’s overall record at Penn State is 394–129–3. In his 44 years as a head coach, he has had 38 winning seasons while guiding the Nittany Lions to 36 bowls games, winning 24 of those post-season contests with two national titles (1982 & 1986). In 16 seasons as a conference member since 1993, though, Penn State has only won one outright Big Ten title (1994) and shared the league crown on two different occasions (2005 & 2008).
Paterno’s Nittany Lions have 13 returning starters from the 2009 squad, along with 10 players who have made starts during their careers. Seven starters are back on offense from a unit that ranked fifth in the Big Ten in scoring offense (28.9 points per game) and second in total offense (406.9 yards per game) last year.
The biggest hole that needs to be filled on offense is at the quarterback position now that Darryl Clark has exhausted his eligibility. Sophomore Kevin Newsome (6-2, 221) seemed to be the logical replacement, but now it’s anyone’s guess as to who will get the starting nod for the Lions in their season-opener vs. Youngstown State on Sept. 4.
In Penn State’s 2010 media guide, the depth chart lists the possibility of either Newsome or third-year sophomore and former walk-on, Matt McGloin (6-1, 206). But, the one that might eventually end up as the starting QB for the Lions at some point during the upcoming season isn’t even listed in the guide. True freshman Robert Bolden (6-4, 200), a four-star recruit out of Orchard Lake, Michigan, has entered the fray to make it a three-horse race.
Newsome saw very little action last season, playing in 10 games as a freshman. He was 8-of-11 passing for 66 yards and 95 rushing yards on 20 attempts.
“There isn’t anybody with any experience out there,” Paterno said to the The Daily Collegian. “Even the Newsome kid is really a freshman. He started in January a year ago. I really don’t know who’s going to be the quarterback. I don’t know right now.”
One thing is for sure, Penn State has plenty of depth at running back and at wide receiver.
Last year’s first-team, All-Big Ten running back Evan Royster (6-1, 224) returns for his senior season after rushing for 1,169 on 205 carries and six touchdowns. Also back are the top two receivers from last season, junior Derek Moye (6-5, 201) and senior Graham Zug (6-2, 183), who combined for 94 receptions for 1,385 yards and 13 TDs in 2009.
Three starters from last season’s offensive line return with senior right guard Stefen Wisniewski (6-3, 298), senior right tackle Lou Eliades (6-4, 304), and junior DeOn’tae Pannell (6-5, 316).
Five starters on defense return from a unit that ranked first in the Big Ten in scoring defense (12.2 points per game) and second in total defense (274.5) last year.
The problem is for the Nittany Lions is that the top three defensive starters from last year graduated – linebackers Josh Hull and Navorro Bowman along with defensive tackle Jared Odrick – who combined for 295 tackles, seven sacks, 29.5 tackles for loss and five interceptions. It’s really going to be hard to replace those three and their production.
The top returning tackler is junior free safety Drew Astorino (5-10, 194), who had 62 stops in 2009. Also returning is junior defensive end Jack Crawford (6-5, 256), who led the team with 5.5 sacks last season.
There are many questions that need to be answered, like who will be the starting quarterback and how will they fare? Can the defense be as good as it has been in recent years?
This year, Penn State plays Alabama, Iowa and Ohio State all on the road which is difficult, yet their only other true road game is against Minnesota. The home schedule is rather easy.
Matt’s Predicted Record for 2010: 9-3
