2016 Penn State Nittany Lions football team

The 2016 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented Pennsylvania State University in the 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was led by third-year head coach James Franklin and played its home games in Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. They were a member of the Big Ten East Division of the Big Ten Conference. They lost to Pitt and Michigan in early September but then had a winning streak that included signature victories over Ohio State and Wisconsin en route to a Big Ten championship. Despite their Big Ten title, the Nittany Lions just missed a playoff berth. They represented the Big Ten in the 2017 Rose Bowl, losing to USC on a game winning field goal.

2016 Penn State Nittany Lions football
Big Ten champion
Big Ten East Division co-champion
Lambert-Meadowlands Trophy
Rose Bowl, L 49–52 vs. USC
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
DivisionEast Division
Ranking
CoachesNo. 7
APNo. 7
2016 record11–3 (8–1 Big Ten)
Head coachJames Franklin (3rd season)
Offensive coordinatorJoe Moorhead (1st season)
Offensive schemeSpread
Defensive coordinatorBrent Pry (1st as DC; 3rd overall season)
Co-defensive coordinatorTim Banks (1st season)
Base defense4–3
Captains
  • Brandon Bell (Senior year)
  • Brian Gaia (Senior year)
  • Von Walker (Senior year)
Home stadiumBeaver Stadium
(Capacity: 106,572)
2016 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
East Division
No. 7 Penn State xy$  8 1     11 3  
No. 6 Ohio State x^  8 1     11 2  
No. 10 Michigan  7 2     10 3  
Indiana  4 5     6 7  
Maryland  3 6     6 7  
Michigan State  1 8     3 9  
Rutgers  0 9     2 10  
West Division
No. 9 Wisconsin xy  7 2     11 3  
Iowa  6 3     8 5  
Nebraska  6 3     9 4  
Minnesota  5 4     9 4  
Northwestern  5 4     7 6  
Illinois  2 7     3 9  
Purdue  1 8     3 9  
Championship: Penn State 38, Wisconsin 31
  • ^ College Football Playoff participant
  • $ Conference champion
  • x Division champion/co-champions
  • y Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll

Background

Previous season

During the previous season the Nittany Lions started the year with a 5–1 record and 2–0 in Big Ten play. Then on October, 17 they lost to #1 ranked Ohio State. After which they won their next two games including a 39–0 rout over Illinois. Following the rout the Nittany Lions finished the year 0–4 including losses to #6 Michigan State and #14 Michigan and a bowl game loss to Georgia.

2016 NFL Draft

Round Pick (Overall) Player Team Position
2 43 Austin Johnson Tennessee Titans Nose Tackle
2 51 Christian Hackenberg New York Jets Quarterback
3 65 Carl Nassib Cleveland Browns Defensive end
6 202 Anthony Zettel Detroit Lions Defense Tackle
6 204 Jordan Lucas Miami Dolphins Safety

Schedule

Overview

Penn State announced its 2016 football schedule on July 11, 2013. The 2016 schedule consists of 7 home and 5 away games in the regular season. The Nittany Lions hosted Big Ten foes Iowa, Maryland, Michigan State, Minnesota, and Ohio State, and traveled to Indiana, Michigan, Purdue, and Rutgers.[1]

The team hosted two of the three non-conference games against the Kent State Golden Flashes from the Mid-American Conference (MAC), Pittsburgh Panthers from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), and the Temple Owls from the American Athletic Conference (AAC).

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 33:30 p.m.Kent State*BTNW 33–1394,378
September 1012:00 p.m.at Pittsburgh*ESPNL 39–4269,983
September 1712:00 p.m.Temple*
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA
BTNW 34–27100,420
September 243:30 p.m.at No. 4 MichiganABCL 10–49110,319
October 13:30 p.m.Minnesota
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA (rivalry)
BTNW 29–26 OT95,332
October 812:00 p.m.Maryland
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA (rivalry)
BTNW 38–14100,778
October 228:00 p.m.No. 2 Ohio State
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA (rivalry)
ABCW 24–21107,280
October 2912:00 p.m.at PurdueNo. 24ABC/ESPN2W 62–2433,157
November 57:30 p.m.IowaNo. 20
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA
BTNW 41–14106,194
November 1212:00 p.m.at IndianaNo. 12
ABC/ESPN2W 45–3140,678
November 198:00 p.m.at RutgersNo. 9
BTNW 39–051,366
November 263:30 p.m.Michigan StateNo. 8
ESPNW 45–1297,418
December 38:00 p.m.vs. No. 6 WisconsinNo. 8FOXW 38–3165,018
January 2, 20175:00 p.m.vs. No. 9 USCNo. 5
ESPNL 49–5295,128
  • *Non-conference game
  • Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game
  • All times are in Eastern time
Schedule Source:[2]

Roster

2016 Penn State Nittany Lions football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
QB 2 Tommy Stevens  Fr
WR 3 DeAndre Thompkins  So
WR 5 DaeSean Hamilton  Jr
RB 6 Andre Robinson  Fr
QB 7 Jake Zembiec Fr
RB 8 Mark Allen  So
QB 9 Trace McSorley  So
WR 10 Brandon Polk So
WR 11 Irvin Charles  Fr
WR 12 Chris Godwin Jr
WR 13 Saeed Blacknall Jr
QB 15 Michael Shuster Fr
QB 16 Billy Fessler  So
TE 18 Jonathan Holland  Fr
WR 19 Gregg Garrity Sr
RB 24 Miles Sanders Fr
RB 26 Saquon Barkley So
WR 28 Christopher Welde So
RB 32 Irvine Paye  Jr
WR 39 Josh McPhearson  Jr
RB 40 Nick Eury Fr
OL 51 Alex Gellerstedt Fr
G, C 52 Ryan Bates  Fr
G, C 53 Derek Dowrey  Sr
C, G 55 Wendy Laurent  Sr
G, C 57 Steven Gonzalez  Fr
T 58 Chance Sorrell  So
T 59 Andrew Nelson  Jr
T 60 Noah Beh  So
G 62 Michal Menet Fr
G 64 Zach Simpson  Fr
OL 66 Connor McGovern Fr
G 68 Hunter Kelly Fr
G, C 69 Adam De Boef  So
G, C 70 Brendan Mahon  Jr
T 71 Will Fries Fr
G, C 72 Brian Gaia  Sr
T 73 Paris Palmer Sr
T 75 Brendan Brosnan  So
T 76 Sterling Jenkins  Fr
G, C 77 Chasz Wright  So
C, G 78 Tom Devenney  Jr
T 79 Charlie Shuman  So
TE 80 Danny Dalton Fr
WR 81 Gordon Bentley  Jr
TE 81 Steven Grampp Fr
WR 82 Tyler Shoop  Fr
TE 83 Nick Bowers  Fr
WR 84 Juwan Johnson  Fr
WR 85 Isaac Lutz Fr
WR 86 Cody Hodgens  Jr
WR 87 Dae'Lun Darien Fr
TE 88 Mike Gesicki Jr
TE 89 Tom Pancoast  Jr
Defense
Pos.#NameClass
CB 1 Christian Campbell Jr
S 2 Marcus Allen Jr
S 4 Nick Scott  So
LB 5 Nyeem Wartman-White  Sr
S 6 Malik Golden  Sr
LB 7 Koa Farmer  So
LB 9 Jarvis Miller  Fr
LB 11 Brandon Bell Sr
CB 12 Jordan Smith Sr
CB 14 Zech McPhearson Fr
CB 15 Grant Haley Jr
S 16 John Petrishen  Fr
CB 17 Garrett Taylor  Fr
DE 19 Torrence Brown  So
LB 20 Johnathan Thomas  So
CB 21 Amani Oruwariye  So
S 23 Ayron Monroe  Fr
LB 25 Von Walker Sr
CB 27 T. J. Johnson Fr
S 28 Troy Apke Jr
CB 29 John Reid So
DT 30 Kevin Givens  Fr
LB 31 Cam Brown Fr
S 32 Mitchell Vallone Jr
LB 33 Jake Cooper So
DE 34 Shane Simmons Fr
LB 36 Jan Johnson  Fr
CB 36 Troy Shorts  Fr
CB 37 Kyle Alston  Jr
CB 38 Desi Davis  So
LB 39 Frank Di Leo  Fr
LB 40 Jason Cabinda Jr
DT 41 Parker Cothren  Jr
DT 42 Ellison Jordan Fr
LB 43 Manny Bowen So
DE 44 Shaka Toney Fr
LB 45 Joe DuMond Fr
DE 46 Colin Castagna So
S 47 Will Blair Fr
LB 47 Brandon Smith  Jr
DE 48 Shareef Miller  Fr
DE 49 Daniel Joseph Fr
LB 51 Jason Vranic Jr
DT 52 Curtis Cothran  Fr
DT 54 Robert Windsor  Fr
DT 55 Antonio Shelton Fr
DT 56 Tyrell Chavis Jr
DE 90 Garrett Sickels  Jr
DT 91 Ryan Monk  Fr
DT 93 Antoine White  So
DE 94 Evan Schwan  Sr
DT 96 Immanuel Iyke  Fr
DE 97 Ryan Buchholz  Fr
DT 99 Brenon Thrift  So
Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
K, P 37 Chris Gulla  Jr
SN 41 Zach Ladonis  Jr
SN 44 Tyler Yazujian  Sr
K 90 Alex Barbir Fr
P 92 Daniel Pasquariello Jr
P, K 93 Blake Gillikin Fr
K, P 95 Tyler Davis  Jr
SN 96 Kyle Vasey  So
SN 97 Nick Cox  Fr
K, P 98 Jordan Wombacker  Fr
K 99 Joey Julius  So
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
  • Brent Pry (Defensive Coordinator/Associate Head Coach/Linebackers)
  • Joe Moorhead (Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks)
  • Charles Huff (Running backs/Special Teams Coordinator)
  • Ricky Rahne (Tight ends/Passing Game Coordinator)
  • Josh Gattis (Wide receivers/Offensive Recruiting Coordinator)
  • Terry Smith (Cornerbacks/Defensive Recruiting Coordinator)
  • Tim Banks (Safeties/Co-Defensive Coordinator)
  • Matt Limegrover (Offensive Line)
  • Sean Spencer (Defensive Line/Run Game Coordinator)
  • Dwight Galt (Strength and Conditioning)
  • Joe Brady IV (Graduate Assistant)
  • Tommy Galt (Graduate Assistant)
  • Andrew Jackson (Graduate Assistant)
  • Ryan Smith (Graduate Assistant)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured
  • Redshirt

Roster

Coaching staff

PositionNameAlma mater
Head CoachJames Franklin[3]East Stroudsburg (1994)
Defensive Coordinator/LinebackersBrent PryBuffalo (1993)
Offensive Coordinator/ QuarterbacksJoe MoorheadFordham University (1995)
Safeties/Co-Defensive CoordinatorTim BanksCentral Michigan University (1994)
Running Backs/Special Teams CoordinatorCharles Huff[4]Hampton (2005)
Tight Ends/Passing Game CoordinatorRicky Rahne[4]Cornell (2002)
Wide Receivers/Offensive Recruiting CoordinatorJosh Gattis[4]Wake Forest (2006)
Cornerbacks/Defensive Recruiting CoordinatorTerry Smith[4]Penn State (1991)
Offensive LineMatt LimegroverUniversity of Chicago (1990)
Defensive Line/Run Game CoordinatorSean Spencer[4]Clarion (1995)
Strength and ConditioningDwight Galt[4]Maryland (1981)
Graduate AssistantJoe Brady IVCollege of William & Mary (2013)
Graduate AssistantTommy GaltMaryland (2009)
Graduate AssistantAndrew JacksonLIU Post (2011)
Graduate AssistantRyan SmithCollege of William & Mary (2014)

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
NR = Not ranked. RV = Received votes. т = Tied with team above or below. ( ) = First place votes.
Week
Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Final 
AP NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR 24 20 12 9 8 8 5 7 
Coaches NR NR NR NR NR NR RV NR RV 23 14 10 8 8 5 7 
CFP Not released 12 10 8 7 7 5 Not released

Game summaries

Kent State

Overall record Last meeting Result
4–0 2013 PSU, 34–0
Kent State vs. Penn State – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Kent State 3 10 0013
Penn State 6 10 10733

at Beaver Stadium

Game information

Pittsburgh

Overall record Last meeting Result
50–42–4 2000 UP, 12–0
Penn State vs. Pittsburgh – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Penn State 7 7 71839
Pittsburgh 14 14 7742

at Heinz Field

Game information

Temple

Overall record Last meeting Result
39–4–1 2015 TU, 27–10
Temple vs. Penn State – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Temple 7 3 71027
Penn State 14 7 31034

at Beaver Stadium

Game information

#4 Michigan

Overall record Last meeting Result
7–12 2015 UM, 28–16
Penn State vs. Michigan – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Penn State 0 0 3710
#4 Michigan 14 14 71449

at Michigan Stadium

Game information

Minnesota

Overall record Last meeting Result
8–5 2013 UM, 24–10
Minnesota vs. Penn State – Game summary
1 2 34OTTotal
Minnesota 3 10 010326
Penn State 0 3 173629

at Beaver Stadium

Game information

Maryland

Overall record Last meeting Result
36–2–1 2015 PSU, 31–30
Maryland vs. Penn State – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Maryland 7 7 0014
Penn State 7 17 7738

at Beaver Stadium

Game information

#2 Ohio State

Overall record Last meeting Result
13–17 2015 OSU, 38–10
Ohio State vs. Penn State – Game summary
1 2 34Total
#2 Ohio State 0 12 9021
Penn State 0 7 01724

at Beaver Stadium

Game information

Purdue

Overall record Last meeting Result
13–3–1 2013 PSU, 45–21
Penn State vs. Purdue – Game summary
1 2 34Total
#24 Penn State 7 10 242162
Purdue 7 10 7024

at Ross–Ade Stadium

Game information

Iowa

Overall record Last meeting Result
13–12 2012 PSU, 38–14
Iowa vs. Penn State – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Iowa 0 7 0714
#20 Penn State 7 17 31441

at Beaver Stadium

Game information

Indiana

Overall record Last meeting Result
18–1 2015 PSU, 29–7
Penn State vs. Indiana – Game summary
1 2 34Total
#12 Penn State 7 7 72445
Indiana 0 14 10731

at Memorial Stadium

Game information

Rutgers

Overall record Last meeting Result
24–2 2015 PSU, 28–3
Penn State vs. Rutgers – Game summary
1 2 34Total
#9 Penn State 6 3 161439
Rutgers 0 0 000

at High Point Solutions Stadium

Game information

Michigan State

Overall record Last meeting Result
14–15–1 2015 MSU, 55–16
Michigan State vs. Penn State – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Michigan State 6 6 0012
#8 Penn State 0 10 211445

at Beaver Stadium

Game information

#6 Wisconsin (Big Ten Championship Game)

Overall record Last meeting Result
8–9 2013 PSU, 31–24
Wisconsin vs. Penn State – Game summary
1 2 34Total
#6 Wisconsin 14 14 3031
#8 Penn State 7 7 141038

at Lucas Oil Stadium

Game information

#9 USC (Rose Bowl)

Overall record Last meeting Result
4–5 2008 USC, 38–24
USC vs. Penn State – Game summary
1 2 34Total
#9 USC 13 14 81752
#5 Penn State 0 21 28049

at Rose Bowl

Game information


Awards and honors

Players

Coaches

Coach Award Date Awarded Ref.
James Franklin Dave McClain Coach of the Year (media vote) November 22, 2016
James Franklin Sporting News College Football Coach of the Year December 7, 2016 [16]
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References

  1. "Big Ten Announces 2016 and 2017 Nine-Game Conference Football Schedules" (Press release). Penn State University Department of Athletics. July 11, 2013. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  2. "2016 Penn State Nittany Lions Football Schedule". FB Schedules. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  3. "Penn State Selects James Franklin To Lead Football Program". Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
  4. "Penn State Official Athletic Site - Football". Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics. Retrieved January 31, 2014.
  5. "Big Ten Football Players of the Week". www.bigten.org. Big Ten Conference. October 3, 2016. Archived from the original on October 5, 2016. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  6. "Big Ten Football Players of the Week". www.bigten.org. Big Ten Conference. October 10, 2016. Archived from the original on October 11, 2016. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  7. "Big Ten Football Players of the Week". www.bigten.org. Big Ten Conference. October 24, 2016. Archived from the original on October 25, 2016. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  8. "Big Ten Football Players of the Week". www.bigten.org. Big Ten Conference. October 31, 2016. Archived from the original on November 1, 2016. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  9. "Big Ten Football Players of the Week". www.bigten.org. Big Ten Conference. November 7, 2016. Archived from the original on November 13, 2016. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  10. "Big Ten Football Players of the Week". www.bigten.org. Big Ten Conference. November 21, 2016. Archived from the original on November 21, 2016. Retrieved November 21, 2016.
  11. "Big Ten Football Players of the Week". www.bigten.org. Big Ten Conference. November 29, 2016. Archived from the original on November 30, 2016. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  12. "Saquon Barkely wins Offensive player of the year & First Team Big Ten". November 30, 2016. Retrieved November 30, 2016.
  13. Greenstein, Teddy. "Saquon Barkley, J.T. Barrett named winners of Chicago Tribune Silver Football". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  14. "2016 Big Ten Individual Award Winners" (PDF). www.grfx.cstv.com. Big Ten Conference. November 29, 2016. Retrieved November 30, 2016.
  15. "2016 Big Ten Individual Award Winners" (PDF). www.grfx.cstv.com. Big Ten Conference. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  16. "Penn State's James Franklin is Sporting News Coach of the Year". Sporting News. December 7, 2016. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
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