Welcome to Ball State week, Penn State fans. James Franklin’s Nittany Lions square off with defending MAC champion Ball State Saturday at Beaver Stadium. Kickoff is at 3:30 p.m. and the game will be carried on FS1.
Penn State is 1-0 after fending off favored Wisconsin 16-10 on Saturday in Madison. Ball State is also 1-0 after defeating Western Illinois 31-21. It’s worth noting that the Cardinals did allow 367 passing yards.
The Lions opened as 20.5-point favorites but that number is already up to 22.5.
Here are some players and coaches to watch on both sides.
KeAndre Lambert-Smith. The Lions’ search for a productive No. 3 wideout may be over. The 6-1, 184-pound Smith, who saw significant action as a true freshman in 2020, caught four passes for 71 yards against the Badgers, including a 52-yard pass from quarterback Sean Clifford. If Lambert-Smith can consistently produce big plays, he will draw some of the attention away from No. 1 wideout Jahan Dotson and Parker Washington.
Jesse Luketa. Penn State’s veteran hybrid defender made his presence known against Wisconsin as an end and a linebacker, finishing with five tackles (four solos) and a quarterback hit. Expect to see plenty of Luketa at middle linebacker against Ball State, especially early. PSU will be without starting middle linebacker Ellis Brooks in the first half after he was ejected for targeting in the fourth quarter vs. the Badgers.
Penn State linebacker Jesse Luketa tackles Wisconsin running back Isaac Guerendo during the fourth quarter at Camp Randall Stadium on Sept.4, 2021. Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com
Drew Plitt. A three-year starter at quarterback for Ball State, the 6-2, 217-pound Plitt was a second-team All-MAC choice a year ago after throwing for 17 touchdowns and running for four more in eight games. The Cardinals leaned on the run game vs. Western Illinois but Plitt still managed to throw for 188 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Mike Neu. Ball State’s head coach is in his sixth season and 2020 was obviously his best year after the team finished 7-1. Neu and his assistants are working with a talented squad that is also loaded with experienced players. Ball State returns 10 starters on offense and 10 on defense.
Jordan Stout and A.J. Lytton. Stout’s big right leg and Lytton’s speed were big factors in the Lions’ punting game. Stout averaged almost 54 yards on seven attempts with a long of 76. Stout, not 2020 placekicker Jake Pinegar, was James Franklin’s choice on field-goal attempts and extra points vs. Wisconsin. He failed to convert one of each but Stout did convert a 24-yard field-goal attempt in the fourth quarter. (UPDATE: Stout has been named Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week. It is Stout’s first player of the week honor.) Lytton, a 5-11, 180-pound corner who transferred in from Florida State, also is a coverage “gunner” on the punt team. Lytton was not credited with a tackle but his speed enabled him to “buzz” the Wisconsin returners on a couple of occasions. Lytton did get flagged for kick interference in the first half, but the Badgers were also called for an illegal block in the back on Lytton later in the game. Wisconsin was held to eight punt return yards on three attempts. Lytton’s speed and aggressiveness should continue to cause problems for opposing punt returners moving forward.
Justin Hall. Another first-team All-MAC selection, the 5-9, 186-pound Hall is a dangerous in space. He caught a pair of touchdown pass (49, 48) from quarterback Drew Plitt in the Cardinals’ season-opening win over Western Illinois. Hall caught 49 passes for 665 yards and four touchdowns in seven games last season. Ball State will also use him as a runner.
Tariq Castro-Fields and Joey Porter Jr. Penn State starts two talented corners who excel in man-to-man coverage. The duo combined for nine solo tackles vs. the Badgers and Porter had a huge pass breakup near the goal line late in the game. One of these two, or both of them, should see duty against Ball State wideout Justin Hall on Saturday.
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September 04, 2021 at 02:00PM
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Penn State-Ball State X factors: A young Lions WR to watch, Cardinals’ offense led by a veteran QB, more - PennLive
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