Sept. 21, 2015
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. ââ'¬" It seems as though a name you don't hear mentioned as often as some others is one of the most disruptive players on the Penn State depth chart.
The story has been the same for nearly all of his time in the Blue and White. He quietly goes about his business, but he does it in dominant fashion.
Defensive tackle Austin Johnson often flies under the radar of the public eye, but he is usually the first guy who stands out when viewing game film. Through three games, Johnson has been an impact player for the Nittany Lion defense and as disruptive as ever on Saturdays.
"I thought Austin Johnson played really well for us (in being really disruptive on almost every snap he was in)," said head coach James Franklin.
Johnson's stat line is impressive for a defensive tackle, but even it doesn't tell the full story of his impact this season. The New Jersey native leads the team in tackles with 21. He has 5.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks this season.
His ability to get into the backfield has made life miserable for opposing offenses as they try to establish a running game. The Lions have made 31 tackles for loss this season. Johnson has played direct role in 5.5 of those, but an indirect role in far more.
The athletic junior is ranked 19th in the nation in tackles for loss. As a team, Penn State is fourth in the country in TFLs and third in sacks. The Lions are also 12th in the nation in rushing defense.
Lions Finding Their Groove on the Ground
It has been a remarkable two weeks for the Nittany Lion ground attack. Penn State rushed for 77 yards in the season opener at Temple. In the last two games, the Lions have tallied 530 yards on the ground, including a season-high 330 in the 28-3 win over Rutgers.
Penn State's offensive line paved the way for tremendous night on Saturday for both Akeel Lynch and Saquon Barkley, who both finished with 120 or more yards. For the season, Penn State is averaging 5.7 yards per carry (6.6 yards per carry during the last two games).
Named Big Ten Freshman of the Week for the second-straight week, Barkley has dazzled during the past two games. He rushed for a combined 310 yards and three touchdowns against Buffalo and Rutgers. Barkley's 310 yards are the most by a true freshman in a two-game span since D.J. Dozier rushed for 359 yards in two games during the 1983 season. Additionally, Barkley is only the second true freshman in Penn State history to tally more than 100 rushing yards in consecutive games.
For the second-straight week, Barkley rushed for more than 100 yards in a quarter. He had 101 yards in the fourth quarter against Buffalo and 123 yards in the fourth quarter on Saturday. Barkley is the first player to rush for 100 yards in a quarter in two straight games since Larry Johnson did it in 2002 against Indiana and Michigan State.
West Coast Teams in Happy Valley
Penn State will play San Diego State for the first time on Saturday when the Nittany Lions and Aztecs collide in a 3:30 p.m. kick inside Beaver Stadium. It is rare for teams from the Pacific Time Zone to visit Beaver Stadium for games. It has only happened 12 times since Beaver Stadium opened in 1960. Saturday's game will be the 13th overall and only the fourth since 1976. Penn State has played six teams from the West Coast in Beaver Stadium ââ'¬" California, Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford, UCLA and USC. San Diego State will join that list on Saturday.
Early Look at San Diego State
San Diego State (1-2) enters the week looking to snap a two-game skid following an overtime setback to South Alabama at home on Saturday. The Aztecs opened the season with a 37-3 victory over San Diego before dropping a 35-7 decision at California. San Diego State has averaged 23.7 points per game during the first three weeks. The Aztecs are ranked seventh in the nation with six interceptions. Additionally, they have two defensive touchdowns, which is the fourth highest total in the country. Junior linebacker Calvin Munson has both interception returns for scores. Running back Donne Pumphrey leads the team with 249 rushing yards and also tops the offense with nine receptions.