Penn State game special for Ohio State's Eli Apple

Before sixth grade, Eli Apple was nervous about playing football. He was small for his age, he said, and was afraid to get hit. But then he went out for the team, fell in love with the sport, and started dreaming about playing college football.

Now, the 6-foot-1, 200-pounder from Voorhees starts at cornerback for top-ranked Ohio State. The redshirt sophomore started 14 of 15 games last season, logging 53 tackles. In the national championship game, he intercepted a pass from Marcus Mariota to solidify the Buckeyes' 42-20 win over Oregon.

This week, Apple and Ohio State (6-0, 2-0 Big Ten) are getting ready to host Penn State (5-1, 2-0) in prime time. For Apple, who was born in Philadelphia before moving to South Jersey, the opponent provides a little extra motivation.

"It's always good to have those bragging rights," Apple said Wednesday in a telephone interview. "When you go home and people ask about the Penn State game, you want to say you played well."

While Penn State is pumping deafening crowd noise into its practices this week, Apple said the Buckeyes defense isn't making any drastic changes in preparation for Saturday's game. But he is excited for the atmosphere that will greet the team.

"I guess it's supposed to be very dark. It's the first 'blackout.' I expect the crowd to be loud," Apple said.

He will also be greeted by several familiar faces across the field. The Eastern Regional High School graduate played against Lions tight end Mike Gesicki in high school, and knows quarterback Christian Hackenberg from football camps.

As Apple watched film of Penn State's offense this week, Apple said he noted the threat Hackenberg can be. In Apple's redshirt season, he remembered that Hackenberg did not log his best performance in the Buckeyes' 60-14 win over Penn State at the Horseshoe. The quarterback, who was a freshman at the time, threw two interceptions.

But Apple also vividly recalls the fight that the Nittany Lions put up in Ohio State's 31-24 double-overtime win last season in Happy Valley.

"I remember how crazy the whiteout was, being in Beaver Stadium," Apple said, as well as how Penn State gained momentum in the second half. One of the biggest plays in the game was a 24-yard touchdown pass from Hackenberg to Saeed Blacknall, which allowed Penn State to tie it up later in the fourth quarter and drag the Buckeyes into two overtimes.

Apple, who was a five-star recruit, has recorded 15 total tackles and one interception this season. He said he doesn't set specific goals for himself, instead focusing on playing his best each week while having fun with his teammates.

Football takes up most of Apple's time. Even after his own game ends on Saturday, he said, he makes sure to find a TV and cheer on the players he knows on other teams.

And when he's not on the field?

"I like to sleep a lot," he said, laughing. "Chill, play video games. Eat. Sleep. Play football."

Playing on the nation's top-ranked team, Apple said he doesn't pay much attention to outside noise, on social media or elsewhere. While he and his teammates plan to keep their number one ranking, Apple said he doesn't feel much pressure.

"There's no more pressure than we had last year," he said.