Penn State set for “big boy game” against Michigan

Daylight savings were on Saturday, so let’s wind back the clocks a year to Penn State’s 41-17 loss to Michigan.

A 5-0 Nittany Lions squad faced off against their arch-rival in the 5-0 Wolverines to determine the top dog in the Big Ten.

Despite a close first half of play, Michigan brought the hammer down in the final 30 minutes by playing more physically than Penn State to gain the No. 1 spot in the conference at the time.

After the game, head coach James Franklin held back no punches on why his team came up short.

“We did not control the line of scrimmage on either side of the ball.”

Through 60 minutes, a first-year Manny Diaz-led defense allowed 433 yards on the ground, the highest in the Franklin era.

Donovan Edwards and Blake Corum ran for over 170 yards and two touchdowns each, leaving J.J. McCarthy and C.J. Stokes with the remaining 84 yards.

“There were way too many times that guys were running through holes and into the second level,” Franklin said in the post-game press conference. “Not happy with that number at all…not one bit.”

A Jim Harbaugh-led Wolverine team dominated the blue and white in time of possession (41:56 to 18:04) and total yards (563 to 268).

“We’re undersized at some spots…we need to be bigger, more physical, our footwork, our technique, our fundamentals,” Franklin said. “It’s all of it.”

Flipping the calendar back to 2023, Penn State’s personnel on the offensive and defensive line took Franklin’s “need to be bigger” to heart.

2022 starters vs Michigan 2023 starters vs Maryland

Offensive line:

Left tackle: Olu Fashanu 6-6 308, Left guard: Hunter Nourzad 6-3 312, Center: Juice Scruggs 6-3 310 Right guard: Sal Wormley 6-3 302, Right tackle: Caden Wallace 6-5 301

2023 starters vs Maryland

Offensive line:

Left tackle: Olu Fashanu 6-6 317, Left guard: JB Nelson 6-5 334, Center: Hunter Nourzad 6-3 320 Right guard: Sal Wormley 6-3 324, Right tackle: Caden Wallace 6-5 328

2022 starters vs Michigan

Defensive Line:

Defensive end: Nick Tarburton 6-3 258, Defensive tackle: PJ Mustipher 6-4 318

Defensive tackle: Hakeem Beamon 6-3 264 Defensive end: Adisa Isaac 6-4 243

Linebackers:

Curtis Jacobs 6-1 227, Tyler Elsdon 6-2 236 and Jonathan Sutherland 5-11 214

2023 starters vs Maryland

Defensive Line:

Defensive end: Dani Dennis-Sutton 6-5 261, Defensive tackle: Dvon Ellies 6-1 298

Defensive tackle: Zane Durant 6-1 285, Defensive end: Adisa Isaac 6-4 249

Linebackers:

Curtis Jacobs 6-1 235, Abdul Carter 6-3 249 and Kobe King 6-1 242

Penn State starters from 2022 averaged 306.6 pounds on the offensive line, 270.75 pounds across the defensive line and 225.6 pounds in the linebacker room.

As of the starters from Week 10 against Maryland, the starting O-line has gained an average of 18 pounds. The defensive line put on two and a half pounds and the linebackers 16 pounds per person.

The time taken to put on more weight and focus on technique has forged this Nittany Lions offense and defense into one of the best in the nation.

The blue and white lead the country in rushing defense and defensive sacks per game and are ranked as the third best in rushing offense and sacks allowed per game.

“The combination of our front four and our experience, depth at linebacker gives us the best chance to play great run defense,” Franklin said on Monday. “It’s going to be very important in this game.”

With Michigan Week finally here, only time will tell if Penn State’s push to become more physical will pay off.

“It’s going to be a big boy game,” Franklin said on the outcome of the game.

Micheal Bolger is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email mpb6233@psu.edu.