Blue-White Game: 5 players to watch in Penn State’s spring game
Penn State will put a bow on its 2022 spring football practice schedule with the annual Blue-White Game this Saturday in Beaver Stadium. This will be the first opportunity to witness a defense coached by Manny Diaz in action, whether or not the offensive line has been able to improve to protect sixth-year quarterback Sean Clifford, or if the running game has found a way to get back on track.
Not every question we will have about Penn State in 2022 will be answered in full on Saturday. And odds are fairly good James Franklin won’t have everything figured out just yet either. But the spring game is always an opportunity for somebody to make a case for a significant role in the upcoming fall. Who will be the breakout star?
Here are five players to be monitoring during the Penn State Blue-White Game this weekend.
Drew Allar, QB
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Sean Clifford returning for one final year of eligibility means Class of 2022 quarterback [autotag]Drew Allar[/autotag]’s time will have to wait. But enrolling early has allowed Allar to begin getting coached by offensive coordinator and quarterback coach [autotag]Mike Yurcich[/autotag] this spring. Now, we’ll get a glimpse at just how much he has picked up already, or just how far he may still have to go.
Allar was the Mr. Football in the state of Ohio and comes to Penn State as one of the highest-rated passers to commit to the program. If it were not for Clifford’s return, Allar could be using the Blue-White Game to make his case to be a leading candidate to be Penn State’s starter in the fall. But for now, we’ll be more likely to see if he is ready to take on being Clifford’s primary backup or if that role will go to returning player like [autotag]Christian Veilleux[/autotag].
Nick Singleton, RB
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At this point, what more needs to be said about Nick Singleton? Mr. Gatorade has arrived at Penn State as one of the most decorated players to ever suit up for the Nittany Lions out of high school, and his arrival has sparked renewed optimism in the running game. It could not come at a better time given Penn State’s mighty struggles running the football in 2021.
Of course, Singleton can’t change the fate of the running game alone. Much will rely on the stability of the offensive line, but Keyvone Lee could still start the year as Penn State’s top running back on the depth chart, should one actually exist. But Singleton is expected to have an early impact on the running game, and his first carriers in the spring will be worth paying close attention to.
Malick Meiga, WR
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Penn State is losing [autotag]Jahan Dotson[/autotag] to the NFL but has filled a roster spot with the addition of [autotag]Mitchell Tinsley[/autotag] from Western Kentucky. The Nittany Lions also return [autotag]Parker Washington[/autotag] and [autotag]KeAndre Lambert-Smith[/autotag] as likely starters at receiver. Penn State would love to see some development from a couple of other receiver options, and [autotag]Malick Meiga[/autotag] is one to be watching.
Meiga has the size that would make for a big target in the field, and a strong showing catching footballs in the Blue-White Game could send Meiga into the summer with some momentum toward an increased role in the fall.
Kalen King, CB
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The rising star of Penn State’s 2021 spring is about to take some steps forward in the Penn State secondary. [autotag]Kalen King[/autotag], entering his sophomore season, ignited spring practice last season by recording a pick-six in a scrimmage in Beaver Stadium open to fans, and he later got some playing time on the field in the fall. But as talented as he is, he showed t times that he was still a freshman.
But that was last year, and King is a player expected to be among the top cornerbacks in the Big Ten as early as this season. King should be locking down a starting job this fall, and another pick-six in the Blue-White Game wouldn’t be the worst thing to see.
Zane Durant, DL
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Penn State’s Class of 2022 is serving up one more player to keep close tabs on this weekend with defensive lineman [autotag]Zane Durant[/autotag]. The four-star recruit has been praised in recent weeks as a player taking advantage of the early opportunity to develop on the defensive line as an early enrollee. And with Penn State still without [autotag]PJ Mustipher[/autotag] (rehabbing from last season’s knee injury) and the recent loss of [autotag]Zuriah Fisher[/autotag] to a season-ending spring injury, Durant is a player who can benefit form a few extra reps.
Penn State will later be adding five-star Dani Dennis-Sutton to the mix in the summer. The expectations are high for Dennis-Sutton, who stands a good chance to be the freshman who has the biggest impact on the team this fall. Dennis-Sutton may not take too long to get involved with the defensive line, but this weekend will be Durant’s chance to shine on his own.
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