Penn State Nittany Lions - 2022 College Football Season Preview and Wins Total Prediction
Last Updated: 07/17/2022 at 7:37 PM ET
The Penn State Nittany Lions went 7-6 overall and 4-5 in the Big 10 last season. Penn State has been given a projected wins total of 8.5 for this season. Penn State has struggled over the last season and a half at 11-11 and finished last season losing six of the last eight games.
Sean Clifford returns at quarterback for Penn State. Last season, Clifford passed for 3,107 yards with 21 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Keyvone Lee is the top rusher returning from last season. In 2021, Lee rushed for 530 yards and two touchdowns. The top two targets for Clifford will be Parker Washington KeAndre Lambert-Smith. Last season Washington caught 64 passes for 820 yards and four touchdowns and Lambert-Smith caught 34 passes for 521 yards and three touchdowns.
The offensive line will be much stronger in 2022 than last season, with Hunter Nourzad transferring from Cornell and JB Nelson arriving from JUCO. Two starters return from last year including Juice Scruggs at center and Caeden Wallace at right tackle. The new additions and backups returning from last season should help improve the Penn State running game, which last season was No. 118 in the country.
Penn State gave up more than its share of yards last season but not many points. The Nittany Lions defense allowed 24 points or more just twice, with both resulting in losses to Ohio State and Michigan State. When Penn State's defense gave up 20 points or less the Nittany Lions were 7-1 last season but were 0-5 in their other games. Dani Dennis-Sutton arrives as one of the nation's top recruits at defensive end and Zane Durant will be one of the nation's best defensive tackles
At linebacker, the two leading tacklers are no longer with the Nittany Lions but Curtis Jacobs had 61 tackles and three sacks last season and will be the leader. Incoming freshmen and backups from last season will round out the linebacker corps. Penn State’s secondary has a future NFL player in cornerback Joey Porter and one of the top tacklers from last season Ji’Ayir Brown is back. Kalen King is a talented cornerback and several new recruits complete a strong secondary.
Penn State has senior quarterback Sean Clifford back under center and Clifford will guide a talented offense with his strong arm. The Nittany Lions have a 1-2 tandem at wide receiver that will stretch the field, while Keyvone Lee will keep defenses honest with an excellent running game. Penn State's defense lost several players but has a mix of returning starters, recruits and transfers who will combine to give the Nittany Lions a very tough 11 on that side of the ball. Penn State will finish over its projected 8.5 wins total.
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