Penn State wasn’t expected to involve much of its youth against Illinois. This game was all about playing the best players early and often, a strategy which proved successful in the Nittany Lions’ 21-7 win on Saturday. The injury bug did continue to bite James Franklin’s roster this weekend, making for some interesting notes on the game participation sheet.
Here’s a look at the team’s snap counts against the Fighting Illini, per Pro Football Focus, and what they could mean moving forward.
Quarterback
Drew Allar – 67
Beau Pribula – 3
Penn State offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki teased a consistent two-quarterback system through the first three games. But Saturday saw the least usage of backup Beau Pribula this season, and also integrated tight end Tyler Warren in the mix under center.
Running back
Nick Singleton – 36
Kaytron Allen – 32
Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen continue to share the wealth to perfection. Both surpassed 90 rushing yards (103 for Allen, 94 for Singleton) and each found the end zone against Illinois. Cam Wallace, the team’s third-string back who was injured against Kent State, was ruled inactive prior to kickoff.
Wide receiver
Harrison Wallace III – 51
Julian Fleming – 48
Omari Evans – 27
Liam Clifford – 24
Harrison Wallace III returned to the spotlight as the team’s leading receiver, but what may be more important is that every receiver who played — other than last week’s yardage leader Omari Evans — found the ball. Kotelnicki continues to cause a guessing game for opposing defensive coordinators as to which receiver will stand out when it comes to game action.
Tight end
Tyler Warren – 61
Khalil Dinkins – 32
Luke Reynolds* – 17
Kotelnicki ran a number of three-tight end sets, but it was Warren who stood out, whether at his natural position or under center. Warren caught four receptions for 34 yards, rushed twice for 13 yards and a touchdown and handed off the ball a few times to the running backs.
Offensive line
Drew Shelton (left tackle) – 67
Anthony Donkoh (right tackle) – 67
Nick Dawkins (center) – 67
Vega Ioane (right/left guard) – 67
JB Nelson (left guard) – 35
Cooper Cousins (right/left guard)* – 15
Sal Wormley (right guard) – 14
Nolan Rucci (left tackle) – 4
There was a ton of movement on the offensive line, especially after a first-quarter injury to starting right guard Sal Wormley and his replacement, JB Nelson, in the third quarter. Cooper Cousins replaced Nelson and saw time at both right and left guard, as did starter Vega Ioane.
Cornerback
A.J. Harris – 55
Jalen Kimber – 42
Elliot Washington II – 37
Zion Tracy – 19
Cam Miller – 18
A stomach bug limited A.J. Harris’ snaps against Kent State last weekend, but this week, he saw more action than any other corner. Harris came away with his first career interception as Zion Tracy and Cam Miller manned the nickel in limited playing time.
Safety
Jaylen Reed – 61
Zakee Wheatley – 61
Dejuan Lane – 6
Jaylen Reed and Zakee Wheatley played every snap on Saturday, making up for the talent lost in the absence of injured standout Kevin Winston Jr. True freshman Dejuan Lane played briefly, but appeared in his fourth game, making him eligible to burn his redshirt next week against UCLA.
Linebacker
Tony Rojas – 51
Kobe King – 39
DaKaari Nelson – 23
Ta’Mere Robinson – 6
Tyler Elsdon – 6
With starter Dominic DeLuca sidelined with a right-arm injury, DaKaari Nelson — who switched from safety to linebacker this offseason — made his first career start.
Defensive end
Dani Dennis-Sutton – 47
Abdul Carter – 47
Amin Vanover – 24
Smith Vilbert – 24
Abdul Carter moved between defensive end and his traditional position, linebacker, and saw success at both. Carter’s knack for pre-snap penalties needs to be cleaned up, but Saturday was a major win for the projected first-round NFL Draft prospect.
Defensive tackle
Zane Durant – 38
Dvon J-Thomas – 22
Coziah Izzard – 17
Hakeem Beamon – 17
Alonzo Ford Jr. – 11
Nittany Lions’ defensive coordinator Tom Allen got creative on the defensive line, at times playing just one tackle and installing three defensive ends. Whatever the package, Zane Durant was most effective, tallying a sack and two tackles for loss. Despite playing on the interior, Durant continues to define himself as one of the team’s best pass rushers.
