The final game of the Penn State football season will be an anticlimactic drubbing of Rutgers.
On the post-Thanksgiving Saturday, overstuffed and underwhelmed Penn State fans will be back at their tailgates by halftime. Much like in every Big 10 game they’ve played in this season, Rutgers will be dominated every which way. Rutgers is currently 2-9 on the season with wins over UMass and Liberty. They have lost every Big 10 game by 27 or more points.
The only real story surrounding the game will be if Penn State Quarterback Sean Clifford will play after leaving the Ohio State game with an injury to his right hip. Clifford is a tough guy, but if he isn’t 100 percent he should not play in this game. After all, backup quarterback Will Levis provided a great spark against the Buckeyes and would dominate the Scarlet Knights.
In fact, Penn State will most likely get some snaps for their two freshman quarterbacks Ta’Quan Roberson and Michael Johnson Jr as well. It’s also senior day, so look for #15 Michael Shuster to swap out his baseball cap for a helmet and get on the field.
Rutgers is in shambles, and Penn State could beat them playing any quarterback and getting freshman reps, which is exactly what they’ll do. Keep an eye on freshman linebacker Lance Dixon and defensive end Smith Vilbert to get extended playing time.
If any Rutgers fan takes offense to the callousness with which I’m writing about their beloved Scarlet Knights with, take it up with the athletic director. He’s the one you should be mad at.
Prediction: Rutgers 10 – Penn State 66
Parsons Named Finalist for Butkus Award
Linebacker Micah Parsons has been named a finalist for the Butkus Award, recognizing the nation’s best linebacker. Parsons is the seventh Nittany Lion to be a finalist for the award, but he will need to pad his stats to take home the hardware. Look for him to be a menace on the defensive side of the ball for Penn State.
In many fans’ eyes, the former 5-star recruit is right on schedule, and with Chase Young departing for the NFL after this season, it would be surprising if Parsons weren’t the best defensive player in the Big 10 next year.
Shorter Enters Transfer Portal
Another former 5-star recruit, wide receiver Justin Shorter has entered the transfer portal. Shorter, who has underwhelmed thus far, is coming off his best game of the season against Ohio State. This story is still developing, but the timing is peculiar.
Shorter was slated by many to be a starter for the Nittany Lions next season.
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