Penn State Game 8 Snap Counts vs. Purdue and Season Totals

Penn State returned to the win column via a 31-17 win over Purdue on Saturday inside Beaver Stadium, advancing to 4-4 overall on the year.

The Nittany Lions made some notable changes to player usage, including at running back and wide receiver.

Here’s a look at who played, and how much, in the game, per PFF (season totals in parentheses):

Quarterbacks

Rocco Becht – 76 (495)

Alex Manske – 0 (45)

Connor Barry – 0 (17)

Jack Lambert – 0 (1)

As expected, Becht remained the full-time signal-caller for Penn State, producing a solid performance against the Boilermakers. He completed 16 of 24 passes for 175 yards and touchdown and avoided turning the ball over.

Running Backs

Cam Wallace – 43 (88)

Carson Hansen – 36 (255)

James Peoples – 1 (148)

Quinton Martin Jr. – 0 (66)

Amar’e Glover – 0 (4)

Wallace earned the first start of his career and nearly doubled his season total in snaps during an impressive performance. With 22 carries for 135 yards and a touchdown, Wallace made a compelling case to retain the starting role moving forward.

Wide Receivers

Brett Eskildsen – 65 (363)

Amarion Jackson – 63 (118)

Zay Robinson – 10 (129)

Chase Sowell – 0 (354)

Keith Jones Jr. – 0 (14)

Koby Howard – 0 (94)

Karon Brookins – 0 (35)

Peyton Falzone – 0 (7)

Logan Cunningham – 0 (7)

Peter Gonzalez – 0 (2)

With Howard and Sowell both sidelined with injury, Penn State rolled with heavy 12 personnel, keeping just two wideouts on the field in Eskildsen and Jackson. Jackson more than doubled his season snap total and set career highs with two catches for 31 yards.

Tight Ends

Andrew Rappleyea – 65 (368)

Benjamin Brahmer – 50 (354)

Gabe Burkle – 37 (192)

Finn Furmanek – 10 (102)

Brian Kortovich – 0 (37)

Bobby Mears – 0 (30)

Logan Cunningham – 0 (18)

Peyton Falzone – 0 (18)

Brahmer and Rappleyea tied for the team lead with four receptions each, going for 58 yards from Brahmer and 45 yards and a touchdown for Rappleyea. Burkle was utilized primarily as a blocker but added a 12-yard reception.

Offensive Line

Anthony Donkoh – 77 (502)

Trevor Buhr – 77 (501)

Cooper Cousins – 76 (501)

Brock Riker – 76 (462)

Malachi Goodman – 68 (505)

Garrett Sexton – 10 (61)

Donnie Harbour – 1 (46)

Chimdy Onoh – 1 (43)

Vaea Ikakoula – 0 (91)

Will Tompkins – 0 (31) – out for season

Owen Aliciene – 0 (21)

Henry Boehme – 0 (18)

Jim Fitzgerald – 0 (18)

Hunter Albright – 0 (8)

After making the start, Goodman left for the locker room late in the first half and was briefly spelled by Sexton at left tackle before returning for the second half. Additionally, PFF scored the Nittany Lions’ fake field goal attempt as an offensive play, which gave an extra snap to Harbour, Onoh, Buhr, Donkoh, Goodman and Sexton.

Defensive Line

Yvan Kemajou – 37 (270)

Alexander McPherson – 34 (228)

Ikenna Ezeogu – 29 (241)

Caleb Bacon – 22 (199)

Keanu Williams – 16 (262)

Ty Blanding – 15 (114)

Armstrong Nnodim – 12 (138)

Siale Taupaki – 11 (211)

Dallas Vakalahi – 7 (143)

Alijah Carnell – 0 (39)

De’Andre Cook – 0 (34)

Liam Andrews – 0 (25)

Jackson Ford – 0 (22)

Max Granville – 0 (22) – out for season

Both Kemajou and Nnodim were listed as game-time decisions on the team’s pregame availability report but saw meaningful time. Kemajou and Bacon were each credited with three pressures by PFF, which tied for the team lead, while Kemajou recorded the team’s lone sack.

Linebackers

Tony Rojas – 42 (367)

Kooper Ebel – 34 (332)

Cael Brezina – 7 (146)

Cam Smith – 4 (21)

Marcus Neal Jr. – 1 (180)

Alex Tatsch – 0 (81) – out for season

John Klosterman – 0 (4)

Rojas once again led the defense in total snaps and was joined by Ebel for much of the game. Brezina substituted in at middle linebacker, while Smith came in during three-backer sets. After switching from safety to linebacker over the bye week, Neal saw just one snap.

Cornerbacks

Josiah Zayas – 41 (291)

Zion Tracy – 38 (302)

Audavion Collins – 38 (354)

Daryus Dixson – 31 (305)

Jahmir Joseph – 14 (181)

Ibn McDaniels – 14 (65)

Tyler Armstead – 0 (19)

Donte Nastasi – 0 (10)

Christian Askew – 0 (1)

Tracy continued getting reps at safety, while Zayas, Collins and Dixson started at cornerback. Collectively, the group held Boilermaker quarterback Ryan Browne to just 10-for-29 passing for 142 yards with one touchdown and a pair of interceptions. Collins also took two snaps on offense, including an 11-yard carry in the second half.

Safeties

Jamison Patton – 34 (286)

Jeremiah Cooper – 21 (254)

Vaboue Toure – 4 (77)

Xxavier Thomas – 0 (34)

Bryson Williams – 0 (15)

Tyrell Chatman – 0 (7)

Patton continued to lead the way in snaps, while Cooper saw an uptick in playing time after barely seeing the field against Michigan. Head coach Matt Campbell described his lack of playing time as load management.