A majority of the offseason for reporters and fans alike is spent predicting Penn State’s depth chart. There’s no telling exactly who will start or even play, because James Franklin does not release a depth chart. And that’s fine; it just makes the season opener that much more intriguing in regard to who plays — and how much — and who doesn’t.
According to the stat broadcast, the Nittany Lions ran 60 offensive plays and 66 defensive plays for a total of 126 snaps in their 34-12 season-opening victory at West Virginia. Here’s a look at the snap counts, per PFF, for each player who participated, and what exactly their usage could mean moving forward.
Quarterback
Drew Allar – 51
Beau Pribula – 20
Just because Allar played one of his most complete games as a starter, doesn’t mean Pribula won’t have a significant role in Andy Kotelnicki’s offense. There were times Allar and Pribula saw the field together and others, like late in the fourth quarter, saw Pribula man the spotlight by himself. Pribula picked up two first downs on three rushing attempts and also threw a touchdown with Allar positioned out wide.
Running back
Kaytron Allen – 30
Nick Singleton – 28
Cam Wallace – 13
Singleton and Allen, who both scored against the Mountaineers, will continue splitting snaps, as they have for the previous two seasons. As the season unfolds, their usage under Kotelnicki’s system could vary given their differing play styles. Don’t yet count out Allen, who was used seven times as a run blocker, in the wake of Singleton’s 114-yard game.
Wide receiver
Harrison Wallace III – 35
Julian Fleming – 35
Omari Evans – 31
Liam Clifford – 21
Tyler Johnson – 6
Anthony Ivey – 5
Jake Spencer – 4
Wallace has defined himself as the team’s clear leading wide receiver, but don’t overlook the stat sheet when evaluating Fleming, a staunch run blocker who was used 20 times in such scenarios while not tallying a reception. Kaden Saunders, who served as the team’s primary punt returner, surprisingly did not see time at receiver.
Tight end
Tyler Warren – 49
Andrew Rappleyea – 26
Luke Reynolds* – 12
Joey Schlaffer – 1
Warren is going to play a lot of football this fall, whether as a receiver or a blocker. So should the rest of the young corps, especially if veteran tight end Khalil Dinkins remains out with “bumps and bruises” past this week. It appears Rappleyea has replaced Dinkins as a key run blocker in the interim, but the former five-star Reynolds should also continue to see time.
Offensive line
Anthony Donkoh (right tackle) – 51
Sal Wormley (right guard) – 51
Nick Dawkins (center) – 51
Vega Ioane (left guard) – 41
Drew Shelton (left tackle) – 51
JB Nelson (left guard) – 20
Cooper Cousins* (center) – 13
Nolan Rucci (right tackle) – 12
Dominci Rulli (right guard) – 11
J’ven Williams (left tackle) – 10
Alex Birchmeier (right guard) – 1
Most of the starting line presumably was already set in stone. The only question surrounded right tackle, and it now appears Anthony Donkoh has clearly set himself apart at that spot over Rucci, a Wisconsin transfer. Ioane and Nelson are likely to continue partially splitting snaps, as they did last season, but Nelson remains flexible across the line.
Cornerback
A.J. Harris – 54
Jalen Kimber – 48
Cam Miller – 22
Elliot Washington II – 17
Audavion Collins – 12
Zion Tracy – 3
This was another position with some question marks after three starters left for the NFL this offseason. It now looks as though a pair of transfers, Harris and Kimber, will primarily man the starting posts with a pretty constant rotation, led by Miller and Elliot Washington II, who caught his first-career interception on Saturday.
Safety
Kevin Winston Jr. – 60
Jaylen Reed – 59
Zakee Wheatley – 55
Dejaun Lane* – 3
Tyrece Mills – 3
There may not have been a stronger unit at West Virginia. Tom Allen’s experiment of putting Reed at the ‘Lion’ slot-corner position appears to be a success. Winston proved why he’s among the nation’s best at the position — tallying a team-high 12 tackles — and Wheatley looks the part of a viable starter. Dejaun Lane, a true freshman, also made his debut Saturday.
Linebacker
Tony Rojas – 47
Kobe King – 45
Dominic DeLuca – 42
Tyler Elsdon – 23
Ta’Mere Robinson – 1
A unit without much debate as for its starters, Penn State’s linebackers performed well given the loss of two starters from last season. Rojas, in his first-career start, looked like a seasoned veteran alongside team captains in King and DeLuca. Elsdon rotated in with King, and appeared to struggle at times. But with his experience, he’s likely to continue seeing the field.
Defensive end
Dani Dennis-Sutton – 47
Abdul Carter – 42
Amin Vanover – 33
Smith Vilbert – 25
Jordan Mayer – 1
The expectations remain high for Dennis-Sutton and Carter to continue the team’s success on the edge. But it’s possible the depth at the position could be the strongest asset, especially as Carter transitions from linebacker. Carter was called for four penalties, and rotated with Vilbert, who forced a strip sack in his first game since the Outback Bowl at the end of the 2021 season.
Defensive tackle
Zane Durant – 39
Dvon Ellies – 27
Coziah Izzard – 25
Hakeem Beamon – 23
Alonzo Ford Jr. – 22
Ty Blanding – 3
This is another position with impeccable depth. Durant tallied the team’s first sack of the year and presented himself as a potentially well-respected NFL prospect as he rotated with a strong group of tackles. Ford played more than maybe most would’ve expected after he missed all of last season with an injury, and Blanding played sparingly, but is a name to know ahead of the 2025 season, when a number of veteran defensive lineman run out of eligibility.
