CFI: PSU DEFENSE RESURFACES ON SENIOR DAY

PAUL ASPAN
PENN ST. INSIDER

Penn State’s defense woke up just in time and the Lions came back from an early ten-point deficit to beat Purdue 26-19. The Boilermakers stood a yard away from taking a 17-3 lead late in the first quarter, when State linebacker Sean Lee forced a goal line fumble from running back Jaycen Taylor. The Lions recovered and by halftime held a 13-10 lead. The Boilermakers ran back the opening kickoff for a touchdown, but Lee’s forced fumble was part of a Penn State defensive effort that held Purdue to four field goals.

This Lions’ defense looked a lot more familiar to the Nittany Lion faithful as opposed to the unit that gave up 63 points in the last two games. The Boilermakers’ pass heavy attack gained 255 yards, but couldn’t get into the end zone. Justin King and the rest of the secondary bounced back from a few rough outings to come up with big plays when it mattered. Senior linebacker Dan Connor helped stuff the Purdue running game (68 yards) and in the process broke the school record of 372 tackles, with his fifth of eleven on the day. Connor passed former teammate Paul Posluszny who set the record last season.

Senior quarterback Anthony Morelli also left Happy Valley with a solid performance. The often-criticized signal-caller completed 22-of-35 passes for 210 yards and a touchdown. Red shirt senior Rodney Kinlaw also performed well rushing for 86 yards, but it was a redshirt freshman who stole the show on senior day. Evan Royster plowed through Purdue’s defense for 126 yards on 21 carries and closed the door on the Boilermakers with a 26-yard touchdown run to put the Lions up 26-16 with under four minutes to play.

The Lions finish the season on the road with an “away” game against Temple in Penn State friendly Philadelphia before heading to East Lansing to face Michigan State. At 7-3 the Lions still have a chance to play in a New Years Day bowl game if they win out. However, they can’t come out flat on the road where they are 1-2 and struggled to squeak out a win in Indiana.

PHOTO CREDIT: COLLEGIATE IMAGES

CFI: PENN STATE’S DEFENSE CRUMBLES

BY PAUL ASPAN
PENN ST. INSIDER

Momentum and 110,134 screaming fans were squarely behind the Penn State defense as Ohio State’s offense came back on the field with 4:59 left to play in the first quarter. The Lion offense had just responded to an early Buckeye field goal with a 9-play 78-yard touchdown drive to put the home team on top 7-3. Anthony Morelli and company had picked up where they left off against Indiana and looked equally effective on the ground and in the air. Seven points weren’t going to be enough to win, but it should have been enough to keep Penn State in a game billed as a defensive showdown. However, the Nittany Lions’ momentum lasted about as long as the post-touchdown pushups. Six plays and a little more than three minutes later, Ohio State went back ahead 10-7 with a touchdown of its own, and this time…it didn’t look back.

After its first drive, the Nittany Lion offense was unspectacular. However, it was the nation’s seventh-best defense that failed to show up against the top-ranked Buckeyes. Penn State’s defense stopped Ohio State only twice in the first half: once on an interception that the offense failed to convert into points, and once thanks to the clock which read 00:00 indicating halftime. The result was a 17-7 halftime deficit that the Lions could not recover from. The Penn State offense stalled out, but it didn’t put the defense in the tough position of defending a short field. All of Ohio State’s touchdown drives started at or inside its own 20. Morelli did throw an interception returned for a touchdown with ten minutes left in the game, but by that point, the game was out of reach.

The Buckeye offense was equal parts pass (253 yards) and run (200 yards) -- equal part big plays and methodical drives. Ohio State’s first touchdown was due largely in part to a 60-yard pass from quarterback Todd Boeckman to Ray Small. Its ensuing touchdown drives were 15 and 13 plays respectively. The Buckeyes weren’t forced to punt all game and converted 12-of-16 third downs. The 37-17 defeat was Penn State’s worst home loss in six years and it dropped the Lions from both the Top 25 and the BCS standings.

At 6-3 Penn State can still finish at a respectable 9-3 if they win out against Purdue, Temple, and Michigan State. However, for that to happen, the defense will have to regroup after allowing 68 points in the last two games.

CFI: THE HAPPY VALLEY REPORT: "CAN WE TALK ABOUT WISCONSIN?"

BY PAUL ASPAN
PENN ST. INSIDER

Following Penn State’s solid 24-7 win over Iowa, the Nittany Lions were poised to shift their focus to Saturday’s showdown with No. 19 Wisconsin. However, at Coach Joe Paterno’s Tuesday press conference, the upcoming game took a back seat to allegations that Penn State players were involved in a fight over the weekend. After a handful of questions about the alleged fight, Paterno wanted to shift the focus back to the play on the field.

“Can we talk about Wisconsin?” asked the agitated coach.

Apparently, Paterno was agitated a couple days before the press conference as well. Reports of an alleged road rage incident involving the Lions’ head coach may further take away from the focus on the upcoming game.

The swirling allegations could not come at a worse time for Penn State. The next three weeks – Wisconsin, at Indiana, and No. 3 Ohio State - are critical to the Lions’ season. Win out and PSU puts itself in back in contention for a big time bowl game. A loss all but assures the Nittany Lions a place in the middle of a weak Big Ten pack.

If Penn State can put the off-the-field issues in the background, they can build off a solid performance against Iowa. The defense held the Hawkeyes to just eight first downs and 194 yards. Not to be outdone, the offense put together 489 yards of balanced offense. Between the off-field issues and a strong performance last week, Penn State quarterback Anthony Morelli (233 yards, TD) is temporarily off the hot seat. It also helped that red-shirt senior Rodney Kinlaw ran for a career-high 168 yards and two touchdowns in place of suspended running back Austin Scott.

So, “let’s talk about Wisconsin.”

Kinlaw will get the call again this week, as Scott remains suspended for violating an unspecified team rule. Kinlaw will be up against a Wisconsin defense that has struggled against the run, yielding more than 150 yards per game. The Badgers are equal opportunity offenders as they haven’t been good against the pass either, giving up 216 yards per game in the air.

On the other side of the ball, the Lions defense will face a reeling Wisconsin offense. Badgers’ receiver Luke Swan is out for the season with a career threatening hamstring injury. Running back P.J. Hill (125 ypg, 10 TD) is also banged up, suffering a groin injury during last week’s 31-26 loss to Illinois. That leaves a tall order for Wisconsin going up against the nation’s fifth best defense. Depending on Hill’s status, the Badgers will have to rely heavily on quarterback Tyler Donovan who threw for 392 yards and two touchdowns against the Illini.

It’s homecoming weekend in Happy Valley, and Penn State is 35-6 on homecoming under Paterno. However, Wisconsin is PSU’s first ranked opponent and the Badgers have won five of seven against the Lions and two of their last three at Penn State. Which is tougher to overcome: negative off-the-field allegations or injuries? If the Lions can focus on the play between the lines, they should have enough of an advantage to edge the banged-up Badgers.

NFL DRAFT BIBLE: MOVERS & SHAKERS: STOCK FALLING

BY RICK SERRITELLA
NFL DRAFT BIBLE FOUNDER

The Nittany Lions were counting on seniors Anthony Morelli and Austin Scott to be key factors towards helping the team be competitive this season. Morelli has averaged just 219 yards passing per game, while Scott has averaged just 60 yards rushing per game. The two were thought to have been late-round picks, but may be playing their way out of the draft altogether.

The play of Virginia Tech wide out Eddie Royal has been less than spectacular, as the senior wide out has failed to perform up to expectations. Thru the first five games of the season, Royal has just nine receptions for 60 yards and has yet to reach the end zone. Once considered a possible day one pick, Royal has slipped to day two status unless he can bounce back and have a strong second half, or just simply overwhelms at the Scouting Combine.

Projected top-ten pick Quentin Groves suffered two dislocated toes in Auburn’s surprise victory over No. 4 Florida. He is expected to be out for an extended period of time.

South Carolina linebacker Jasper Brinkley opted for season-ending surgery after suffering a torn ligament in his right knee during a loss against LSU. He is expected to apply for a medical redshirt and return for a fifth season.

PENN STATE FUMBLES ONE AWAY

BY PAUL ASPAN
PENN ST. INSIDER

I was all ready to rip into Anthony Morelli and Austin Scott for their play during Penn State’s loss to Michigan, when I saw a clip of Oklahoma State Coach Mike Gundy’s press conference. Gundy lashed out at a reporter for a story she wrote criticizing Cowboy’s quarterback Bobby Reid for not being tough enough. For a second it made me step back and if nothing else – think twice about the nature of covering college athletes. On the one hand, no they’re not getting paid, they have to balance class and practice, a lot of them are good kids, and the nature of the criticism they endure might not always be fair. On the other hand, they embrace the media spotlight when they perform well, they get preferential treatment, and let’s face it, it’s kind of tough to feel sorry for guys that have girls throwing themselves at them on a nightly basis. They don’t even have to be good. I watched it at Syracuse for the last four years.

On to the Penn State loss to Michigan….

Anthony Morelli didn’t exactly instill confidence in the Penn State faithful before the Michigan game, but afterwards, let’s just say I don’t think he received a hero’s welcome on his return to Happy Valley. The Nittany Lion quarterback was 15/31 for 169 yards, no touchdowns and a huge fumble on the day. The key for the Wolverines coming in was to jump on Penn State early, as the Lions offense has struggled to get going in its last few games. The Maize and Blue parlayed Morelli’s first quarter fumble into an early touchdown and the Lions had to play catch-up the rest of the way. This allowed Michigan to grind it out with their All-American tailback Mike Hart.

It was a battle on the ground between the Lion’s nation-best rushing defense and the third best rusher in the nation. Often it seemed like it was All American PSU linebacker Dan Connor vs. Hart – as the two met repeatedly. In fact, Paul Maguire wouldn’t shut up about it. Especially with freshman quarterback Ryan Mallet under center, Hart was going to get his carries – 44 of them to be exact – so he was going to get his yards – 153, and eventually a one yard TD run. Ironically enough, it was a heads-up Mallet run that put Michigan on the board first.

Coming into the game – especially after that early Michigan score – if you had told me the Wolverines were only going to score 14 points, I absolutely would have picked Penn State. There is no question that the Penn State defense played well enough to win. To be perfectly honest with you, I expected something like 17-14 or 21-14 PSU.

Morelli didn’t play well, but he didn’t get much help from his running backs either. Scott chose an awful time for his fourth fumble in the last three games – this one at the Michigan nine-yard line in the third quarter. The Lions got the ball back at the Wolverine 35-yard line a few plays later, after a Mallet fumble, but they had to settle for a field goal to cut the lead to 7-6. Scott finished with 35 yards on nine carries, and backfield mate Rodney Kinlaw ran for 69 yards on 12 carries. Kinlaw, Morelli, and Scott are all seniors, but the latter two have not been the leaders on offense that one might expect. Scott’s inability to hold on to the ball speaks for itself, and do you think Penn State fans had any hope with Morelli under center for that last drive – not even drive, last series – for the Lions? He didn’t even give them a chance to get excited as he threw the ball away on the first two plays, and almost threw interceptions on the final two.

Penn State’s national title hopes (yea, yea they were a bit overrated) are gone, but they still have the chance to have a very good season. With upcoming match-ups against Illinois and Iowa in the next few weeks, the Lions defense should be able to carry them to a couple wins. But, they’re going to lose AT LEAST one more game if they don’t change something with the offense. It’s time to give Kinlaw the full workload, and for the Lions to see if there is a better option at quarterback.

Defense wins championships, but they need to have a lead.

Penn State Keeps Fillin’ Up on Cupcakes

BY PAUL ASPAN
PENN ST. INSIDER

Penn State continued to roll through its weak non-conference conference schedule with a 45-24 win over Buffalo in Happy Valley. The Nittany Lions have beaten Florida International, a terrible Notre Dame team, and Buffalo in the first three weeks of the season. PSU has won all three games by double digits, but it hasn’t exactly dominated the last two weeks. The Nittany Lion offense sputtered until the waning minutes of the first half against Buffalo and the Irish stayed with Penn State until the last few minutes of the third quarter despite not scoring an offensive touchdown. The Lions haven’t been tested, and the #10 team in the country still has plenty of work to do as it gets into the Big Ten portion of its schedule.

The strongest part of Penn State’s squad has, not surprisingly, been the defense. Ranked eighth in total defense, the Lions’ D has allowed only four touchdowns all season and has held opponents to 217 yards per game. On top of that, PSU has the best rush defense in the country – holding opponents to 17.7 yards per game on the ground. They are also tied for the national lead in sacks with Indiana (5.67/game). Next week, Penn State finally leaves Happy Valley and the top rush defense in the country will face a real test when they go against the Big Ten’s best rusher, Mike Hart, (167 ypg) and Michigan at the Big House.

The Lions’ D is going keep them in every game, but the less than stellar offense could do them in against some real competition. After the Buffalo W, Coach Joe Paterno called running back Austin Scott and backup Rodney Kinlaw both number one caliber backs, but Scott especially has looked shaky the last two weeks. He fumbled once against Notre Dame and against Buffalo, he coughed the ball up twice before he was replaced by Kinlaw. To Kinlaw’s credit, the senior backup made the most of his opportunity and rushed for 129 yards and a TD.

Quarterback Andrew Morelli finally got it going towards the end of the first half and finished 20-27 for 202 yards and four touchdowns – a career high. Morelli has been a bit of a question mark among the Penn State faithful, but may have a new favorite target in tight end Andrew Quarless. It was the sophomore’s first game after serving a two game suspension for underage drinking and he caught two of Morelli’s four scoring throws. Quarless was originally slotted to start, but dropped on the depth chart after the legal run-in. If these two mesh, it could be the key to ending some of the offense’s struggles.

In the Philly Inquirer post game story, offensive coordinator Galen Hall said: “We still have a lot of improvement to do. We're not [ready] in any shape or form."

Next week’s match-up with Michigan in Ann Arbor may be a bit of a wake-up call for the Lions. The Wolverines may not as good as they were supposed to be, but for an untested Penn State team, it’s definitely not a guaranteed W. The Lions should win this game, but if they come out flat the way they did against Buffalo, they’re gonna be in a battle until the end.

One thing is for sure - the defense will have no room for error. I’m not so sure that Penn State is as good as their #10 ranking suggests, but they can help make their case with a strong showing at Michigan.

RATING THE QBs

By John Murphy, Yahoo! Sports

A conference-by-conference look at the top senior NFL quarterback prospects.

ACC

Matt Ryan, Boston College – A classic, drop-back passer who has very good physical tools and the necessary toughness/intangibles to become a starter at the next level. He's a better athlete than he is given credit for and can move around the pocket with enough presence to avoid pass rushers, while putting good zip on most of his throws. He does not receive the level of hype of others in this category, but could become a solid second-round choice.

Kyle Wright, Miami, FL – Wright is currently backing up Kirby Freeman. But USA Today's top-rated quarterback coming out of high school is 6-foot-4, 220 pounds and runs 4.6 in the 40. That will surely get him a free agent shot, even if he remains on the bench all season.

Big East

Brian Brohm, Louisville – Brohm is the top-rated senior quarterback and has a chance to be the No. 1 overall choice in next year's NFL Draft. He will post great numbers in the team's wide-open offensive scheme, but will spend the postseason proving he can do the same if stationed under center (not out of the shotgun). Some teams aren't sold on him because he has not always been durable and other QBs who played in the same offensive scheme have struggled in the pros. Brohm has shown the necessary smarts, work ethic and physical tools to make believers out of all critics.

Big Ten

Chad Henne, Michigan – Henne was hoping for a possible Heisman campaign and national championship run. Instead he enters Week 2 with an 0-1 record. He has struggled in some big games. That creates doubt in the minds of NFL evaluators. Henne has good, but not great tools and really needs to step up his game or risk falling to the back end of the draft pool.

Anthony Morelli, Penn State – Morelli could make the biggest jump. He has all the qualities of a top-rated quarterback and is now surrounded by solid upperclassmen. He is a tough, smart kid with a nice arm and can rise up the charts by cutting down turnovers and proving he knows what it takes to carry a team.

Big 12

Sam Keller, Nebraska – Arizona State transfer who made his way to the Midwest for the chance to start. Keller sat out last year, but learned the offense and has looked very sharp throughout spring and fall drills. He has good size and a strong arm. He could be a surprise third- to fourth-round choice by year's end.

Bret Meyer, Iowa State – An athletic, dual threat who has fallen off in scouts' eyes because he forces too many balls and has committed too many turnovers. He needs to prove he is more of a passer than thrower in his final season.

Pac-10

John David Booty, USC – Booty has one of the most high-pressure positions in college football. He has proven to be a solid replacement to Matt Leinart. He throws a very accurate, catchable ball, but does not wow you with any one portion of his game. A good, but not great athlete, surrounded by USC's unreal talent level. Booty is still not the most vocal of leaders and might not crave the spotlight. He started the season with the Heisman Trophy and a national title within his reach. He needs to achieve those goals in order to prove himself as more than just a caretaker.

SEC

Andre' Woodson, Kentucky – Hot commodity entering his final season. Woodson has cut down on turnovers and shows rare athleticism for a 6-4, 225 pounder. He can make all the necessary throws and shows impressive zip on his deep throws. Has led the Wildcats to a bowl game two consecutive years. Has learned how to settle his feet, step up and work from the pocket, but can still make plays on the move. A big year could catapult him into the Top 20 of next year's draft.

Erik Ainge, Tennessee – Looks to be the top guy in the SEC and a first-round pick. But he is inconsistent and has failed to deliver in several big situations. He is still only 21, so there is time for him to mature and develop. His raw athleticism might be too much to pass over if he improves in other areas. He has battled injuries (MCL, pinky) over the past few months.

Matt Flynn, LSU – A first-year starter who has shown the athleticism and arm strength to ascend into the upper echelon by year's end. Smart, hard worker who waited his time behind JaMarcus Russell. He could be a solid mid-round choice with upside, similar to how the New England Patriots were able to grab former USC backup Matt Cassel.

WAC

Colt Brennan, Hawaii – Brennan has a great release, is highly accurate and shows more than enough zip on his short-to-intermediate passes. He has learned and grown from his early mistakes and become a true team leader. Has a chance to win the Heisman. Lacks the big-time frame of other passers in this year's group, but has the size to fill out to around 210 pounds. The drawbacks are his lack of experience under center and in a true pro-scheme. Is not called upon to throw a lot of deep or vertical routes.

SMALL-SCHOOL PROSPECTS

Josh Johnson, San Diego – A superb athlete who grew as a QB the past few years under the guidance of new Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh. He heads into his senior campaign with many evaluators eyeing him as a possible surprise first-day draft choice. Johnson was suspended for one game after violating team rules in the offseason. He combines 4.5 speed with a strong arm and has become more accurate.

Joseph Flacco, Delaware – University of Pittsburgh transfer who brings excellent size (6--6, 230) and above-average arm strength to the field. He moves well in the pocket and completed 63 percent of his passes as a first-year starter last season. Has a chance to move up into the middle rounds of the draft with a big senior season.

Ricky Santos, New Hampshire – Has just average size (6-1, 215) and does not jump off the page when you see his workout numbers. But he is a highly accurate passer with great intangibles. He plays in a bit of a wide-open offensive system, but is able to find the open man and throws a very catchable ball.

Luke Drone, Illinois State – A two-sport star who has developed into a high-caliber performer. Lacks ideal size, but is very athletic, throws a good ball and has produced consistent results over the past two years.

Kyle Spotts, Kutztown – Came to the Division II program as a transfer from Colgate, and has made his mark as both a passer and runner. Has decent size, a good enough arm to be evaluated by NFL scouts and can make plays on the move as both a runner and passer. Does not have a great upper body build and has taken a few shots by holding onto the ball too long. But you like his toughness and ability to make plays.

Casey Hansen, Norfolk State – A big, strong-armed QB who could create some waves in the MEAC. He's 6-5, 220 pounds and a classic, drop-back pocket passer.

Brad Roach, Catawba – Possesses NFL size (6-6, 245), but will need to cut down on his turnovers, make better reads and increase his completion percentage in order to catch the eye of scouts this season. He is also not the swiftest player on the field, so making the right reads from the pocket and improving his footwork will be the keys for him to get next-level consideration.

Buddy Rivera, Northern Michigan – Has led the team in passing while also finishing as one of the top three rushers the past two years. He passed for over 300 yards in the opener and has proven to be a very good leader.

Known as the “Secret Weapon of the NFL Draft”, NFL Draft Bible head scout John Murphy is also Yahoo! Sports' NFL personnel and college prospect evaluator. Read more from Murphy at http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/expertsarchive;_ylt=AkkzD1soYcLK7hf0JkhVA6EuatAF?author=John+Murphy.

THE CFI TOP 25 COUNTDOWN: #23 PENN ST. NITTANY LIONS

BY DANIEL MOGOLLON
COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDERS CO-FOUNDER


2006 RECORD: 9-4; BIG TEN: 5-3
Won Outback Bowl vs. Tennessee 20-10
LOCATION: State College, Pennsylvania
STADIUM: Beaver Stadium (107,282)
HEAD COACH: Joe Paterno
OVERALL: 363-181-3 (41 seasons)
AT PENN ST.: 363-181-3 (41 seasons)

The Nittany Lions roster is stocked with four and five star recruits, including quarterback Anthony Morelli, wide receiver Derrick Williams, linebacker Dan Connor as well as corners Justin King and A.J. Wallace, a quartet of five-star prospects. The question is can they put it together the way their veteran squad did two seasons ago under the leadership of Michael Robinson. You might say the won nine games last season, so how far do they have to go? A closer examination shows they were just 2-4 against Division 1A teams that finished with winning records.

WHEN THE CATS HAVE THE BALL

OFFENSIVE COORDINAROR: Galen Hall (4th Season)
OFFENSIVE STARTERS RETURNING: 7
KEY LOSSES: Tony Hunt, Levi Brown

The player who must step up more than any other is the signal caller Anthony Morelli who has the physical ability, as well as the weapons on the perimeter to lead an explosive aerial attack. He threw for just 11 TDs and completed a mere 53.9 percent of his passes, numbers he will have to vastly improve upon without increasing his interceptions (eight). At receiver, Derrick Williams has boundless potential, but in two seasons in College Station, he has 62 total receptions for 729 yards and two touchdowns, numbers he could surpass this year if he breaks out. Last season, he trailed both Deon Butler and Jordan Norwood, a duo that maximizes their ability. At tailback, Austin Scott is another highly touted recruit who has yet to put it together. With Scott redshirting the 2006 season with an injury, Tony Hunt flourished, which is what PSU needs the shiftier Scott to do. Everyone must rely on a suspect offensive line, which has to replace top ten pick Levi Brown. How much do they need help in the trenches? JoePa reached out to the Junior College level for the first time in over 20 years to seize not one, but two JC offensive lineman. Keep an eye out for sophomore tight end Andrew Quarless, a threat down the field, which can open things up for his receivers.

PRO PROSPECTS: 1) Andrew Quarless (SO), 2) Derrick Williams (JR), 3) Anthony Morelli (SR), 4) Austin Scott (SR), 5) A.Q. Shipley (JR), 6) Matt Hahn (SR)

WHEN THE OTHER TEAM HAS THE BALL

DEFENSIVE COORDINAROR: Dick Bumpas (4th Season)
DEFENSIVE STARTERS RETURNING: 6
KEY LOSSES: Paul Posluszny, Tim Shaw, Jay Alford, Ed Johnson

The back seven can rival almost any around the country. They will not even miss two time Bednarik Award winner Paul Posluszny, as the speedy Dan Connor moves over to the MIKE spot. Connor is 6’3”/230 with more speed and upside than Posluszny making him a sure fire first round draft pick in the 2008 Draft. Playing the role of wingman is Sean Lee, yet another linebacker with size and speed. Linebacker U is at full strength. Their corners could be even better with Justin King returning and A.J. Wallace stepping into the starting lineup. King is as good a lockdown cover man as there is, with true sophomore Wallace cut from a similar cloth. Both are playmakers capable of contributing on special teams and each saw playtime on offense in their freshman seasons. The only potential weakness is along the line of scrimmage where they lose two experienced tackles. Sophomore end Maurice Evans has the ability to be an impact player coming off the edge.

PRO PROSPECTS: 1) Dan Connor (SR), 2) Justin King (JR), 3) A.J. Wallace (SO), 4) Sean Lee (JR), 5) Maurice Evans (SO), 6) Anthony Scirrotto (JR)

THE SCHEDULE

If the Nittany Lions hope to do better than they did last season, they will have to deliver some payback early and often. Week two they play Notre Dame, who beat them up 41-17 last season, two weeks later they travel to Ann Arbor. The last time they beat the Wolverines was back in 1996, as the losing streak is up to eight in a row. They did not lose to Iowa last year, because they did not play, as the Hawkeyes have dropped them in five straight contests. PSU hosts Ohio St. and Wisconsin, two more clubs that defeated them last season, with the Buckeyes having won four of their last five and Wisky three out of four head-to-head.

PIVOTAL POINT

Will that talent pay off in the field? Anthony Morelli, five-star recruit, enters his senior season with 12 career TD passes, after finishing his junior campaign as the ninth rated quarterback in the Big Ten in terms of efficiency. Derrick Williams, five-star recruit, enters his junior season with two touchdown catches in his career, while averaging around 12 yards per reception. Austin Scott, four-star recruit, enters his senior season with 1021 career yards. If PSU is to reach double figures in wins, all three will have to exceed their career numbers this season.

CFI FINAL ANALYSIS

JoePa still knows how to coach and he does well when he has the time to teach, just look at Penn St.’s Bowl record, so if PSU takes off this season after spring ball and fall camp I would not be the least bit surprised. However, until they actually do it on the field they do not deserve a high ranking. The Nittany Lions could do as well as challenge the Wolverines for supremacy or finish up as just a middle of the pack Big Ten team. As much talent as they possess on defense, I am not a Morelli believer and there is no reason a team that has questions on both lines should be ranked any higher.

Check back tomorrow to see who is #22 in CFI’s Top 25 Countdown