Utah, Penn State Are More Alike Than Different
Jan 1, 2023, 5:03 PM
Utah football and Penn State football will be meeting for the first time ever at the Rose Bowl on Monday, January 2, 2023. (Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images)
(Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES- No. 8 Utah and No. 11 Penn State are a day away from facing off in the 109th Rose Bowl game and it’s like looking in a mirror. The two opponents are built very similarly and both sides have noted they are more alike than they are different.
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Establish the run on offense, stop the run on defense, and use the tight ends is the main formula for the success both teams have had over the years.
Taking A Closer Look At Utah’s Opponent, Penn State
The Nittany Lions have been led by head coach James Franklin since 2014 who holds a 78-36 record at Penn State. Franklin took over the program when it was reeling from the Jerry Sandusky scandal that came down the pipeline in 2013. Since then, Franklin has done a good job of helping to rebuild the reputation and brand of PSU while putting them back in the national scene.
Sean Clifford is the guy under-center for Penn State. The senior quarterback has completed 210 passes for 2,543 yards, 22 touchdowns and seven interceptions in his final season with the Nittany Lions. Clifford has also used his legs 61 times for an additional 177 yards and five touchdowns.
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While Clifford can clearly use his legs when he needs to, the Penn State running attack relies on the two-headed monster of Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen. The Nittany Lions’ one, two punch has combined for nearly 2000 yards rushing in 2022. Singleton has powered his way to 941 yards rushing off of 149 attempts with 10 touchdowns to his name while averaging 6.3 yards per carry. Allen on the other hand has racked up 830 yards off of 156 attempts and nine touchdowns. His average per carry is 5.3.
Penn State will unfortunately be out their top wide receiver, Parker Washington, who was lost for the season in November to a season-ending injury. Instead, they will be relying heavily on wide receiver Mitchell Tinsley and their tight end duo, Brenton Strange and Theo Johnson.
Tinsley is nipping at Washington’s heels in production with 45 receptions for 528 yards and four touchdowns. Strange has 32 receptions for 362 yards and five touchdowns, while Johnson has brought in 19 catches for 300 yards and four touchdowns.
Perhaps the most interesting challenge for the Utes on Monday will come from Penn State’s defense which ranks 16th in the country in overall production. The Nittany Lions should be by-and-far the best unit Utah’s 17th ranked offense has faced all season.
A few keys to Penn State’s defensive cog include safety Ji’Ayir Brown and linebackers Abdul Carter, and Curtis Jacobs.
Brown leads the team in tackles with 66 along with three sacks, four passes defended, three interceptions and two forced fumbles. Carter is next with 55 total tackles, an eye-boggling 6.5 sacks, four passes defended, and two forced fumbles. Jacobs comes in with 47 total tackles, two sacks, two passes defended, one pick-six, and one forced fumble.
Much like Utah with Clark Phillips III, PSU will be without their best corner in Joey Porter Jr. who is currently preparing for the 2023 NFL Draft.
Michelle Bodkin is the Utah Utes Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of both the Crimson Corner Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and The Saturday Show (Saturday from 10 a.m.–12 p.m.) on The KSL Sports Zone. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram: @BodkinKSLsports
