Penn State football’s season is in full swing and a number of first-year players have already seen playing time through two games. A player can appear in up to four games — not including postseason competition — and retain redshirt status. But it appears a trio of Nittany Lions are on pace to burn their redshirts potentially as soon as five games in.
James Franklin gave the “green light” to burn redshirt status to a pair of freshmen, offensive lineman Cooper Cousins and safety Dejuan Lane, prior to the season opener at West Virginia. And since that announcement, another freshman has shown up in game action despite Penn State remaining in search of a blowout win.
Here’s a look at the freshmen who have played through two games, and what their early roles could mean for this season and beyond.
TWO GAMES
OL Cooper Cousins
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Cousins, a 6-foot-6 and 316-pound offensive lineman, has already appeared in both games this season. Cousins has played a total of 20 snaps between both center and guard as he begins to define himself as a potential cornerstone of the Nittany Lions’ line of the future.
TE Luke Reynolds
He wasn’t green-lighted alongside Cousins and Lane, but former five-star tight end Luke Reynolds has already played more than any freshman on the roster. Injuries that left Khalil Dinkins out in the season opener and Andrew Rappaleyea inactive against Bowling Green have helped Reynolds bump up the depth chart. But his talent is unequivocal and it should continue to show up on the field, especially if Rappleyea is to miss extended time.
S Dejaun Lane
The playing time should only continue for Lane, who is on track to burn his redshirt as a depth piece to a safety room that starts three players. Lane played three snaps at West Virginia and played briefly on kickoff coverage against the Falcons. His playing time should only increase as the season unfolds.
FRESHMEN WHO TRAVELED TO WEST VIRGINIA
No other freshman has appeared in game action outside of Cousins, Reynolds and Lane. But a handful of players traveled and suited up against the Mountaineers, signaling their debuts could come sooner than others.
WR Tyseer Denmark
While he has yet to play in a game, wide receiver Tyseer Denmark generated “significant buzz” in the offseason, Franklin said in August. There have been seven wide receivers to play in two games thus far, so Denmark still appears low on the depth chart. But as he gains more experience, Denmark could see playing time before the season concludes.
QB Ethan Grunkemeyer
Drew Allar and Beau Pribula have handled all of the work at quarterback through two games, but if a blowout ensues, it wouldn’t come as a surprise to see third-string Ethan Grunkemeyer see some action. Franklin said in the offseason the coaching staff was “very excited” about Grunkemeyer, who bumped up the depth chart with a long-term injury to redshirt freshman Jaxon Smolik.
OL Eagan Boyer
As with wide receiver, there are a handful of names for Eagan Boyer to climb ahead of on the offensive line before he sees significant playing time. However, Boyer was a player Franklin mentioned during camp as having added “35 to 40 pounds” and had done some “really nice things.”
DT Xavier Gilliam
There’s also no shortage of depth at defensive tackle, potentially adding an obstacle for Xavier Gilliam to see meaningful playing time. It’s also possible Gilliam has dealt with recent injuries after being ruled inactive at West Virginia. Gilliam was described by strength and conditioning coach Chuck Losey in February as being “a powerful kid” who is going to “fly around the field.”
RB Quinton Martin Jr.
RB Corey Smith
The third-string running back spot was up for grabs all offseason, but ultimately went to redshirt freshman Cam Wallace. But don’t yet rule out Quinton Martin Jr. and Corey Smith, both of whom Franklin said he’d expect to “play this year.”
DE Max Granville
There are high hopes for defensive end Max Granville, who left high school a year early to join the Nittany Lions this offseason. Granville has been compared to Miami Dolphins rookie Chop Robinson by teammates and was even referred to as “Chop 2.0” by starting edge rusher Dani Dennis-Sutton two weeks ago.
CB Kenny Woseley Jr.
DE Jaylen Harvey
OTHER SCHOLARSHIP FRESHMEN YET TO DEBUT
Penn State signed 26 freshmen this past winter, and six of them are injured as of the Bowling Green game. Whether it be injuries or an excess of depth at a given player’s position, a number of freshmen have yet to either appear or make it on the travel roster through two games.
DE Liam Andrews (ruled out against Bowling Green)
CB Antoine Belgrave-Shorter
OL Caleb Brewer
WR Josiah Brown
DT De’Andre Cook (ruled out against Bowling Green)
DT T.A. Cunningham (ruled out against Bowling Green)
WR Peter Gonzalez (out with “long-term injury”)
LB Kari Jackson (ruled out against Bowling Green)
CB Jon Mitchell
OL Garrett Sexton
LB Anthony Speca
S Vaboue Toure
DE Mylachi Williams (ruled out against Bowling Green)
