2020 Penn State Nittany Lions football team

The 2020 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University in the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season as a member of the Big Ten Conference. The team was led by seventh-year head coach James Franklin.

2020 Penn State Nittany Lions football
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
DivisionEast Division
Record4–5 (4–5 Big Ten)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorKirk Ciarrocca (1st season)
Co-offensive coordinatorTyler Bowen (1st season)
Offensive schemeSpread
Defensive coordinatorBrent Pry (5th as DC; 7th overall season)
Co-defensive coordinatorTim Banks (5th season)
Base defense4–3
Home stadiumBeaver Stadium
(Capacity: 106,572)
2020 Big Ten Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
East Division
No. 2 Ohio State xy$^  5 –0   7 –1  
No. 12 Indiana  6 –1   6 –2  
Penn State  4 –5   4 –5  
Maryland  2 –3   2 –3  
Rutgers  3 –6   3 –6  
Michigan  2 –4   2 –4  
Michigan State  2 –5   2 –5  
West Division
No. 10 Northwestern xy  6 –1   7 –2  
No. 16 Iowa  6 –2   6 –2  
Wisconsin  3 –3   4 –3  
Minnesota  3 –4   3 –4  
Nebraska  3 –5   3 –5  
Purdue  2 –4   2 –4  
Illinois  2 –6   2 –6  
Championship: Ohio State 22, Northwestern 10
  • ^ – College Football Playoff participant
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
  • Note: Due to COVID-19, the Big Ten suspended the season on August 11, but later decided to begin play on October 24. In addition to the title game that was played on December 19, the conference seeded all remaining teams for "championship week" games.[1]
Rankings from AP Poll.

On August 11, 2020, the Big Ten Conference canceled all fall sports competitions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2] On September 16, the Big Ten reinstated the football season, announcing an eight-game season beginning on October 24.[3]

On November 21, after losing to Iowa, Penn State's record dropped to 0–5, the worst start in the program's history, dating to 1887.[4] The team went on to win its final four games, finishing the regular season at 4–5. On December 19, the program announced that it was removing itself from consideration for a bowl game.[5]

Offseason

2020 NFL Draft
Round Pick Player Team
2 38 Yetur Gross-Matos Carolina Panthers
2 46 K. J. Hamler Denver Broncos
4 141 John Reid Houston Texans
6 183 Cam Brown New York Giants
6 193 Robert Windsor Indianapolis Colts
Undrafted Steven Gonzalez Arizona Cardinals
Nick Bowers Las Vegas Raiders
Garrett Taylor Buffalo Bills
Jan Johnson Houston Texans
Blake Gillikin New Orleans Saints
Dan Chisena Minnesota Vikings

Recruiting

The Nittany Lions signed 27 recruits during the 2020 signing cycle, securing the 15th ranked recruiting class in the country. This was Penn State's fourth consecutive top 15 recruiting class. 11 of the 27 signings in the 2020 class enrolled early.

Returning starters
Offensive returning starters (8)
Player Year Position 2019 Games

Started

Sean Clifford Senior QB 13
Journey Brown Senior RB 13
Rasheed Walker Junior OL 13
Mike Miranda Senior OL 8
Michal Menet 5th-Sr OL 13
C.J. Thorpe Senior OL 5
Will Fries Graduate student OL 13
Pat Freiermuth Junior TE 13

Personnel

Coaching staff
Penn State football current coaching staff[6]
Name Position Alma Mater Years at Penn State
James FranklinHead CoachEast Stroudsburg University (1995)7th
Brent PryDefensive coordinator/linebackersUniversity at Buffalo (1993)7th
Kirk CiarroccaOffensive coordinator/quarterbacks coachTemple University (1990)1st
Tim BanksCo-defensive coordinator/safetiesCentral Michigan University (1995)5th
Tyler BowenCo-offensive coordinator/offensive recruiting coordinator/tight endsUniversity of Maryland (2010)3rd
Phil TrautweinOffensive lineUniversity of Florida (2007)1st
John ScottDefensive lineWestern Carolina University (2000)1st
Taylor StubblefieldWide receiversPurdue University (2004)1st
Ja'Juan SeiderRun Game Coordinator/running backsWest Virginia University (2000)3rd
Terry SmithAssistant head coach/defensive recruiting coordinator/cornerbacksPenn State University (1991)7th
Joe LorigSpecial teams coordinator/outside LinebackerWestern Oregon University (1995)2nd
Dwight Galt IIIAssistant AD, Performance EnhancementUniversity of Maryland (1981)7th
V'Angelo BentleyGraduate AssistantUniversity of Illinois (2015)2nd
Jeff CarpenterGraduate AssistantPenn State University (2015)1st
Deion BarnesGraduate AssistantPenn State University (2014)1st
Wendy LaurentGraduate AssistantPenn State University (2016)1st
Ty HowleOffensive assistantPenn State University (2013)1st

Roster
2020 Penn State Nittany Lions football roster

Quarterback

  •  2 Micah Bowens – freshman (5'11, 196)
  •  7 Will Levis – Redshirt sophomore (6'3, 222)
  •  9 Ta'Quan Roberson – Redshirt freshman (5'11, 195)
  • 14 Sean Clifford – Redshirt junior (6'2, 217)
  • 17 Mason Stahl – freshman (6'0, 204)

Running back

  •  4 Journey Brown – Redshirt junior (5'11, 217)
  • 21 Noah Cain – sophomore (5'10, 226)
  • 24 Keyvone Lee – freshman (6'0, 230)
  • 26 Caziah Holmes – freshman (5'11, 209)
  • 28 Devyn Ford – sophomore (5'11, 205)
  • 30 Joseph Bruno – freshman (6'0, 202)
  • 38 Tank Smith – Redshirt freshman (5'7, 227)

Wide receiver

  •  3 Parker Washington – freshman (5'10, 205)
  •  5 Jahan Dotson – junior (5'11, 182)
  •  6 Cam Sullivan-Brown – Redshirt junior (6'0, 191)
  • 10 TJ Jones – Redshirt freshman (6'1, 202)
  • 11 Daniel George – Redshirt sophomore (6'2, 210)
  • 13 KeAndre Lambert-Smith – freshman (6'1, 185)
  • 19 Jaden Dottin – freshman (6'2, 190)
  • 29 Henry Fessler – Redshirt sophomore (5'10, 182)
  • 80 Malick Meiga – freshman (6'4, 198)
  • 80 Justin Weller – Redshirt junior (6'0, 194)
  • 83 Johnny Crise – freshman (6'5, 201)
  • 84 Benjamin Wilson – senior (6'2, 212)
  • 85 Isaac Lutz – Redshirt senior (5'11, 197)
  • 88 Norval Black – junior (6'1, 178)

Tight end

  • 43 Trevor Baker – Redshirt junior (6'3, 246)
  • 44 Tyler Warren – freshman (6'6, 244)
  • 47 Tommy Friberg – Redshirt freshman (6'3, 210)
  • 82 Zack Kuntz – Redshirt sophomore (6'7, 258)
  • 84 Theo Johnson – freshman (6'6, 254)
  • 86 Brenton Strange – Redshirt freshman (6'3, 252)
  • 87 Pat Freiermuth – junior (6'5, 258)
  • 89 Grayson Kline – Redshirt sophomore (6'5, 261)

Placekicker

  • 90 Rafael Checa – Redshirt sophomore (6'2, 203)
  • 92 Jake Pinegar – junior (6'2, 192)
  • 95 Vlad Hilling – Redshirt sophomore (5'10, 213)
  • 96 Anthony DaSilva – Redshirt freshman (5'11, 157)
  

Offensive lineman

  • 50 Will Knutsson – Redshirt sophomore (6'2, 319)
  • 51 Jimmy Christ – freshman (6'7, 298)
  • 52 Blake Zalar – Redshirt freshman (6'1, 289)
  • 53 Rasheed Walker – Redshirt sophomore (6'6, 310)
  • 54 George French II – freshman (6'8, 320)
  • 55 Anthony Whigan – Redshirt junior (6'4, 315)
  • 57 Ibrahim Traore – freshman (6'5, 325)
  • 59 Kaleb Konigus – Redshirt sophomore (6'2, 291)
  • 62 Michal Menet – Redshirt senior (6'4, 306)
  • 63 Collin De Boef – Redshirt sophomore (6'5, 264)
  • 66 Nick Dawkins – freshman (6'4, 310)
  • 69 C.J. Thorpe – Redshirt junior (6'3, 313)
  • 70 Juice Scruggs – Redshirt sophomore (6'3, 302)
  • 71 Will Fries – Redshirt senior (6'6, 306)
  • 72 Bryce Effner – Redshirt sophomore (6'5, 301)
  • 73 Mike Miranda – Redshirt junior (6'3, 301)
  • 74 Olu Fashanu – freshman (6'6, 300)
  • 75 Des Holmes – Redshirt junior (6'5, 312)
  • 76 Justin Kopko – Redshirt freshman (6'3, 318)
  • 77 Sal Wormley – Redshirt freshman (6'3, 317)
  • 78 Golden Israel-Achumba – freshman (6'4, 345)
  • 79 Caedan Wallace – Redshirt freshman (6'5, 313)

Defensive lineman

  • 18 Shaka Toney – DE – Redshirt senior (6'3, 252)
  • 20 Adisa Isaac – DE – sophomore (6'4, 251)
  • 27 Aeneas Hawkins – DT – Redshirt sophomore (6'2, 288)
  • 28 Odafe Oweh – DE – Redshirt sophomore (6'5, 252)
  • 33 Bryce Mostella – DE – freshman (6'6, 248)
  • 34 Shane Simmons – DE – Redshirt senior (6'3, 257)
  • 42 Ellison Jordan – DT – Redshirt junior (6'0, 320)
  • 44 Joseph Darkwa – DT – Redshirt freshman (6'5, 293)
  • 46 Nick Tarburton – DE – Redshirt sophomore (6'3, 252)
  • 51 Hakeem Beamon – DE – Redshirt freshman (6'3, 292)
  • 53 Fred Hansard – DT – Redshirt junior (6'3, 324)
  • 54 Fatorma Mulbah – DT – freshman (6'3, 289)
  • 55 Antonio Shelton – DT – Redshirt senior (6'2, 327)
  • 56 Amin Vanover – DT – freshman (6'4, 279)
  • 77 Judge Culpepper – DT – Redshirt sophomore (6'4, 295)
  • 91 Dvon Ellies – DT – Redshirt freshman (6'1, 296)
  • 92 Smith Vilbert – DE – Redshirt freshman (6'6, 251)
  • 94 Jake Wilson – DE – freshman (6'3, 241)
  • 95 Cole Brevard – DT – freshman (6'3, 312)
  • 97 P. J. Mustipher – DT – junior (6'4, 300)
  • 98 Dan Vasey – DE – Redshirt junior (6'4, 251)
  • 99 Coziah Izzard – DT – freshman (6'3, 290)

Punter

  • 93 Levi Forrest – freshman(6'5, 184)
  • 93 Bradley King – Redshirt junior (6'2, 214)
  • 97 Carson Landis – Redshirt junior (6'2, 206)
  • 98 Jordan Stout – Redshirt junior (6'3, 208)
  

Linebacker

  • 10 Lance Dixon – Redshirt freshman (6'2, 225)
  • 12 Brandon Smith – sophomore (6'3, 244)
  • 13 Ellis Brooks – Redshirt junior (6'1, 233)
  • 23 Curtis Jacobs – freshman (6'1, 226)
  • 36 Zuriah Fisher – freshman (6'3, 244)
  • 39 Robbie Dwyer – Redshirt freshman(6'1, 247)
  • 40 Jesse Luketa – junior (6'3, 242)
  • 43 Tyler Elsdon – freshman (6'2, 230)
  • 45 Charlie Katshir – Redshirt sophomore (6'3, 231)
  • 47 Alex Furmanek – Redshirt freshman(6'2, 265)
  • 50 Max Chizmar – Redshirt junior (6'2, 229)

Defensive back

  •  0 Jonathan Sutherland – S – Redshirt junior (5'11, 202)
  •  1 Jaquan Brisker – S – senior (6'1, 210)
  •  2 Keaton Ellis – CB – sophomore (5'11, 186)
  •  3 Donovan Johnson – CB – Redshirt junior (5'9, 180)
  •  5 Tariq Castro-Fields – CB – senior (6'0, 191)
  •  8 Marquis Wilson – CB – sophomore (5'11, 181)
  •  9 Joey Porter Jr. – CB – Redshirt freshman (6'2, 193)
  • 15 Enzo Jennings – S – freshman (6'1, 197)
  • 16 Ji'Ayir Brown – S – junior (5'11, 209)
  • 17 Joseph Johnson III – CB – freshman (6'2, 168)
  • 19 Trent Gordon – S – Redshirt sophomore (5'11, 199)
  • 21 Tyler Rudolph – S – Redshirt freshman (6'0, 203)
  • 25 Daequan Hardy – CB – Redshirt freshman (5'9, 180)
  • 27 Jaden Seider – S – Redshirt freshman (5'10, 174)
  • 29 Sebastian Costantini – CB – Redshirt freshman (5'11, 185)
  • 32 Dylan Farronato – S – Redshirt freshman (5'11, 187)
  • 36 Makai Self – CB – Redshirt freshman (5'9, 170)
  • 37 Drew Hartlaub – S – Redshirt junior (5'11, 177)
  • 38 Lamont Wade – S – senior (5'9, 191)
  • 48 Cody Romano – S – Redshirt sophomore (6'2, 207)

Long snappers

  • 49 Michael Wright – freshman (6'1, 197)
  • 91 Chris Stoll – Redshirt junior (6'2, 242)

Source:[7]

Schedule

Spring game
DateTimeNetworkSpring GameSiteResultAttendance
April 181:30pmFS1Blue vs. WhiteBeaver Stadium • University Park, PACanceled

Because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Penn State, like other institutions, switched to distance-learning during the spring semester and canceled all sporting events.

Regular season

The Nittany Lions are a member of the Big Ten East Division, and will play all of the division's other six members. Cross-divisional opponents include the Iowa Hawkeyes, Northwestern Wildcats, Nebraska Cornhuskers, and Illinois Fighting Illini.

Three out-of-conference opponents were originally scheduled: a road game at Virginia Tech, and home games versus Kent State and San Jose State.[8] However, these non-conference games were canceled on July 9 as a result of ongoing concerns with the COVID-19 pandemic.[9][10] In early August, the 9-game conference schedule increased to 10 games, adding cross-divisional opponent Illinois.[11]

A week later, the season was promptly postponed. On August 11, in the wake of multiple Group of Five conferences deciding to do so,[12] the council of the Big Ten voted 11–3 to postpone fall athletics for the 2020–21 season (with all but Iowa, Nebraska, and Ohio State voting in favor). Commissioner Kevin Warren cited negative trends and uncertainties surrounding COVID-19 as a factor in the decision. The conference stated that it would evaluate options, including possibly playing in spring 2021 instead.[13][14][15] After the decision to postpone the season, the Big Ten formed a taskforce to investigate options for a return to play.[15] President Donald Trump criticized the Big Ten's decision to postpone fall football, as part of his general criticism of U.S. colleges and universities that have not resumed on-campus activities. All other Power Five conferences besides the Pac-12 (which also postponed its season shortly after the Big Ten's decision) were still planning to play in the fall.[16][17]

On September 14, it was reported that the Big Ten was considering the possibility of reversing its decision and playing a shortened conference football season as early as mid-to-late October.[18] On September 16, the Big Ten approved an eight-game conference season that would begin October 24, and conclude on December 19 (with the top seeds in each division playing for the conference championship, and all other seeds playing similar cross-division matchups). The conference is instituting a daily antigen testing protocol beginning September 30; PCR tests will be used to confirm positives found via antigen testing. Players who test positive on both tests will be removed from play for at least 21 days and undergo cardiac tests during this period, and will have to be cleared by a cardiologist before they can return to play. Positivity rates among participating teams and the local population will also be a factor: teams with a positivity rate above 5% or a population positivity rate above 7% will be required to halt all activity for seven days.[15]

Penn State and Rutgers were the only 2 Big Ten teams to compete in all 9 regular season games. Following their victory over Illinois on December 19, Penn State opted out of a college bowl game appearance.[19]

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
October 243:30 p.m.at IndianaNo. 8
FS1L 35–36 OT995
October 317:30 p.m.No. 3 Ohio StateNo. 18
ABCL 25–381,500
November 73:30 p.m.Maryland
  • Beaver Stadium
  • State College, PA (rivalry)
BTNL 19–351,500
November 1412:00 p.m.at Nebraska
FS1L 23–300
November 213:30 p.m.Iowa
  • Beaver Stadium
  • State College, PA
BTNL 21–411,500
November 2812:00 p.m.at Michigan
ABCW 27–170
December 512:00 p.m.at Rutgers
FS1W 23–70
December 1212:00 p.m.Michigan State
ABCW 39–240
December 195:30 p.m.Illinois
  • Beaver Stadium
  • State College, PA (Big Ten Champions Week)
FS1W 56–210
Schedule Source:[20]

Game summaries

At Indiana
See also: 2020 Indiana Hoosiers football team
No. 8 Penn State at Indiana – Game summary
Period 1 2 34OTTotal
No. 8 Penn State 7 0 714735
Indiana 0 17 011836

at Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, Indiana

Game information

No. 3 Ohio State
See also: 2020 Ohio State Buckeyes football team and Ohio State–Penn State football rivalry
No. 3 Ohio State at No. 18 Penn State – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
No. 3 Ohio State 14 7 10738
No. 18 Penn State 3 3 71225

at Beaver Stadium, University Park, Pennsylvania

Game information

Maryland
See also: 2020 Maryland Terrapins football team and Maryland–Penn State football rivalry
Maryland at Penn State – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Maryland 14 14 7035
Penn State 0 7 01219

at Beaver Stadium, University Park, Pennsylvania

Game information

At Nebraska
See also: 2020 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team
Penn State at Nebraska – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Penn State 0 6 10723
Nebraska 10 17 0330

at Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska

Game information

Iowa
See also: 2020 Iowa Hawkeyes football team
Iowa at Penn State – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Iowa 3 21 71041
Penn State 7 0 14021

at Beaver Stadium, University Park, Pennsylvania

Game information

At Michigan
See also: 2020 Michigan Wolverines football team
Penn State at Michigan – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Penn State 7 10 3727
Michigan 7 0 3717

at Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Game information

At Rutgers
See also: 2020 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team
Penn State at Rutgers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Penn State 7 10 3323
Rutgers 0 0 707

at SHI Stadium, Piscataway, New Jersey

Game information

Michigan State
See also: 2020 Michigan State Spartans football team and Michigan State–Penn State football rivalry
Michigan State at Penn State – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Michigan State 0 21 3024
Penn State 3 7 151439

at Beaver Stadium, University Park, Pennsylvania

Game information

Illinois
See also: 2020 Illinois Fighting Illini football team
Illinois at Penn State – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Illinois 21 0 0021
Penn State 21 21 7756

at Beaver Stadium, University Park, Pennsylvania

Game information

Statistics

Scores by quarter (Big Ten opponents)
1 2 3 4OT Total
Big Ten opponents 69 97 37 388 249
Penn State 55 64 66 767 268

Rankings
Further information: 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
— = Not ranked. RV = Received votes.
Week
PollPre12345678910111213141516Final
AP77*——1099818RV————————
Coaches77*—131088717RV————————
CFPNot released—————Not released

Players drafted into the NFL
See also: 2021 NFL Draft
Round Pick Player Position NFL club
112Micah ParsonsLBDallas Cowboys
131Odafe OwehDEBaltimore Ravens
255Pat FreiermuthTEPittsburgh Steelers
7 246 Shaka Toney DE Washington Football Team
7 247 Michal Menet C Arizona Cardinals
7 248 Will Fries OG Indianapolis Colts

Undrafted players
Player Position NFL club
Lamont WadeSPittsburgh Steelers

Source:[21]

References
  1. Stevens, Matthew. "Big Ten To Play A "Championship Weekend" 9th Game Of 2020 Season". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  2. "Big Ten Statement on 2020–21 Fall Season". bigten.org. August 11, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  3. "The Big Ten Conference Adopts Stringent Medical Protocols; Football Season to Resume October 23–24, 2020". bigten.org. September 16, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  4. Ryan, Jack (November 22, 2020). "Penn State's 0–5 Makes History: Worst Start Since 1887!". fastphillysports.com. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  5. Pickel, Greg (December 20, 2020). "Penn State announces that it won't go to a bowl game in 2020". pennlive.com. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  6. "Football Coaching Staff". GoPSUsports.com. Penn State Nittany Lions. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  7. "2020 Football Roster". GoPSUSports.com. Archived from the original on February 6, 2021. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
  8. "2020 Penn State Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com.
  9. Myerberg, Paul (July 9, 2020). "Big Ten football reduces season schedule to only conference games, maybe setting stage for others to follow". USA Today. usatoday.com. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  10. Dinich, Heather; Schlabach, Mark (July 9, 2020). "Big Ten moving to conference-only model for all sports this fall". espn.com. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  11. Pickel, Greg (August 5, 2020). "Penn State's 2020 college football schedule is out; here is who the Lions will face this fall". Penn Live. pennlive.com. Archived from the original on August 10, 2020. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  12. "Mountain West postpones football, fall sports". ESPN.com. August 10, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  13. "Big Ten Statement on Fall Season". BigTen.org. August 11, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  14. "Big Ten nixes fall football season, eyes spring". ESPN.com. August 11, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  15. "Big Ten football to resume weekend of Oct. 24". ESPN.com. September 16, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  16. Blinder, Alan; Martin, Jonathan (September 12, 2020). "Trump and Biden Seek an Electoral Edge From an Unlikely Source: College Football". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  17. Klar, Rebecca (September 10, 2020). "Trump pushes for schools to stay open, Big Ten to play football". TheHill. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  18. Kim, Allen. "Big Ten officials to vote on whether to reverse course and hold an abbreviated fall college sports season". CNN. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  19. "2020 Football Season Concludes". GoPSUsports.com. December 19, 2020. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  20. "2020 Football Schedule". Penn State University Athletics.
  21. Bible, The NFL Draft. "2021 NFL Draft undrafted free agent tracker: Rookie UDFA signings from all 32 teams". The NFL Draft Bible on Sports Illustrated: The Leading Authority on the NFL Draft. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
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