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Penn State Football: Projected 2-deep depth chart for 2017

By Ryan T. Smith

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 02: Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin looks on against the USC Trojans during the 2017 Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 2, 2017 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 02: Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin looks on against the USC Trojans during the 2017 Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 2, 2017 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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STATE COLLEGE, PA – OCTOBER 01: Connor Mayes #55 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers blocks Torrence Brown #19 of the Penn State Nittany Lions in the second half during the game at Beaver Stadium on October 1, 2016 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA – OCTOBER 01: Connor Mayes #55 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers blocks Torrence Brown #19 of the Penn State Nittany Lions in the second half during the game at Beaver Stadium on October 1, 2016 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) /

Defensive Line

Starting defensive ends: Shareef Miller, Ryan Bucholz
Backups: Torrence Brown, Shane Simmons

The Nittany Lions will likely be shuffling a bit along the defensive line in search of a reliable pass rush. Junior Torrence Brown is the most experienced of the bunch, but he hasn’t proven himself as an edge rusher. Expect talented sophomores Shareef Miller and Ryan Bucholz to win the majority of the snaps. A huge hybrid lineman Bucholz led all returning PSU ends in sacks in 2016 with three.

This is very likely the weakest link of Penn State’s impressive defense, and the uncertainty among the unit will allow opportunities for former super-recruit Shane Simmons to work his way into the rotation.

Starting defensive tackles: Kevin Givens, Parker Cothren
Backups: Robert Windsor, Curtis Cothran

The interior of the line returns a lot more from last season, and should be a strength. Kevin Givens was skilled at getting in the backfield in 2016, and he’ll likely anchor the line alongside massive nose tackle Parker Cothren. Robert Windsor is a promising sophomore built in the same mold as Cothren, while Curtis Cothran could start for most Big Ten teams. It wasn’t easy to run on the Nittany Lions last year, and it won’t be getting any easier.

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