The most important football team in University Park this year: the 2016 Nittany Lions


… not the 1966, the 1876, or the 1776 teams 


Coach James Franklin's 2016 version of the Nittany Lions will be unveiled at Beaver Stadium today, and excitement is in the air.

The PSU administration did its best to take the focus away from the 2016 Lions this week, but they failed.

The Nittany Lions will host Kent State in a 3:30 kick on the Big Ten Network, and fans are truly excited about the new offensive scheme that will finally be unveiled.

Coach Morehead

Franklin brought in one of the most creative offensive minds to direct the Nittany version of the spread. Joe Morehead had been the head coach at FCS Fordham where his offenses set new school records in the 2013 and 2014 seasons.

Morehead calls his offense the multiple spread, and the focus is on the running game. That will again be in the person of a back with the potential to be one of the best. Sophomore Saquon Barkley became the best rookie runner in the Big Ten last year, rushing for 1,076 yards to set a new freshman record for PSU.

Passing game

Directing the offense will be sophomore Trace McSorley, who played sparingly behind Christian Hackenberg last season.

McSorley has two top wideouts in junior Chris Godwin, who hauled in 69 passes for 1,101 yards and five touchdowns, and junior DaeSean Hamilton, who had 45 catches for 580 yards and six touchdowns.

Mike Gesicki, a junior, will be the tight end.

The key for the success of the offense is the offensive line, which has led the Lions into two problematic seasons in Franklin's first two seasons.

The line will finally be a veteran one, so that will be a major factor in the production of Morehead's offense.

Defense

The Lions defense performed well last year, so when Bob Shoop left to take a job at Tennessee, linebackers coach Brent Pry, an Altoona native, became the new defensive coordinator.

The defense lost some very productive players, three on the line who were drafted by NFL teams and one in the defensive backfield.

Pry will use the 4-3, and the one returner on the 4 will be Garrett Sickels, junior defensive end.

The biggest name on the defense is junior safety Marcus Allen, a son of the great RB of the same name.

Kent State

Kent State, which plays in the Mid-American Conference (MAC), has never beaten a Big Ten team, nor have they ever beaten the Nittany Lions. They expect to use three quarterbacks, so it might be an interesting game.

Keep those rosters handy.

Conclusion

So, while Penn State made a major error in announcing the recognition of the 1966 game two weeks from now against Temple, remember that this 2016 team is paramount in the minds and hearts of Penn State fans.

Even Coach Franklin could work his way into the hearts of PSU fans as his recruiting efforts are finally starting to take shape.

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