The #10 Penn State Nittany Lions play their next game on Saturday against the Kent State Golden Flashes. This is the second of four straight games at Beaver Stadium. Kent State is the second of two MAC teams that Penn State plays in a row. The Nittany Lions defeated Bowling Green 34-27 in a close home opener. Penn State closes its non-conference schedule this week against the lowest-ranked team in the country. Below is a preview of the Penn State vs. Kent State matchup.
Penn State had a decisive victory over West Virginia, a Power Five opponent, in Week One. The Nittany Lions then hung on in a matchup that was too close for comfort against Bowling Green. Facing Kent State, the key will be tightening up execution before starting the Big Ten schedule against Illinois next week in primetime. Interestingly, in what was likely in part a nod to the difficulties in the Bowling Green game, Penn State dropped two spots in the Top 25 rankings coming off their bye, from eighth to 10th.
Kent State (0-3) vs. #10 Penn State (2-0) Preview
When & Where: Saturday, September 21, 3:30 ET, at Penn State
Last Week’s Results: Penn State had the first of its two bye weeks. The week before, the Nittany Lions defeated Bowling Green 34-27. Kent State took on Tennessee on the road and lost 71-0.
Last Season’s Results: Penn State finished ranked #13 after a 10-3 season that ended with a Peach Bowl loss to Ole Miss. Kent State finished with a record of 1-11, with its lone win coming against Central Connecticut State University.
Series History: This will be the seventh time these programs face-off, with Penn State winning all six previous games. The last time they met, Penn State won 63-10 in 2018.
Nittany Lions to Watch
Wide Receiver Julian Fleming
Julian Fleming was a key offseason addition to the offense. With Keandre Lambert-Smith transferring to Auburn, Fleming had a clear line of sight to the top of the depth chart. However, Fleming only has one catch for three yards through the first two games of the season.
Fleming arrived from Ohio State with high expectations. However, in the first two games of the season, receivers Trey Wallace and Omari Evans have been targeted more. Against Bowling Green, tight end Tyler Warren also proved to be a strong option in the passing game. Additionally, running backs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen both have touchdown receptions. Despite the slow start, Franklin has remained complimentary of Fleming. His blocking has been very strong, and he is a complete receiver with a good football IQ.
Franklin wanted to get Fleming involved in the offense early against Bowling Green. That did not happen, outside of blocking. In a game that should serve as a tuneup for the Big Ten schedule, getting Fleming involved early this week is important, and makes him a Nittany Lion to watch. If the game unfolds as expected, there will not be many catches to go around, as it should become a run-heavy attack if Penn State is up big. With Big Ten foe Illinois coming up next week, building a good rapport between quarterback Drew Allar and Fleming in game situations will be important.
Defensive End Abdul Carter
A preseason All-American, Abdul Carter has continued to have an iffy start to the season. Carter has no sacks so far, but has been flagged for penalties, including a personal foul late hit. Speaking of the impact of penalties across the entire team, Franklin said in a press conference, “That’s a major priority for me because we’re just making things more difficult than they need to be.”
After a quiet first game (other than the penalties), Carter stepped up in the Bowling Green game. He produced seven tackles, including one for a loss, and a pass defended. With two games’ worth of tape, and coming off a bye week, there has been ample time for defensive coordinator Tom Allen to correct what had Carter a bit off course. Similar to Fleming, it will be important for Carter to get into a better rhythm before the Big Ten schedule kicks off.
The ability of Carter to be a destructive force on the defensive line is important. He is wearing the iconic #11 jersey, and takes on all the responsibility that comes along with that on the Penn State defense. Additionally, it is an early case study on Allen’s ability to get the most out of his star players. Carter’s success at defensive end, both in rushing the passer, and playing stout run defense, opens up other parts of Allen’s 4-2-5 defensive alignment. That makes Carter a Nittany Lion to watch.
Running Back Cam Wallace
Again, Penn State is expected to easily win this game. The implications on the offense are to likely move the focus from balanced (or even pass-heavy), to run-dominant in order to eat up the clock. If Fleming’s opportunities for receptions suffer in that scenario, Cam Wallace’s chances to prove himself should correspondingly increase.
Penn State boasts one of the best, if not the best, running back rooms in the country. Singleton, and Allen, are extremely talented backs that keep the pressure on any defense. Not only can they run well, but they can also be weapons catching the ball out of the backfield. As they have through the first two games, Singleton and Allen will be integral parts of the offense moving forward. Based on that, Franklin and offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki will look to keep them healthy for the upcoming Big Ten slate. So, cue Wallace for the Kent State game.
Wallace, a redshirt freshman, had nine carries against West Virginia, running for 24 yards. If all goes according to plan for Penn State in this game, he should significantly surpass those numbers. That makes Wallace a Nittany Lion to watch against Kent State.
