James Franklin and Penn State football have not put out a depth chart since spring 2020 — so, we’ve decided to make our own version. This year, we will release an updated post with the depth chart each week, reflecting what we see on the field and during practice sessions.
The biggest depth-chart related shock during the Nevada game was Gabe Nwosu’s rise to prominence on special teams. Although Penn State never punted, he was announced as the starting punter, replacing the incumbent Riley Thompson.
Nwosu is also expected to get in the mix for some longer field goals.
Aaron Enterline also entered the depth chart after logging a few late-game snaps, replacing true freshman Lyrick Samuel. The rest of the offense is pretty straightforward, and Penn State will continue to mix Cooper Cousins and TJ Shanahan Jr. in with the starting offensive linemen.
As much as it hurt to do so, LaVar Arrington II. was taken off the depth chart in favor of Dakaari Nelson. There was a bit of a shuffle among the defensive backs, which was in part due to Zion Tracy’s absence. Audavion Collins earned the start over Elliot Washington II at corner, and Kenny Woseley Jr. slid ahead of Kolin Dinkins at the nickel spot. True freshman Daryus Dixson had plenty of run, too, and we can expect Jim Knowles’ secondary to be fairly rotational.
| Position | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Offense | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| QB | Drew Allar | Ethan Grunkemeyer | Jaxon Smolik |
| RB | Nick Singleton | OR Kaytron Allen | Cam Wallace |
| WR | Kyron Hudson | Koby Howard | Aaron Enterline |
| WR | Trebor Peña | Tyseer Denmark | Peter Gonzalez |
| WR | Devonte Ross | Liam Clifford | Anthony Ivey |
| TE | Khalil Dinkins | Luke Reynolds | Andrew Rappleyea |
| LT | Drew Shelton | J’Ven Williams | |
| LG | Vega Ioane | TJ Shanahan Jr. | |
| C | Nick Dawkins | Cooper Cousins | Dominic Rulli |
| RG | Anthony Donkoh | Cooper Cousins | |
| RT | Nolan Rucci | Anthony Donkoh | |
| Defense | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| DE | Dani Dennis-Sutton | Chaz Coleman | Mylachi Williams |
| DT | Zane Durant | Ty Blanding | Enai White |
| DT | Alonzo Ford | Xavier Gilliam | Owen Wafle |
| DE | Zuriah Fisher | Jaylen Harvey | Yvan Kemajou |
| WILL | Tony Rojas | Keon Wylie | Dakaari Nelson |
| MIKE | Dom DeLuca | Amare Campbell | Anthony Speca |
| CB | Audavion Collins | Elliot Washington II | |
| FS | Antoine Belgrave-Shorter | King Mack | |
| SS | Zakee Wheatley | Dejuan Lane | Vaboue Toure |
| CB | A.J. Harris | Daryus Dixson | |
| Nickel | Zion Tracy | Kenny Woseley Jr. | Kolin Dinkins |
| Special Teams | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| K (FG) | Ryan Barker | Gabe Nwosu | |
| K (Kickoff) | Gabe Nwosu | ||
| P | Gabe Nwosu | Riley Thompson | |
| LS | Tyler Duzansky | ||
| KR | Nick Singleton | Kaytron Allen | |
| PR | Trebor Peña | Zion Tracy |
