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How are Penn State's scholarships broken down per position?

By Audrey Snyder/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 8 years ago

The crunch to National Signing Day is on and with QB Christian Hackenberg declaring for the NFL Draft, defensive tackle Austin Johnson doing the same, the early the departure of TE Adam Breneman and a trio of transfers I figured it was time to revisit Penn State’s scholarship numbers. 

The way the last week has gone there could be more coming so I’ll continue to keep this updated. (And of course there were more. Reserve LB Gary Wooten will be a graduate transfer, a source confirmed to the Post-Gazette Tuesday at 3:30 pm. and on Wednesday RB Akeel Lynch announced his plans to transfer after the spring semester. I’ve updated the list to reflect this). 

Where Penn State is at now: 

Penn State has four scholarship freshman who joined the team this week when classes begin and they are TE Danny Dalton, OT Alex Gellerstedt, G/C Connor McGovern and QB Jake Zembiec. I added those guys to their respective position groups below. 

Penn State has the full allotment of 85 scholarships available this season and due to the three early departures (Hackenberg, Johnson, Breneman), the trio of transfers, plus reserve safety Anthony Smith getting introduced on Senior Day, here’s what the numbers are looking like. 

Penn State has 18 verbal pledges in the 2016 class as of today (including K Quinn Nordin whose interest in other schools is well noted). 

It’s also likely PSU could have some transfers coming even after this crazy wave that’s been the last two weeks. Looking at the crowded running back position, that will only get more crowded when freshman Miles Sanders arrives this summer, I can’t see the Lions having seven scholarships tied up at running back. Perhaps Akeel Lynch, now behind freshman Saquon Barkley, would want to go elsewhere? Lynch has yet to graduate so if he graduates in the spring perhaps he’d want a chance to go elsewhere? 

Maybe RB Nick Scott, who played some safety in high school, could be a candidate to help out elsewhere if asked?

As always, this is a projection and a way to see what position groups are heavier and lighter than others. James Franklin likes to keep Penn State’s scholarships close to the vest so in all likelihood this could be off by a person or two.  

My best guesses: 

Quarterback (3)

  • Trace McSorley (So/Fr)
  • Tommy Stevens (Fr/Fr)
  • Jake Zembiec (Fr, enrolled in Jan.)

Running back (5)

  • Mark Allen (So/Fr)
  • Nick Scott (So/Fr)
  • Johnathan Thomas (So/Fr)
  • Saquon Barkley (Fr/Fr)
  • Andre Robinson (Fr/Fr)

Wide receiver (8)

  • Jake Kiley (Sr/Jr)
  • DaeSean Hamilton (Jr/So)
  • DeAndre Thompkins (So/Fr)
  • Saeed Blacknall (So/So)
  • Chris Godwin (So/So)
  • Brandon Polk (Fr/Fr)
  • Juwan Johnson (Fr/Fr)
  • Irvin Charles (Fr/Fr)

Tight ends (5)

  • Brent Wilkerson (Sr/Jr)
  • Mike Gesicki (So/So)
  • Nick Bowers (Fr/Fr)
  • Jonathan Holland (Fr/Fr) 
  • Danny Dalton (Fr, enrolled in January) 

Offensive line (15)

Offensive tackle (8)

  • Paris Palmer (Jr/Jr)
  • Andrew Nelson (Jr/So)
  • Chase Wright (So/Fr)
  • Noah Beh (So/Fr)
  • Brendan Brosnan (So/Fr)
  • Chance Sorrell (So/Fr)
  • Sterling Jenkins (Fr/Fr)
  • Alex Gellerstedt (Fr, enrolled in January)

Guard (5)

  • Derek Dowrey (Sr/Jr)
  • Brian Gaia (Sr/Jr)
  • Brendan Mahon (Jr/So)
  • Steven Gonzalez (Fr/Fr)
  • Connor McGovern (Fr, enrolled in January. Can play G or C)

Center (2)

  • Wendy Laurent (Sr/Jr)
  • Ryan Bates (Fr/Fr) (can play C or G)

Defensive line (11)

Tackles (3)

  • Parker Cothren (Jr/So)
  • Antoine White (So/Fr)
  • Robert Windsor (Fr/Fr)

Ends (8)

  • Evan Schwan (Sr/Jr)
  • Garrett Sickels (Jr/So)
  • Curtis Cothran (Jr/So)
  • Torrence Brown (So/Fr)
  • Shareef Miller (Fr/Fr)
  • Kevin Givens (Fr/Fr)
  • Ryan Buchholz (Fr/Fr)
  • Kamonte Carter (Fr/Fr) 

Linebackers (6)

  • Nyeem Wartman-White (Sr/Jr)
  • Brandon Bell (Jr/Jr)
  • Von Walker (Jr/Jr)
  • Jason Cabinda (So/So)
  • Manny Bowen (Fr/Fr)
  • Jake Cooper (Fr/Fr)

Defensive backs (13)

Cornerback (6)

  • Jordan Smith (Jr/Jr)
  • Grant Haley (So/So)
  • Christian Campbell (So/So)
  • Amani Oruwariye (So/Fr)
  • John Reid (Fr/Fr)
  • Garrett Taylor (Fr/Fr)

Safety (7)

  • Malik Golden (Sr/Jr)
  • Marcus Allen (So/So)
  • Troy Apke (So/So)
  • Koa Farmer (So/Fr)
  • Jarvis Miller (Fr/Fr)
  • Ayron Monroe (Fr/Fr)
  • Johnny Petrishen (Fr/Fr)

Specialists (0)

OFFENSE: 36

DEFENSE: 30

ST: 0

= 67 (including 4 early enrollees) 

2016 class is at 18 (including the 4 early enrollees) 

So, 36+30+14 (18-4 early enrollees) = 80

As always, there’s always the likelihood that a few returning players listed on here aren’t on scholarship, or that others could be transferring in the coming days and months. 

Audrey Snyder: asnyder@post-gazette.com and Twitter @audsnyder4