Interim head coach Terry Smith revealed Friday that Penn State will be without 16 players for the Pinstripe Bowl, including four of the five starters on the offensive line.
That number includes draft-eligible players who have opted out of Saturday’s game against Clemson at noon (TV-ABC) at Yankee Stadium and several who have left the program with plans to transfer.
In addition, third-team All-American running back Kaytron Allen and defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton, a pair of seniors, probably will see limited snaps or not play at all.
“Dani and Kaytron will be dressing for the game,” Smith said, “so they’re available.”
Penn State (6-6) will be without 11 other regulars who are not injured: center Nick Dawkins, guard Vega Ioane, offensive tackles Drew Shelton and Nolan Rucci, tight end Khalil Dinkins, running back Nick Singleton, defensive tackle Zane Durant, defensive end Zuriah Fisher, safety Zakee Wheatley and cornerbacks A.J. Harris and Elliot Washington II, who both are headed for the transfer portal.
“We’re not disappointed,” Smith said. “We have a tremendous opportunity to finish the season the way the last three games have gone. It’s a moment and an opportunity for these guys to step forward. It’s the next man up.
“It’s today’s college football. We’re adapting and adjusting. We have a game to play tomorrow and that’s all that matters. We’re going to play hard and get after it like we’ve done the last four or five weeks.”
Clemson (7-5), a slight favorite, is in a similar position with close to 30 players unavailable, including about 10 who have opted out.
“A lot of guys that would play, they can’t play,” Tigers coach Dabo Swinney said. “But we’ve had fun preparing. We’ve had fun challenging some of these other guys that are gonna get their shot to go put it on tape. I look forward to competing against a tough Penn State team.”
Penn State and Clemson began the season with great expectations and ranked in the top five in the polls. Both of them unraveled during a midseason slump, the Nittany Lions dropping six straight and the Tigers losing four times in six games.
Each team has beaten only one team from a Power Four conference with a winning record, Penn State routing Nebraska and Clemson edging Louisville.
Smith replaced James Franklin in October on an interim basis, lost his first three games and then won the last three behind Allen, Singleton and a strong rushing attack.
Redshirt freshmen Corey Smith and Quinton Martin Jr. and redshirt sophomore Cam Wallace likely will receive the majority of carries for the Lions. Smith and Wallace have combined for only 11 carries this season; Martin has none.
“I think Corey Smith has done a really good job,” Terry Smith said. “He’s run the ball really well. He’s really dynamic. He’s a change-of-pace back. He’s a real shifty, explosive type of runner. Quinton Martin has had a really good bowl prep for us. Then Cam Wallace will also get some snaps.”
They’ll run behind a makeshift offensive line that will include Anthony Donkoh, the lone starter playing, Cooper Cousins, T.J. Shanahan and Dominic Rulli, probably at center. He didn’t mention anyone else.
“Those guys have played significant snaps for us throughout the year,” Smith said. “We expect the same results. It’s the next man up. With the experience those guys provide, we don’t expect a drop-off at all.”
Promising freshmen Daryus Dixson, whose playing time increased late in the regular season, and Jahmir Joseph will see increased action at cornerback, along with starter Audavion Collins. Dejuan Lane and Vaboe Toure will fill in at safety for Wheatley, a senior who has played the most snaps of any defensive player.
“We want to finish writing the script for the 2025 season,” Smith said. “Six games ago we set a vision to write the script the way we want to write it. We still have that opportunity and we want to write this final chapter.”
Rich Scarcella’s pick
Penn State 24, Clemson 21
The Nittany Lions and the Tigers both have had disappointing seasons and both will be without a lot of players. Which team will be able to navigate the wintry conditions that are expected and which team will be more physical will win. That’s where Penn State gets a slight edge.
