GAME BREAKDOWN
KEY MATCHUP: Penn State’s linebackers and safeties against Iowa’s tight ends. The Nittany Lions haven’t played a team with as talented a pair of tight ends in a long time. They also haven’t posted very good fourth-quarter results this season with 670 yards and six touchdowns allowed in the final 15 minutes of games so far. The Hawkeyes are led on offense by a pair of burly playmakers in TJ Hockenson and Noah Fant. Both stand 6-foot-5, weigh in around 250 pounds and can split a defense right down the middle. Having to bring them down late in a game will certainly be a tough task for a defense that’s been burned out late in games against Ohio State, Michigan State and Indiana.
DRAFT SLANT
–CB Amani Oruwariye made nine tackles against Indiana. The senior is rated the 103rd-best NFL prospect for the 2019 draft, according to NFLDraftScout.com.
ROSTER REPORT:
–WR Juwan Johnson suffered a left ankle injury against Indiana and did not play in the second half. He is questionable to play.
–S Garrett Taylor was ejected for targeting against Indiana. The hit occurred in the third quarter so by rule Taylor will have to sit out the first half on Saturday.
–S Jonathan Sutherland will likely start in Taylor’s place.
–DT Fred Hansard suffered a lower body injury against Michigan State and will miss the remainder of the season. Hansard had two tackles in six games.
–RB Mark Allen suffered a season ending injury prior to the Illinois game. A senior, Allen finishes his career with 353 rushing yards and four touchdowns.
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