Nittany Lions Prep for Gophers; Von Walker Gets a Mention
UNIVERSITY PARK – For the first time since 2013, the Governor’s Victory Bell will be on the line, as Penn State (2-2) hosts Minnesota (3-0) for its first Big Ten home game of the season Saturday in a 3:30 p.m. contest televised on BTN.
It will be the Golden Gophers’ first trip to Happy Valley since 2009, ending the longest gap between trips of any Penn State Big Ten opponent, and it is only the second meeting since 2010. Penn State had won four straight until Minnesota won the last contest in 2013.
Minnesota will be opening its Big Ten slate, but Penn State will be looking to rebound after a 49-10 setback at No. 4/5 Michigan in its Big Ten opener. Saquon Barkley totaled 136 all-purpose yards, sneaking out of the backfield for a career-high 77 receiving yards to lead Penn State in both rushing and receiving, but it was not enough against the Wolverines.
Unfortunate luck is testing “Linebacker U.” The injury bug left the Nittany Lions without any of its three opening day starting linebackers and their 63 combined career starts. Then with just three career starts amongst the group starting at Michigan, starting middle linebacker Brandon Smith was lost to a targeting penalty at the start of tin the second quarter, and his replacement, Jan Johnson, then suffered a season-ending injury during the same quarter. True freshman Cameron Brown excelled in his first significant action of his career registering 10 tackles to become the first Penn State true freshman linebacker to total double digit tackles since 2010.
Penn State coach James Franklin, at his Tuesday press conference, addressed the linebacker injuries and indicated senior special teams player Von Walker could get some game work as a linebacker. He touched on the play of Connor McGovern last week and lauded the work of Brown. He noted that Smith will be back Saturday and Manny Bowen will see time, adding “So we feel really good about those guys as well as Jake Cooper, Koa Farmer and Von Walker.” He said all would get “a bunch of reps” in practice this week.
Franklin spoke highly about Minnesota and its special teams: “They have four or five special teams predominant players, kind of like our Von Walker.”
The unit will once again face strong opposition in Minnesota. The Golden Gophers are averaging 39.7 points per game, have scored touchdowns in all but one trip to the red zone and rank among the national leaders in third down conversions and in preventing negative plays such as sacks, tackles for loss and turnovers.
The Nittany Lions will be looking forward to returning to Beaver Stadium, as they have won eight out of their last nine home games dating back to last season. Penn State will not travel again until late October, as the Minnesota game begins a three-game home stand that includes Maryland (Oct. 8) and a primetime clash against Ohio State (Oct 22).
