A big player could be making a big return for Penn State as senior guard Miles Dieffenbach was back scrimmaging on the field for the Nittany Lions late into Wednesday’s practice.
Dieffenbach suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in spring practice and is expected to return at some point this season. The exact timeline has been a well kept secret by head coach James Franklin and his staff but Dieffenbach’s return to the field in practice in recent weeks is an unavoidable observation.
“I think we’re close,” coach James Franklin said. “You guys have all seen he wasn’t out at practice and when you come on Wednesdays and then he started coming out at practice and doing more and more. I think he’s getting closer every single day. You’d love to see him this week, but I don’t really completely control that.”
While healthy, Dieffenbach started 23 games for Penn State. His return would be a welcome sight along an offensive front that has struggled all year long. Quarterback Christian Hackenberg has been sacked 20 times already this season. That’s only one sack shy of tying last year’s total.
Penn State is currently on a bye week and will face Ohio State at Beaver Stadium in just over eight days. Whether Dieffenbach can be ready to return by then remains to be seen.
“He’s been able to do drill work, he’s been able to go into the live scrimmages,” Franklin said. “You see him getting more confidence because it’s not just the physical aspect, it’s the mental aspect of it as well. I think it’s been very important for us.”
Franklin says a lot will play into the decision to start or even play Dieffenbach with doctors, coaches and even Dieffenbach’s parents getting their two cents in.
So Penn State fans will have to wait until the depth chart is released next Tuesday to see if the reinforcements have arrived just in time for the biggest home game of the season.
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