Penn State football injury report vs West Virginia rules out 3 key players, including starter
STATE COLLEGE − Penn State football will be missing a few key defenders for its season-opener against West Virginia.
Projected starting defensive tackle Coziah Izzard, top reserve cornerback Daequan Hardy and defensive end Amin Vanover are listed as "out" for Saturday's game (7:30 p.m., NBC), according to the Big Ten's new pregame availability report.
Wide receiver Omari Evans, possibly No. 3 on the depth chart, is listed as "questionable."
Penn State offensive lineman Landon Tengwall announced his decision this week to retire from football for an undisclosed injury situation. Earlier in preseason camp, Penn State announced that backup defensive linemen Smith Vilbert and Alonzo Ford would miss the season for injury.
Penn State will expect to rely on defensive tackles Hakeem Beamon, Zane Durant and Dvon Ellies in prime roles. Jordan van den Berg should also be a key backup.
Hardy is the nickelback or extra defensive back in passing situations. Sophomore Cam Miller and rookie Elliot Washington could see extended time in Hardy's absence.
Penn State's key backup defensive ends should be sophomore Dani Dennis-Sutton and junior Zuriah Fisher.
Penn State availability report vs. West Virginia
OUT8 Tyler Johnson15 Amin Vanover25 Daequan Hardy25 DK Kency39 Jashaun Green42 Mason Robinson50 Alonzo Ford Jr.54 Ian Harvie58 Landon Tengwall65 Jim Fitzgerald92 Smith Vilbert99 Coziah Izzard
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Frank Bodani covers Penn State football for the York Daily Record and USA Today Network. Contact him at fbodani@ydr.com and follow him on Twitter @YDRPennState.
This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Penn State injury report vs. West Virginia: DT Coziah Izzard out
