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

By Audrey Snyder/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 8 years ago

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — It’s hard to believe Penn State’s season ended just a little more than a month ago considering all of the personnel changes — both with coaches and with players — that happened since then. 

Penn State has four early enrollees on campus who started classes and workouts last month and the Lions signed a 20-person 2016 recruiting class last week. 


James Franklin video chats with running back Miles Sanders on National signing day 2016. (Audrey Snyder/Post-Gazette)

Penn State has the full allotment of 85 scholarships available this season and due to the three early departures (QB Christian Hackenberg, DT Austin Johnson, TE Adam Breneman), numerous transfers, plus reserve safety Anthony Smith getting introduced on Senior Day, here’s a look at how the Lions’ scholarship numbers are shaping up. 

As always, this is a projection and a way to see what position groups are heavier and lighter than others. James Franklin  keeps Penn State’s scholarships close to the vest so in all likelihood this could be off by a person or two. I have not updated the class standing yet (ex. Saquon Barkley is still a freshman on this list even though when the season rolls around he’ll be a sophomore). 

Also, note the position change for Nick Scott who moved from running back to safety this offseason. I’ll have more on his position switch in a separate post.  

The offensive linemen, especially some of the incoming freshman, could play multiple positions down the road so while OT is heavier than G it will all likely balance out. 

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)
  • Johnathan Thomas (So/Fr)
  • Saquon Barkley (Fr/Fr)
  • Andre Robinson (Fr/Fr)
  • Miles Sanders (arrives in June) 

Wide receiver (8)

  • 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)
  • Dae’lun Darien (arrives in June) 

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 (17)

Offensive tackle (9)

  • Paris Palmer (Jr/Jr)
  • Andrew Nelson (Jr/So)
  • Chaz 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)
  • Will Fries (arrives in June) 

Guard (5) 

  • Derek Dowrey (Sr/Jr)
  • Brian Gaia (Sr/Jr)
  • Brendan Mahon (Jr/So)
  • Steven Gonzalez (Fr/Fr)
  • Michal Menet (arrives in June, could play G, OT or C)

Center (3)

  • Wendy Laurent (Sr/Jr)
  • Ryan Bates (Fr/Fr) (can play C or G)
  • Connor McGovern (Fr, enrolled in January)

Defensive line (18)

Tackles (7)

  • Tyrell Chavis (JUCO transfer, arrives in June, 2 yrs of eligibility left)
  • Parker Cothren (Jr/So)
  • Antoine White (So/Fr)
  • Brenon Thrift (JUCO transfer with 3 yrs eligibility left) 
  • Robert Windsor (Fr/Fr)
  • Ellison Jordan (arrives in June)
  • Antonio Shelton (arrives in June)

Ends (11)

  • 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) 
  • Shane Simmons (arrives in June) 
  • Daniel Joseph (arrives in June) 
  • Shaka Toney (arrives in June)

Linebackers (7)

  • Nyeem Wartman-White (Sr/Jr)
  • Brandon Bell (Jr/Jr)
  • Von Walker (Jr/Jr) (Former walk-on was put on scholarship last year. This is assuming it’s renewed, no guarantee it is though) 
  • Jason Cabinda (So/So)
  • Manny Bowen (Fr/Fr)
  • Jake Cooper (Fr/Fr)
  • Cameron Brown (arrives in June) 

Defensive backs (16)

Cornerback (8)

  • Jordan Smith (Jr/Jr)
  • Grant Haley (So/So)
  • Christian Campbell (So/So)
  • Amani Oruwariye (So/Fr)
  • John Reid (Fr/Fr)
  • Garrett Taylor (Fr/Fr)
  • Zechariah McPhearson (arrives in June) 
  • Anthony Johnson (arrives in June) 

Safety (8)

  • Malik Golden (Sr/Jr)
  • Marcus Allen (So/So)
  • Troy Apke (So/So)
  • Koa Farmer (So/Fr)
  • Nick Scott (So/Fr) (moved from RB to Saf. this offseason) 
  • Jarvis Miller (Fr/Fr)
  • Ayron Monroe (Fr/Fr)
  • Johnny Petrishen (Fr/Fr) 

Specialists (2)

  • Blake Gillikin (P, arrives in June)
  • Alex Barbir (K, arrives in June) 

OFFENSE: 38

DEFENSE: 41

ST: 2 

= 81

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