Ranking Penn State’s most important players for the 2020 season (2024)

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — When building a roster, there are so many variables to keep in mind. One recruiting miss, one player who doesn’t fit the team or one injury can take a promising season and dismantle it. Great teams can withstand roster disruptions to some extent as they tap into their depth, but it’s never easy.

Penn State is well-positioned entering a season in which it’s trying to take another step forward. Should it do so, it will largely be because of these 21 players either living up to or exceeding expectations. And, yes, sometimes a little luck helps, as player health can never be projected.

These are the 21 players most critical to the season, which doesn’t necessarily mean the best, but rather the most important. If there’s a spot that has a talented backup, like a lot of the offensive line does with its position flexibility, it might limit the need to have a player on this list. With 85 scholarships on a roster, trimming, it down to less than a quarter of those on scholarship is a challenge.

As always, feel free to re-rank my list in the comments below and we’ll see if a consensus develops.

Just outside the list: LB Ellis Brooks, DT Antonio Shelton, WR John Dunmore, WR TJ Jones, RB Devyn Ford, Saf. Jonathan Sutherland, K Jake Pinegar, OT Will Fries, DE Adisa Isaac

21. KeAndre Lambert-Smith, WR, Fr.

There’s only one true freshman on the list, and it’s the four-star receiver who enrolled in January and who coach James Franklin said may not have lost a competitive challenge during winter workouts. It’s a gamble to put a true freshman on this list, but there’s no position group with more unknowns than the receiving corps. If Lambert-Smith struggles to put the playbook together, then he won’t even burn his redshirt. But Lambert-Smith was a star on a Virginia state championship team and often made opposing defensive backs look silly.

In a year or two, he could develop into the big-time receiver Penn State needs to show recruits it can be a place to consistently produce effective receivers. There’s a lot of value in having a young receiver play as a freshman if he’s ready, especially for a team that could use a boost at the position on the recruiting trail. In his freshman season, there’s a good opportunity for Lambert-Smith to contribute in some capacity and lay the foundation for a bigger things down the road.

20. Daniel George, WR, R-Soph.

Between George and Cam Sullivan-Brown, someone has to step up to go along with Jahan Dotson. Why George here and not TJ Jones, John Dunmore, Jaden Dottin, Parker Washington, Norval Black or someone else? There’s some sort of connection there between George and Sean Clifford dating back to that 95-yard touchdown two seasons ago against Kent State. Sullivan-Brown, if he can stay healthy, could have the breakout that Penn State’s receiving corps so desperately needs, but George is a bit safer of a bet — if such a thing even exists in a receiving corps where the depth chart is written in pencil.

Dunmore and Jones are tied in my mind, and both could be among the top sleepers on this team. Dunmore was a four-star recruit and Jones pleased teammates with his developments last year during his redshirt season. Still, the list can’t be loaded with unproven receivers, so that’s where things stand.

19. Jordan Stout, K/P, R-Jr.

Penn State’s touchback machine is expected to add punter and holder to his list of duties. Replacing Blake Gillikin at punter, Stout has another opportunity to influence Penn State’s starting field position. If there’s a long field goal attempt to be had, expect it once again will be Stout and not Jake Pinegar to take it. There’s only one specialist listed here, and though Pinegar’s continued development on field goals is important, 10 percent of the list can’t be comprised of specialists. Stout will be asked to do a lot and has been prepping for this opportunity for years.

18. Jesse Luketa, LB, Jr.

The starting middle linebacker battle between Luketa and Ellis Brooks will be sorted out in camp. So, is this me projecting a camp position battle winner? I guess we can go with that. But notice Brooks just outside the top 21, so I’m not projecting much separation between the two. Whoever loses the starting job is still going to play a good bit and will continue helping on special teams, a role Luketa has embraced the past two years. Luketa has a close relationship with star linebacker Micah Parsons — the two are seemingly always around each other off the field — and that connection helps give Luketa the edge on this list, even if the real decision is still to come.

17. Noah Cain, RB, Soph.

It takes more than one running back for a team to make it through the season, and Cain is the No. 2 option who at times last season looked like someone who could challenge for the top spot. The more the running backs behind Journey Brown develop, the better the already bright future of the unit looks. If there’s a rainy, muddy or snowy game, it could be just the right time to rely on Cain to carry the load, like he did against Iowa last year. Penn State can beat teams with different kinds of backs and can keep them fresh by working in Devyn Ford a good bit, as well.

16. Marquis Wilson, CB, Soph.

The depth at cornerback is better than it’s been in a while. Is using three spots in the top 20 on cornerbacks a little excessive? Perhaps. But the case can be made for at least three, starting with Wilson. Though if he is healthy, don’t sleep on Donovan Johnson, either, given that Johnson is going to have the first opportunity to win the starting job in camp. So, why Wilson and not Johnson on this list? It could be recency bias after Johnson was an afterthought much of the past two seasons because of injuries, but the way Wilson was able to get his hands on the football last season can’t be dismissed for a secondary that’s focused on having more interceptions this season.

15. Lamont Wade, Saf., Sr.

Wade is captain material, and coming off his first year as a full-time starter, he’ll need to be key part of a defense that gives up fewer explosive plays. As Wade showed at The Horseshoe last year when he played the game of his life, he can have those moments where you’re reminded about his high-profile recruitment and the game-changer he is capable of being. He offers versatility, too, which could be important given the talented corners this team has and how many times it could go into sub packages. A few more standout games like Ohio State, and Wade would be pushing for a spot in the top five on this list, but finding some level of consistency is important. The starter next to Wade could be on the verge of a special season, which helps both of them.

14. Keaton Ellis, CB, Soph.

It’s possible that the list includes two corners who aren’t starters, but there is a good chance that either Ellis or Wilson wins a starting job. If Tariq Castro-Fields struggles like he did at points last season, both sophom*ores could end up starting. Penn State thought it scooped up one of the most under-the-radar prospects when it signed Ellis out of nearby State College High School. He proved it by getting on the field last season and played extensively in the Cotton Bowl, which helped cap a season where the future of the secondary became a highlight despite the inconsistency of the unit.

13. Rasheed Walker, LT, R-Soph.

In terms of learning experiences, nobody was put in a more challenging spot than Walker in 2019. There were ups and downs, as there always are for first-year starters, but how Walker builds on starting at left tackle as a redshirt freshman now with Phil Trautwein leading the way for the linemen should be a reason for excitement this year. Walker remains one of the most critical building blocks for the future of this team, and seeing him continue developing this year would bode well for 2021.

12. Brandon Smith, LB, Soph.

A projected starter after burning a redshirt last season, the former five-star prospect is one of the most intriguing players on this team. There’s potential for Smith to pair with Parsons and Luketa/Brooks to form one of the best linebacking corps in the country. That’s been the plan since Penn State signed Smith. Smith laid a few huge hits last season on defense and special teams that made it impossible not to notice him. The athleticism of this linebacking corps could be the highlight of the entire defense, and if it lives up to the star-studded potential it has on paper, Smith will be a big reason why.

11. Jayson Oweh, DE, R-Soph.

It’s an offseason full of turning potential into production for Oweh, which has been the story for him since the former basketball player became a four-star defensive end recruit and enrolled at Penn State. The stakes have never been higher for Oweh, who is the favorite to start opposite Shaka Toney. An end who is said to run the 40-yard dash in the 4.3s is mind-blowing, and if Penn State’s physical freak takes a step forward as anticipated, then the future up front also gets a boost. A potential 2021 tandem of Oweh and Adisa Isaac could feature two future NFL players, but let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves just yet.

10. Jaquan Brisker, Saf., Sr.

Brisker’s ball skills have continued to draw rave reviews from Penn State’s staff. Lackawanna College has been a strong pipeline for Penn State to helping fill needs in recent years, and when the Lions added Brisker, it was with hopes that he’d develop alongside Wade. Defensive coordinator Brent Pry said he was unsure the last time Penn State had a safety with Brisker’s range, pondering whether it was Adrian Amos or Jordan Lucas. Either way, both are playing on Sundays, and this safety tandem has the potential to be Penn State’s best in the past few years.

9. Shaka Toney, DE, R-Sr.

With Yetur Gross-Matos in the NFL, Toney is the most seasoned defensive end and will continue being a leader on the D-line. Toney started all 13 games and finished with 6.5 sacks, and a starting tandem with Oweh should mean the pass rush won’t miss a beat. Toney’s leadership can’t be underestimated, either, especially in a room with a new position coach and several young ends competing for time.

8. Tariq Castro-Fields, CB, Sr.

The blunt assessment of Castro-Fields’ tale of two seasons last year wasn’t lost on the corner. If he plays like he did in the first half of the season, then perhaps he’s in the top five on this list and one of the two sophom*ore corners doesn’t make the list. If the second half of the season — when he played through an injury — is the basis for this assessment, then he’d be outside the top 10. Penn State needs Castro-Fields to be its No. 1, shutdown corner. He wants to be that and will have every opportunity to do so. If he struggles, there’s no shortage of options. If he succeeds? He’ll have a strong shot to be playing on Sundays.

7. PJ Mustipher, DT, Jr.

All of the depth in the secondary and all the talent at linebacker won’t matter if the Nittany Lions can’t continue to be strong against the run while also generating a consistent pass rush. The pass rush element was hit-or-miss at points last year. Mustipher took it upon himself this offseason to improve his ability to rush the passer and has his sights set on becoming one of the top interior linemen in the nation. He changed his diet in preparing to become a starter after essentially playing the role of one despite not being on the field for the first series last year, when he rotated with Antonio Shelton. With Mustipher, Shelton, Fred Hansard and Judge Culpepper, there’s a solid tackle rotation to work with, which is why Shelton is just outside the top 21, though a case can be made for him, as well.

6. Michal Menet, C, R-Sr.

When Menet elected to return for his final season, he couldn’t have imagined it would result in him spending the spring at home training in his backyard. Leading from afar was part of his role, and Sean Clifford having his center back — someone who could also play guard if needed — gives the Nittany Lions an experienced foundation to build around on offense. How Juice Scruggs develops behind Menet is a storyline for 2021, but returning four starting offensive lineman for this season was critical. No lineman is more important than Menet.

5. Journey Brown, RB, R-Jr.

Brown enters the summer the same way he finished the season, as the top running back in a crowded backfield. He has the chance to continue building off what he did the second half of last season, when he turned a lot of heads. His track speed translated to the football field, and Brown looked like a special player in the making. There’s plenty of talent behind him, but the interesting thing here is how much Brown can help his NFL stock this season, with the former three-star recruit having a strong chance to both help himself and this offense. He’s slated to be the kick returner, too.

4. Jahan Dotson, WR, Jr.

It’s clear who the team’s No. 1 wide receiver is, but making up for the production that was gobbled up by KJ Hamler is going to take a few players. Dotson caught 27 passes for 488 yards and five touchdowns and finished third on the team with 44 targets last year, according to Sports Info Solutions, behind Hamler (96) and tight end Pat Freiermuth (61). No other player was targeted more than 21 times. Dotson should be the recipient of more targets and will get a chance to be the punt returner, too. Trying to envision this receiving corps without Dotson is nothing short of a nightmare, largely because the returning production isn’t there right now.

3. Pat Freiermuth, TE, Jr.

Having arguably the best tight end in college football will help make up for the uncertainties of the receiving corps. Freiermuth is a mismatch for so many teams, and one of the top signees of James Franklin’s Penn State tenure to date came back for another season to try to see how much better this team can get. The new offense under Kirk Ciarrocca needs Freiermuth, and he should continue to thrive and potentially have even more opportunities after finishing second on the team with 43 catches for 507 yards and seven touchdowns as a sophom*ore.

2. Sean Clifford, QB, R-Jr.

Making sure Clifford and Ciarrocca are on the same page will be critical during camp. Through Zoom sessions this offseason, the quarterback and offensive coordinator said they got to a point in May where they felt like they were speaking the same language with this new offense. Clifford’s deep ball drew some criticism last year, and what his connection looks like with those not named Freiermuth and Dotson will be critical. Equally important is how Penn State tries to keep Clifford as healthy as possible. His legs were a positive development last season, but by the end of the year, all the extra hits took a toll on Clifford’s body.

1. Micah Parsons, LB, Jr.

Look no further than the Cotton Bowl for an example of how Parsons can impact the game in seemingly every way possible. He can rush the passer, blow up plays, force fumbles and lead the defense. He can even serve as the off-returner on special teams. Parsons is one of the best players at any position in all of college football, and Penn State needs to ride Parsons’ star power as far as it’ll take them. The expectations are high, and Parsons’ NFL Draft stock will continue to rise if he plays like he did for much of last season.

(Top photo of Micah Parsons: Randy Litzinger / Getty Images)