Like everybody else who works at Penn State’s Lasch Football Building, Terry Smith doesn’t know what will happen after the regular season finale Saturday at Rutgers.
But Smith, the interim head coach, expects the seniors and other draft-eligible players to participate in a bowl game if the Nittany Lions beat the Scarlet Knights for their sixth win.
“Rutgers is all that matters,” Smith said Monday at his weekly press conference. “It means everything to us in the building and we’re trying to go out and get this victory.
“I would anticipate that our guys are going to play (in a potential bowl game). I’m sure there may be a one-off or a two-off here or there with some type of circumstance. I have full anticipation that our guys are going to play.”
Penn State recognized 34 players on Senior Night before its win over Nebraska Saturday night. Most have no eligibility left but some still do. How many of them would play in a bowl game remains to be seen.
Smith, of course, doesn’t know how many younger players will decide to stay at Penn State or transfer, depending on who the new coach is. The NCAA transfer portal doesn’t open until Jan. 2.
Under former Penn State coach James Franklin, he had a policy that a player who entered the portal would immediately be taken off the roster.
“We’re in a little different situation,” Smith said. “We’re encouraging our guys to keep an open mind. We don’t know what’s next, so the most important thing is that we play hard Saturday and put on film what you want anybody to know about you.
“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”
Allen honored: Penn State senior running back Kaytron Allen received two honors for his performance last weekend against Nebraska.
Allen was named the East-West Shrine Bowl Offensive Player of the Week and the Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week after he carried 25 times for 160 yards and two touchdowns in a 37-10 win.
Allen also passed Evan Royster and became the Lions’ all-time leading rusher with 3,954 yards. He has 1,077 yards this season, his second 1,000-yard season.
Grunkemeyer progresses: Penn State quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer continued to make progress in his fifth start against Nebraska.
Grunkemeyer, a redshirt freshman, was 11-of-12 passing for 181 yards and one touchdown, averaging 15.1 yards per attempt. He became the first Lions quarterback to complete 90% of his passes on at least 10 attempts in a game since Todd Blackledge went 10-for-11 at Syracuse in 1981.
For the season, he has completed 67.5% of his passes for 870 yards and five touchdowns with four interceptions.
“Ethan has played really, really well,” Smith said. “I thought he played outstanding on Saturday. “When we did throw the ball, it was down the field. We’re giving guys an opportunity to make plays and good things are happening for us.
“Ethan has really progressed. Between the Michigan State game and the Nebraska game, I think he really slung-shot a little bit. I’m really looking forward to him closing out the season on a high note.”
