How Penn State's Big Ten champion was built
How Penn State's Big 10 Champion Was Built Three head coaches recruited and signed players who played key roles in Penn State's Big 10 championship. Here is the Nittany Lions' two-deep (and sometimes three-deep) roster and the head coaches to whom they committed.
How Penn State's Big 10 Champion Was Built
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Three head coaches recruited and signed players who played key roles in Penn State's Big 10 championship. Here is the Nittany Lions' two-deep (and sometimes three-deep) roster and the head coaches to whom they committed.
JAMES FRANKLIN
Class of 2014 (Redshirt sophomores/juniors)
Flipped their commitments from Vanderbilt after Franklin took the Penn State job)
QB Trace McSorley
CB Grant Haley
CB Amani Oruwariye
Others
WR Saeed Blacknall
DE Torrence Brown
CB Christian Campbell
LB Koa Farmer
Class of 2015 (Redshirt freshmen/sophomores)
RB Saquon Barkley
OT Ryan Bates
LB Manny Bowen
DE Ryan Buchholz
WR Irvin Charles
DT Kevin Givens
G Stephen Gonzalez
OT Sterling Jenkins
WR Juwan Johnson
DE Shareef Miller
CB Ayron Monroe
CB John Reid
RB Andre Robinson
QB Tommy Stevens
DT Robert Windsor
*LB Jake Cooper, TE Nick Bowers, WR Brandon Polk were injured for part or all of the season. Junior college transfer OT Paris Palmer missed part of the season with an injury
Class of 2016 (True freshmen)
LB Cameron Brown
P Blake Gillikin
G Connor McGovern
RB Miles Sanders
Class also included junior college transfer DT Tyrell Chavis
Class of 2016 (Walk-ons)
OL Zach Simpson
TE Tom Pancoast
LB Brandon Smith
LS Tyler Yazujian
K Tyler Davis
H Chris Gulla
LB Von Walker
BILL O'BRIEN
Class of 2012 (Fifth-Year Seniors)
OL Wendy Laurent
DL Evan Schwan
LB Nyeem Wartman-White
Class of 2013 (Redshirt juniors/seniors)
LB Brandon Bell
DE Curtis Cothran
DT Parker Cothren
WR DaeSean Hamilton
OL Brendan Mahon
OL Andrew Nelson
DE Garrett Sickels
DB Jordan Smith
Class of 2014 (Redshirt sophomores/juniors)
S Troy Apke
S Marcus Allen
RB Mark Allen
LB Jason Cabinda
TE Mike Gesicki
WR Chris Godwin
S Nick Scott
WR DeAndre Thompkins
DT Antoine White
OT Chasz Wright.*
*O'Brien announced his resignation on Jan. 2, 2014 to take job with NFL Houston Texans.
JOE PATERNO
Class of 2012 (Fifth-Year Seniors)
C Brian Gaia
G Derek Dowrey
S Malik Golden
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LB Von Walker