Sept. 26, 2016
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Although Penn State didn't come out of the Big Ten opener on top, the Nittany Lions still have some positives to take from the early conference challenge.
In an unfortunate string of injuries, Penn State has continued to rely on its "next man up" mentality, having already seen Brandon Smith find success with eight tackles stepping in at middle linebacker against Temple.
It was true freshman Cameron Brown this week, as he got the call to step into the linebacker rotation and appear in his third straight game on the road at No. 4/5 Michigan. Having previously recorded his first tackle in the third quarter at Pitt, Brown made the most of his Big Ten debut.
Entering the linebacker rotation in the second quarter, Brown had two tackles in the first half, before opening the third quarter with his first career tackle for loss, bringing down Michigan's All-American tight end Jake Butt.
Brown finished with 10 tackles in the Big Ten opener, good for second on the team, making him the first true freshman linebacker to total double-digit tackles since Khairi Fortt had 11 against Illinois in 2010. Brown is also the first true freshman to log double figure tackles since teammate Marcus Allen had 11 against Ohio State in 2014.
"He was definitely around the ball and active. Hopefully he can build on this game and keep improving," linebacker Koa Farmer said. Farmer has also stepped into the linebacker rotation, moving over from safety.
Still facing injuries to the linebacker group, we'll have to wait and see who's the next man up for the Nittany Lions this week as Franklin noted postgame that the staff will have to continue making moves and adjustments.
Gillikin Continues to Shine
Franklin also noted in the Michigan postgame press conference that true freshman punter Blake Gillikin has continued to be one of the true positives for the Nittany Lions all year long. There's no doubt that Gillikin faced a tough test heading into the week with Michigan's Jabrill Peppers as the Wolverines' standout punt returner. Gillikin's second punt of the day came nearly perfectly executed to force Peppers quickly out of bounds. He also dropped a second quarter punt inside the Michigan 10, marking his fourth consecutive game with at least one punt inside the opponent's 10. Gillikin is averaging 44.5 yards per punt on the year, which ranks 20th in the FBS standings and second in the Big Ten.
All in all, the Nittany Lions' special teams unit managed to limit Peppers on the punt return, having recovered from an early misstep that led to a 53-yard return in the opening quarter.
Saquon Finding a Way
Barkley continued his standout play for the Nittany Lions, making the most of some tough situations with 136 yards of total offense at Michigan. He led the team in both receiving and rushing yards with 77 and 59 yards, respectively. Three of Barkley's five receptions were for at least 17 yards, including a 30-yard grab in the second quarter. He's the first Nittany Lion to lead the team in both categories since Akeel Lynch had 137 rushing yards and 35 receiving yards at Illinois in 2014. Barkley's 77 receiving yards also marked the most for a Nittany Lion running back since Stephfon Green had one catch for 80 yards and a touchdown against Michigan in 2008.
An Early Look at Minnesota
Led by head coach Tracy Claeys, the Golden Gophers are out to a 3-0 start in 2016, coming off of a 31-24 win against Colorado State in their final non-conference outing of the season. Minnesota also beat Oregon State (30-23) and Indiana State (58-28) this year. The Golden Gophers will hit the road for the first time this season, traveling to Happy Valley for the first time since 2009.
The Governor's Victory Bell
Penn State and Minnesota will play for the Governor's Victory Bell, which has been awarded between the two teams since the Nittany Lions and the Golden Gophers met for the first time as members of the Big Ten conference. Minnesota currently maintains possession of the Victory Bell, which the Golden Gophers claimed following a 24-10 win in 2013.