87
Linebacker MICAH
PARSONS, a five-
star recruit back
in 2017, will slide
into the starting
lineup this fall,
and considering
the production
he generated in
a backup role,
the move could
push Penn State’s
defense from
good—the Lions
ranked 23rd last
season—to great.
In ’18, as a true
freshman, the
6' 3", 245-pounder
racked up 83
tackles, becoming
the first freshman
to ever lead the
Nittany Lions in
that category. After
starting just one
game last season,
Parsons is certain
to be on the field for
a larger portion of
the Nittany Lions’
defensive snaps
this year. Starting
alongside him
will be fifth-year
player Jan Johnson
(72 tackles in
’18) and Cameron
Brown (63).
X-FACTOR
THE BIG STORY For the first
time since 2016, Penn State
will have a new quarterback.
Trace McSorley’s backup for three
seasons—and his heir apparent—
Tommy Stevens made the stunning
decision to transfer to Mississippi
State this spring. That means that
the Nittany Lions will look to Sean
Clifford, a redshirt sophomore
who has attempted just seven
collegiate passes. He won’t be the
only new face who is playing a big
role. Penn State had five starters—
including its leading rusher, Miles
Sanders—leave early for the NFL,
and 11 other players entered the
transfer portal.
CAN’ T MISS Pen n St ate’s
defense led the FBS in sacks
a year ago, averaging 3.6 per game,
and much of the talent that
generated that pressure is back,
led by end-tackle duo Yetur
Gross-Matos and Robert Windsor,
who combined for 31 tackles for
a loss and 15^1 / 2 sacks in 2018.
KE Y QUESTION Clifford’s
inexperience is even more
concerning given the youth that
will surround him. With Sanders
and McSorley gone, no one on the
team has rushed for more than 257
yards in a season. With a thin
receiving corps, Clifford will have
to lean on redshirt sophomore K.J.
Hamler, who led the team with 42
receptions last season. Will these
Lions have enough to roar?
KEY MATCHUP
BIGGEST GAME
SI RANKING
AUG. 31
IDAHO
SEPT. 7
BUFFALO
SEPT. 14
PITTSBURGH
SEPT. 27
@ MARYLAND
OCT. 5
PURDUE
OCT. 12
@ IOWA (18)
OCT. 19
MICHIGAN (11)
OCT. 26
@ MICHIGAN STATE
(21)
NOV. 9
@ MINNESOTA
NOV. 16
INDIANA
NOV. 23
@ OHIO STATE (3)
NOV. 30
RUTGERS
THE RUNDOWN
3
6
9
12
15
7 –
6
12 –
3 (
BIG
TE
N^ C
HA
MP
S)^
12
–^2
9 –
4
9 –
3
WINS
Last season, Penn State
took a step back after
losing Saquon Barkley. To
avoid a similar fate in 2019
after McSorley’s departure,
coach James Franklin will
lean on his 13th-ranked
YEAR 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019* recruiting class.
*SI PROJECTION
5 -YEAR TREND
8.5
The inexperienced
offense can try to find
its footing with a relatively easy
nonconference slate, but Penn
State will struggle in conference
games, with road games at Ohio
State, Iowa and Michigan State.
OVER OR UNDER
2019
SCHEDULE
Penn State
FRO
M^ L
EFT
:^ RA
ND
Y^ L
ITZ
ING
ER/
ICO
N^ S
PO
RTS
WIR
E/G
ETT
Y^ IM
AGE
S;^ R
OY^
K.^ M
ILL
ER/
ICO
N^ S
POR
TSW
IRE
/GE
TTY
IMA
GES
16
