2016 Penn State Nittany Lions football team

The 2016 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented Pennsylvania State University in the 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was led by third-year head coach James Franklin and played its home games in Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. They were a member of the Big Ten East Division of the Big Ten Conference. They lost to Pitt and Michigan in early September but then had a winning streak that included signature victories over Ohio State and Wisconsin en route to a Big Ten championship. Despite their Big Ten title, the Nittany Lions just missed a playoff berth. They represented the Big Ten in the 2017 Rose Bowl, losing to USC on a game winning field goal.

2016 Penn State Nittany Lions football
Big Ten champion
Big Ten East Division co-champion
Lambert-Meadowlands Trophy
Rose Bowl, L 49–52 vs. USC
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
DivisionEast Division
Ranking
CoachesNo. 7
APNo. 7
Record11–3 (8–1 Big Ten)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorJoe Moorhead (1st season)
Offensive schemeSpread
Defensive coordinatorBrent Pry (1st as DC; 3rd overall season)
Co-defensive coordinatorTim Banks (1st season)
Base defense4–3
Captains
  • Brandon Bell (Senior year)
  • Brian Gaia (Senior year)
  • Von Walker (Senior year)
Home stadiumBeaver Stadium
Seasons
← 2015
2017 →
2016 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
East Division
No. 7 Penn State xy$   8 1     11 3  
No. 6 Ohio State x^   8 1     11 2  
No. 10 Michigan   7 2     10 3  
Indiana   4 5     6 7  
Maryland   3 6     6 7  
Michigan State   1 8     3 9  
Rutgers   0 9     2 10  
West Division
No. 9 Wisconsin xy   7 2     11 3  
Iowa   6 3     8 5  
Nebraska   6 3     9 4  
Minnesota   5 4     9 4  
Northwestern   5 4     7 6  
Illinois   2 7     3 9  
Purdue   1 8     3 9  
Championship: Penn State 38, Wisconsin 31
  • ^ – College Football Playoff participant
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll

Background

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2016 NFL Draft

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Round Pick (Overall) Player Team Position
2 43 Austin Johnson Tennessee Titans Nose Tackle
2 51 Christian Hackenberg New York Jets Quarterback
3 65 Carl Nassib Cleveland Browns Defensive end
6 202 Anthony Zettel Detroit Lions Defense Tackle
6 204 Jordan Lucas Miami Dolphins Safety

Schedule

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Penn State announced its 2016 football schedule on July 11, 2013. The 2016 schedule consists of 7 home and 5 away games in the regular season. The Nittany Lions hosted Big Ten foes Iowa, Maryland, Michigan State, Minnesota, and Ohio State, and traveled to Indiana, Michigan, Purdue, and Rutgers.[1]

The team hosted two of the three non-conference games against the Kent State Golden Flashes from the Mid-American Conference (MAC), Pittsburgh Panthers from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), and the Temple Owls from the American Athletic Conference (AAC).

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 33:30 p.m.Kent State*BTNW 33–1394,378
September 1012:00 p.m.at Pittsburgh*ESPNL 39–4269,983
September 1712:00 p.m.Temple*
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA
BTNW 34–27100,420
September 243:30 p.m.at No. 4 MichiganABCL 10–49110,319
October 13:30 p.m.Minnesota
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA (Governor's Victory Bell)
BTNW 29–26 OT95,332
October 812:00 p.m.Maryland 
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA (rivalry)
BTNW 38–14100,778
October 228:00 p.m.No. 2 Ohio State
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA (rivalry)
ABCW 24–21107,280
October 2912:00 p.m.at PurdueNo. 24ABC/ESPN2W 62–2433,157
November 57:30 p.m.IowaNo. 12
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA
BTNW 41–14106,194
November 1212:00 p.m.at IndianaNo. 10ABC/ESPN2W 45–3140,678
November 198:00 p.m.at RutgersNo. 8BTNW 39–051,366
November 263:30 p.m.Michigan StateNo. 7
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA (rivalry)
ESPNW 45–1297,418
December 38:00 p.m.vs. No. 6 WisconsinNo. 7FOXW 38–3165,018
January 2, 20175:00 p.m.vs. No. 9 USC*No. 5
ESPNL 49–5295,128

[2]

Roster

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2016 Penn State Nittany Lions football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
QB 2 Tommy Stevens   Fr
WR 3 DeAndre Thompkins   So
WR 5 DaeSean Hamilton   Jr
RB 6 Andre Robinson   Fr
QB 7 Jake Zembiec Fr
RB 8 Mark Allen   So
QB 9 Trace McSorley   So
WR 10 Brandon Polk So
WR 11 Irvin Charles   Fr
WR 12 Chris Godwin Jr
WR 13 Saeed Blacknall Jr
QB 15 Michael Shuster Fr
QB 16 Billy Fessler   So
TE 18 Jonathan Holland   Fr
WR 19 Gregg Garrity Sr
RB 24 Miles Sanders Fr
RB 26 Saquon Barkley So
WR 28 Christopher Welde So
RB 32 Irvine Paye   Jr
WR 39 Josh McPhearson   Jr
RB 40 Nick Eury Fr
OL 51 Alex Gellerstedt Fr
G, C 52 Ryan Bates   Fr
G, C 53 Derek Dowrey   Sr
C, G 55 Wendy Laurent   Sr
G, C 57 Steven Gonzalez   Fr
OT 58 Chance Sorrell   So
OT 59 Andrew Nelson   Jr
OT 60 Noah Beh   So
G 62 Michal Menet Fr
G 64 Zach Simpson   Fr
OL 66 Connor McGovern Fr
G 68 Hunter Kelly Fr
G, C 69 Adam De Boef   So
G, C 70 Brendan Mahon   Jr
OT 71 Will Fries Fr
G, C 72 Brian Gaia   Sr
OT 73 Paris Palmer Sr
OT 75 Brendan Brosnan   So
OT 76 Sterling Jenkins   Fr
G, C 77 Chasz Wright   So
C, G 78 Tom Devenney   Jr
OT 79 Charlie Shuman   So
TE 80 Danny Dalton Fr
WR 81 Gordon Bentley   Jr
TE 81 Steven Grampp Fr
WR 82 Tyler Shoop   Fr
TE 83 Nick Bowers   Fr
WR 84 Juwan Johnson   Fr
WR 85 Isaac Lutz Fr
WR 86 Cody Hodgens   Jr
WR 87 Dae'Lun Darien Fr
TE 88 Mike Gesicki Jr
TE 89 Tom Pancoast   Jr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
CB 1 Christian Campbell Jr
S 2 Marcus Allen Jr
S 4 Nick Scott   So
LB 5 Nyeem Wartman-White   Sr
S 6 Malik Golden   Sr
LB 7 Koa Farmer   So
LB 9 Jarvis Miller   Fr
LB 11 Brandon Bell Sr
CB 12 Jordan Smith Sr
CB 14 Zech McPhearson Fr
CB 15 Grant Haley Jr
S 16 John Petrishen   Fr
CB 17 Garrett Taylor   Fr
DE 19 Torrence Brown   So
LB 20 Johnathan Thomas   So
CB 21 Amani Oruwariye   So
S 23 Ayron Monroe   Fr
LB 25 Von Walker Sr
CB 27 T. J. Johnson Fr
S 28 Troy Apke Jr
CB 29 John Reid So
DT 30 Kevin Givens   Fr
LB 31 Cam Brown Fr
S 32 Mitchell Vallone Jr
LB 33 Jake Cooper So
DE 34 Shane Simmons Fr
LB 36 Jan Johnson   Fr
CB 36 Troy Shorts   Fr
CB 37 Kyle Alston   Jr
CB 38 Desi Davis   So
LB 39 Frank Di Leo   Fr
LB 40 Jason Cabinda Jr
DT 41 Parker Cothren   Jr
DT 42 Ellison Jordan Fr
LB 43 Manny Bowen So
DE 44 Shaka Toney Fr
LB 45 Joe DuMond Fr
DE 46 Colin Castagna So
S 47 Will Blair Fr
LB 47 Brandon Smith   Jr
DE 48 Shareef Miller   Fr
DE 49 Daniel Joseph Fr
LB 51 Jason Vranic Jr
DT 52 Curtis Cothran   Fr
DT 54 Robert Windsor   Fr
DT 55 Antonio Shelton Fr
DT 56 Tyrell Chavis Jr
DE 90 Garrett Sickels   Jr
DT 91 Ryan Monk   Fr
DT 93 Antoine White   So
DE 94 Evan Schwan   Sr
DT 96 Immanuel Iyke   Fr
DE 97 Ryan Buchholz   Fr
DT 99 Brenon Thrift   So
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
K, P 37 Chris Gulla   Jr
SN 41 Zach Ladonis   Jr
SN 44 Tyler Yazujian   Sr
K 90 Alex Barbir Fr
P 92 Daniel Pasquariello Jr
P, K 93 Blake Gillikin Fr
K, P 95 Tyler Davis   Jr
SN 96 Kyle Vasey   So
SN 97 Nick Cox   Fr
K, P 98 Jordan Wombacker   Fr
K 99 Joey Julius   So
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
  • Brent Pry (defensive coordinator/associate head coach/linebackers)
  • Joe Moorhead (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks)
  • Charles Huff (running backs/special teams coordinator)
  • Ricky Rahne (tight ends/passing game coordinator)
  • Josh Gattis (wide receivers/offensive recruiting coordinator)
  • Terry Smith (cornerbacks/defensive recruiting coordinator)
  • Tim Banks (safeties/co-defensive coordinator)
  • Matt Limegrover (offensive line)
  • Sean Spencer (defensive line/run game coordinator)
  • Dwight Galt (strength and conditioning)
  • Joe Brady IV (graduate assistant)
  • Tommy Galt (graduate assistant)
  • Andrew Jackson (graduate assistant)
  • Ryan Smith (graduate assistant)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  •   Injured
  •   Redshirt

Roster

Coaching staff

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Position Name Alma mater
Head coach James Franklin[3] East Stroudsburg (1994)
Defensive coordinator/linebackers Brent Pry Buffalo (1993)
Offensive coordinator/ quarterbacks Joe Moorhead Fordham University (1995)
Safeties/co-defensive coordinator Tim Banks Central Michigan University (1994)
Running backs/special teams coordinator Charles Huff[4] Hampton (2005)
Tight ends/passing game coordinator Ricky Rahne[4] Cornell (2002)
Wide Receivers/offensive recruiting coordinator Josh Gattis[4] Wake Forest (2006)
Cornerbacks/defensive recruiting coordinator Terry Smith[4] Penn State (1991)
Offensive line Matt Limegrover University of Chicago (1990)
Defensive line/run game coordinator Sean Spencer[4] Clarion (1995)
Strength and conditioning Dwight Galt[4] Maryland (1981)
Graduate assistant Joe Brady IV College of William & Mary (2013)
Graduate assistant Tommy Galt Maryland (2009)
Graduate assistant Andrew Jackson LIU Post (2011)
Graduate assistant Ryan Smith College of William & Mary (2014)

Rankings

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Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre1234567891011121314Final
AP24201298857
CoachesRVRV2314108857
CFPNot released12108775Not released

Game summaries

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Kent State

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Kent State vs. Penn State – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Kent State 3 10 0013
Penn State 6 10 10733

at Beaver Stadium

Game information

Pittsburgh

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Penn State vs. Pittsburgh – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Penn State 7 7 71839
Pittsburgh 14 14 7742

at Heinz Field

Game information

Temple

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Temple vs. Penn State – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Temple 7 3 71027
Penn State 14 7 31034

at Beaver Stadium

Game information

#4 Michigan

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Penn State vs. Michigan – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Penn State 0 0 3710
#4 Michigan 14 14 71449

at Michigan Stadium

Game information

Minnesota

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Minnesota vs. Penn State – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34OTTotal
Minnesota 3 10 010326
Penn State 0 3 173629

at Beaver Stadium

Game information

Maryland

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Maryland vs. Penn State – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Maryland 7 7 0014
Penn State 7 17 7738

at Beaver Stadium

Game information

#2 Ohio State

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Ohio State vs. Penn State – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
#2 Ohio State 0 12 9021
Penn State 0 7 01724

at Beaver Stadium

Game information

Purdue

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Penn State vs. Purdue – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
#24 Penn State 7 10 242162
Purdue 7 10 7024

at Ross–Ade Stadium

Game information

Iowa

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Iowa vs. Penn State – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Iowa 0 7 0714
#20 Penn State 7 17 31441

at Beaver Stadium

Game information

Indiana

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Penn State vs. Indiana – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
#12 Penn State 7 7 72445
Indiana 0 14 10731

at Memorial Stadium

Game information

Rutgers

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Penn State vs. Rutgers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
#9 Penn State 6 3 161439
Rutgers 0 0 000

at High Point Solutions Stadium

Game information

Michigan State

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Michigan State vs. Penn State – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Michigan State 6 6 0012
#8 Penn State 0 10 211445

at Beaver Stadium

Game information

#6 Wisconsin (Big Ten Championship Game)

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Wisconsin vs. Penn State – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
#6 Wisconsin 14 14 3031
#8 Penn State 7 7 141038

at Lucas Oil Stadium

Game information

#9 USC (Rose Bowl)

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USC vs. Penn State – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
#9 USC 13 14 81752
#5 Penn State 0 21 28049

at Rose Bowl

Game information

Awards and honors

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Players

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Coaches

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Awards
Coach Award Date Awarded Ref.
James Franklin Dave McClain Coach of the Year (media vote) November 22, 2016
James Franklin Sporting News College Football Coach of the Year December 7, 2016 [16]

References

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  1. ^ "Big Ten Announces 2016 and 2017 Nine-Game Conference Football Schedules" (Press release). Penn State University Department of Athletics. July 11, 2013. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  2. ^ "2016 Penn State Nittany Lions Football Schedule". FB Schedules. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
  3. ^ "Penn State Selects James Franklin To Lead Football Program". Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics. Archived from the original on January 11, 2014. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Penn State Official Athletic Site - Football". Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics. Archived from the original on October 17, 2013. Retrieved January 31, 2014.
  5. ^ "Big Ten Football Players of the Week". Big Ten Conference. Big Ten Conference. October 3, 2016. Archived from the original on October 5, 2016. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  6. ^ a b "Big Ten Football Players of the Week". Big Ten Conference. Big Ten Conference. October 10, 2016. Archived from the original on October 11, 2016. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  7. ^ a b c "Big Ten Football Players of the Week". Big Ten Conference. Big Ten Conference. October 24, 2016. Archived from the original on October 25, 2016. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  8. ^ "Big Ten Football Players of the Week". Big Ten Conference. Big Ten Conference. October 31, 2016. Archived from the original on November 1, 2016. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  9. ^ "Big Ten Football Players of the Week". Big Ten Conference. Big Ten Conference. November 7, 2016. Archived from the original on November 13, 2016. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  10. ^ "Big Ten Football Players of the Week". Big Ten Conference. Big Ten Conference. November 21, 2016. Archived from the original on November 21, 2016. Retrieved November 21, 2016.
  11. ^ "Big Ten Football Players of the Week". Big Ten Conference. Big Ten Conference. November 29, 2016. Archived from the original on November 30, 2016. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  12. ^ a b "Saquon Barkely wins Offensive player of the year & First Team Big Ten". November 30, 2016. Retrieved November 30, 2016.
  13. ^ Greenstein, Teddy. "Saquon Barkley, J.T. Barrett named winners of Chicago Tribune Silver Football". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  14. ^ "2016 Big Ten Individual Award Winners" (PDF). www.grfx.cstv.com. Big Ten Conference. November 29, 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 29, 2016. Retrieved November 30, 2016.
  15. ^ "2016 Big Ten Individual Award Winners" (PDF). www.grfx.cstv.com. Big Ten Conference. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 28, 2018. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  16. ^ "Penn State's James Franklin is Sporting News Coach of the Year". Sporting News. December 7, 2016. Retrieved December 8, 2016.