Less than three weeks until kickoff, folks.
With that, I thought a quick update to the roster and depth chart was in order.
I'll do a fall camp update later this week.
Roster
Here are some new weights for some players since preseason practice began: Silas Redd [5-10, 202], Stephfon Green [5-10, 200], Jack Crawford [6-5, 268 to 272], Stephon Morris [5-8 1/2, 186], D'Anton Lynn [6-1, 204], Christian Kuntz [6-5, 215], Sean Stanley [6-1, 243 to 246], Devon Still [6-5, 295], Brandon Ware [6-3, 330], Chima Okoli [6-4, 296], Paul Jones [6-3, 235], Curtis Drake [5-11, 180], Justin Brown [6-3, 213] and Garry Gilliam [6-6, 265].
Update: P Russell Nye and RB Shaine Thompson are no longer with the team. Thompson was declared academically ineligible, but will remain in college and earn his degree. No word on why Nye left, probably no room on the roster. Good luck to them both.
Check out the latest updated version of Penn State's 2010 football roster.
Depth Chart
Projecting a depth chart is fun, but really tough to get right unless you're watching practice every day. But if you read enough of everything, you'll get most of it right.
Here are some notes on it:
Curtis Drake is out for a long time, 6-8 weeks. Don't be shocked if he takes a redshirt season. It does look like Brett Brackett will take over the R receiver position, which to me looks like the slot. But there are some out there saying that true frosh Alex Kenney is gaining traction with the coaching staff, and could see some time behind Brackett.
Brandon Beachum is on this depth chart, even though ACL recoveries don't usually get a green light by the doctors until after a full year has passed. But for now, it looks like Beachum wants to get back on the field, right now.
Sophomore receiver Justin Brown (19) should see a ton of time this fall, on both offense and special teams.
At tight end, with the emergence of Garry Gilliam as a potential candidate to "co-start" with Andrew Sczcerba, I'm not expecting Kevin Haplea to make the depth chart this year. That's not saying he's not good enough. But as long as Mark Wedderburn is around, I don't see the staff wasting a season of eligibility on Haplea in 2010.
The linebackers are a muddled mess right now, but in a good way, I swear. There are just waaayyy too many great players at this position. The starters are set, and I'm comfortable with them. But I do expect Mike Mauti to get back into the swing of things by the Big Ten opener. The other guy I'm really looking forward to seeing is Gerald Hodges, but who isn't? Basically, that entire second string could start for any BCS automatic qualifier, and be considered a strength of the defense. They're all that good.
Let's hope the special teams are settling down a bit. I like the idea of Brown fielding punts. And if Anthony Fera is really, finally keeping his head about him, I like him to take over punting duties. Then again, who knows anything definite about Penn State's special teams?
So here we go, what I think is a logical projection of the 2010 Penn State football depth chart going into the season:
| OFF | First Team | Second Team | Reserves |
|---|---|---|---|
| QB | #12 Kevin Newsome | #11 Matt McGloin | #10 Paul Jones; #1 Robert Bolden |
| RB | #22 Evan Royster | #21 Stephfon Green | #3 Brandon Beachum; #26 Curtis Dukes |
| FB | #37 Joe Suhey | #9 Mike Zordich | #33 Andre Dupree |
| X | #6 Derek Moye | #19 Justin Brown | #8 Brandon Moesby-Felder |
| Z | #5 Graham Zug | #20 Devon Smith | #4 Shawney Kersey |
| R | #83 Brett Brackett | #18 Alex Kenney | -- |
| TE | #80 Andrew Szczerba | #89 Garry Gilliam | #13 Mark Wedderburn |
| LT | #67 Quinn Barham | #78 Mike Farrell | #58 Adam Gress |
| LG | #50 De'OnTae Pannell | #54 Matt Stankiewitch | #74 Johnnie Troutman |
| C | #68 Doug Klopacz | #53 Ty Howle | |
| RG | #61 Stefen Wisniewski | #64 John Urschel | #77 Lou Eliades |
| RT | #77 Lou Eliades | #52 Chimaeze Okoli | #75 Eric Shrive |
| LS | #53 Jon Rohrbaugh | -- | -- |
| K | #36 Collin Wagner | #30 Anthony Fera | #28 David Soldner |
| KR | #2 Chaz Powell | #8 Brandon Moseby-Felder | -- |
| KR | #21 Stephfon Green | #20 Devon Smith | -- |
| Hold | #83 Brett Brackett | -- | -- |
| DEF | First Team | Second Team | Reserves |
| DE | #81 Jack Crawford | #44 Kevion Katham | #90 Sean Stanley |
| DT | #71 Devon Still | #47 Jordan Hill | #75 Evan Hailes |
| DT | #85 Ollie Ogbu | #72 James Terry | #99 Brandon Ware |
| DE | #56 Eric Latimore | #59 Pete Massaro | #84 Kyle Baublitz |
| OLB | #15 Bani Gbadyu | #42 Mike Mauti | #51 James Van Fleet |
| MLB | #48 Chris Colasanti | #33 Mike Yancich | #40 Glenn Carson |
| OLB | #34 Nate Stupar | #6 Gerald Hodges | #11 Khairi Fortt; #40 Glen Carson |
| CB | #12 Stephfon Morris | #2 Chaz Powell | #5 Derrick Thomas |
| Hero | #1 Nick Sukay | #23 Stephen Obeng-Agyapong | #27 Jacob Fagnano |
| FS | #28 Drew Astorino | #13 Andrew Dailey | #10 Malcolm Willis |
| CB | #8 D'Anton Lynn | #4 Evan Lewis | #14 Mike Wallace |
| PS | #95 Russell Nye | #30 Anthony Fera | #5 Graham Zug |
| PR | #19 Justin Brown | #5 Graham Zug | #8 Brandon Moseby-Felder |
I'm sure I won't have to ask for your own thoughts on that chart, so just let'em rip. (remember: no anonymous comments, please) But this seems pretty safe, considering there's so much uncertainty.
I think that's it for now. Start correcting me...
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The Collegian had an article on the 12 that Firestone, Fera, and Butterworth are on the roster and Nye wasnt being listed.
ReplyDeleteThat was my fault. You're correct. I had the roster correct, but forgot to update my depth chart accordingly. I think Butterworth will start at punter, with Fera as his backup.
ReplyDeleteDevon Still at a svelte 295 just sounds like he could be very scary this season. If he can stay healthy.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing i know is.....Robert bolden will be the quarterback at some point this year! I bet he plays alot the first game too!He has been doing awesome in camp so far.
ReplyDelete