Three Penn State players who can unlock a teammate’s versatility
There are cornerstone players on every team that must perform well to give the team a chance to win. For the Penn State offense, we’re well aware of who those players are heading into 2024. But which players are quietly important to the team’s success next year? Today, we’re looking at players who can solve sticky depth chart issues if they play above expectations.
Penn State players who can solve problems
Nick Dawkins
It looks like veteran Nick Dawkins is on his way to taking over for Hunter Nourzad as the team’s starting center. Nothing is set in stone, but his play this spring indicates that he’s next in line in the middle. But there’s a difference between playing and playing well. Dawkins needs to play well enough that the team can use its other interior players to bolster other positions.
Dawkins locking down the center role allows freshman Cooper Cousins more time to learn and develop as a role player. It also allows Cousins to pick up other positions, specifically backing up Sal Wormely at right guard. Having a swing player on the interior helps take snaps off of Dawkins and Wormely in non-conference games.
Khalil Dinkins
We’ve discussed the team’s tight end usage during the Blue-White game as a function of not playing two tight end personnel packages. That mystery leaves Penn State’s H-back position an open competition. But if veteran Khalil Dinkins wins the job, it essentially enables the team to ahve a similar situation to the offensive line’s interior.
If Dinkins wins the H-Back job, redshirt freshman Andrew Rappleyea will have the freedom and flexibility to back up both spots. Granted, it’s a similar situation of having the veteran be the better choice for a starting role, but it also speaks to Rapplyea’s versatility. Dinkins doesn’t profile the same way as a potential in-line tight end. If Rappleyea wins the job, he’d likely still be the backup to Tyler Warren at Y tight end. That’s a lot on the plate of a young player. While he’s still in that position, if he’s the backup at both spots, he can be used more selectively.
Essentially, this combination is the best way to get all three players on the field and producing for the offense.
Kaden Saunders
We discussed Penn State’s depth pinch after Malik McClain exited the program last week. The biggest domino effect is that there isn’t a comfortable backup to Omari Evans outside anymore. One option is to use Liam Clifford at both X and slot. But to do that, he needs to be free to move around the formation.
That flexibility will be easier if Kaden Saunders becomes a strong option in the slot and improves his consistency. Saunders is a good route runner, has a shifty change of direction, and has good speed. While he’s not a difference-maker in any category, he has enough juice to be a player. Saunders could play Z but likely isn’t strong enough to play on the outside and beat press coverage.
At 6-1, 203 pounds, Clifford has more size to get through contact. He’s not overly physical himself, but he’s the best candidate among Penn State’s two-deep players to rotate behind Evans outside.
Wildcard: Penn State running backs
The three most common questions from Penn State fans go like this:
Why doesn’t Quinton Martin play receiver this year?
Why can’t Luke Reynolds pay receiver?
Why can’t Penn State play Nick Singleton or Kaytron Allen in the slot?
While the first two questions aren’t viable options, the last one is a real option this coming season. Offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki is an out-of-the-box thinker who will put players in unique situations to make plays. Realistically, we will see Singleton and Allen lined up in the slot, backfield, and in tight splits next to the offensive line. The team needs to overcome its depth crunch at receiver, and if Saunders, Clifford, or any other player doesn’t work out, playing more than two running back sets is an option.
While running back targets are still generally less productive than wide receiver targets, Kotelnicki has already shown he’s willing to scheme up plays to get his runners to an aggressive depth on vertical concepts out of the backfield. And yes, that includes Martin.
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