Penn State football players look ahead to 2023 and what might be

Jan. 3—LOS ANGELES — Penn State football coaches and players didn't want the moment to end Monday night.

They exchanged hugs, shared tears and posed for photos as blue confetti filled the air around them after their convincing 35-21 win over No. 7 Utah in the Rose Bowl.

The No. 9 Nittany Lions celebrated in the rain for 45 minutes before they finally left the field and headed to their locker room.

They reflected on finishing 11-2 after starting the season unranked and looked ahead to 2023 and what might be.

"We were getting nine- and 10-win seasons and then we hit a bump (going 11-11 in 2020-21)," center Juice Scruggs said. "We got over it. This year we definitely showed the world what Penn State's capable of. We could take that next step next year. They could take that next step. I'm excited to see what they can do.

"I'm gonna be tuning in every Saturday. I'm gonna be watching and rooting for them wearing my PSU gear."

The Lions expect to contend for their first berth in the College Football Playoff before it expands to 12 teams in 2024. They have abundant talent coming back, including a remarkable first-year class that's led by Gov. Mifflin product Nick Singleton, the Big Ten Freshman of the Year.

It's not far-fetched to think they might be back at the Rose Bowl a year from now in a CFP semifinal.

"I think the sky's the limit for us (in 2023)," tight end Theo Johnson said. "We've shown we have as much potential as anybody. We're capable of doing anything that we set our minds to. We showed that potential in this game by beating the Pac-12 champions (Utah)."

Penn State loses five starters on offense: quarterback Sean Clifford, wide receivers Mitchell Tinsley and Parker Washington, tight end Brenton Strange and Scruggs.

The offensive line will be as deep as it has been in a long time. Six players who have significant experience will return: Olu Fashanu, Hunter Nourzad, Sal Wormley, Bryce Effner, Landon Tengwall and Drew Shelton, the former Downingtown West standout.

KeAndre Lambert-Smith, who caught an 88-yard pass for the longest touchdown reception in Rose Bowl history, and Harrison Wallace III, who had two catches for 47 yards Monday, will lead the receiving corps. Freshmen Omari Evans and Kaden Saunders will be in the rotation.

"There's no limit to how good KeAndre can be," Tinsley said, "or Trey Wallace or any others in our room, if they want it. We have a lot of talent there. If everybody keeps working and never gets complacent, the best is yet to come for them."

Singleton and Kaytron Allen, who combined for 1,928 rushing yards this season, will be in the backfield with quarterback Drew Allar, the former five-star prospect who played in 10 games as a freshman.

Singleton made his postseason debut a splashing success, scoring on a memorable 87-yard dash that ranked as the third-longest TD run in Rose Bowl history and broke a 14-14 tie.

He carried just seven times for 120 yards and two scores and finished his freshman season with 1,061 yards, a 6.8 average and 12 TDs.

"That guy is special," Scruggs said. "He doesn't need much. He makes our job so much easier with his speed and his ability to run the ball. I'm excited to see what he does in the next few years. I expect big things from him."

On defense, Penn State is expected to return seven starters and lose four: tackle PJ Mustipher, end Nick Tarburton, cornerback Joey Porter Jr. and safety Ji'Ayir Brown, the Rose Bowl Defensive Player of the Game.

If defensive end Adisa Isaac and linebacker Curtis Jacobs decide not to declare for the NFL draft, they'll be back with defensive tackle Hakeem Beamon, linebackers Abdul Carter and Tyler Elsdon, safety Keaton Ellis and Kalen King, who had an interception Monday and is one of the best cover corners in the Big Ten, if not the country.

"I'm not going to go into specifics, but next year is definitely going to be a big year," King said. "I'm looking forward to it. We have to build on a win like this and go into next year with the same mindset we had this year."

The Lions finished ranked in the top 20 nationally in scoring, total and rushing defense and pass defense efficiency.

"I expect dominance next year," said Jacobs, who had two sacks against Utah. "I expect dominance on every play. We showed flashes of that. We have to make it a recurring theme."

Penn State already has dipped into the transfer portal, getting North Carolina cornerback Storm Duck and NC State wide receiver Devin Carter.

The Lions open Sept. 2 against West Virginia at Beaver Stadium, play Illinois, Northwestern and Iowa in Big Ten crossover games and have Michigan at home and Ohio State on the road.

"As you guys can see, we have some great young talent," Scruggs said. "I'm calling it now. I think they're going to reach the playoffs next year."

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Penn State at a glance for 2023

Offensive starters lost: QB Sean Clifford, WR Mitchell Tinsley, WR Parker Washington, C Juice Scruggs, TE Brenton Strange.

Offensive starters returning: RB Nick Singleton, WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith, OL Hunter Nourzad, OL Olu Fashanu, OL Sal Wormley, OL Caedan Wallace.

Defensive starters lost: CB Joey Porter Jr., DT PJ Mustipher, DE Nick Tarburton, S Ji'Ayir Brown.

Defensive starters returning: DE Adisa Isaac, DT Hakeem Beamon, LB Curtis Jacobs, LB Abdul Carter, LB Tyler Elsdon, CB Kalen King, S Keaton Ellis.