2020 Penn State Nittany Lions football team

The 2020 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University in the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season as a member of the Big Ten Conference. The team was led by seventh-year head coach James Franklin.

2020 Penn State Nittany Lions football
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
DivisionEast Division
Record4–5 (4–5 Big Ten)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorKirk Ciarrocca (1st season)
Co-offensive coordinatorTyler Bowen (1st season)
Offensive schemeSpread
Defensive coordinatorBrent Pry (5th as DC; 7th overall season)
Co-defensive coordinatorTim Banks (5th season)
Base defense4–3
Home stadiumBeaver Stadium
Seasons
← 2019
2021 →
2020 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
East Division
No. 2 Ohio State xy$^   5 0     7 1  
No. 12 Indiana   6 1     6 2  
Penn State   4 5     4 5  
Maryland   2 3     2 3  
Rutgers   3 6     3 6  
Michigan   2 4     2 4  
Michigan State   2 5     2 5  
West Division
No. 10 Northwestern xy   6 1     7 2  
No. 16 Iowa   6 2     6 2  
Wisconsin   3 3     4 3  
Minnesota   3 4     3 4  
Nebraska   3 5     3 5  
Purdue   2 4     2 4  
Illinois   2 6     2 6  
Championship: Ohio State 22, Northwestern 10
  • ^ – College Football Playoff participant
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
  • Note: Due to COVID-19, the Big Ten suspended the season on August 11, but later decided to begin play on October 24. In addition to the title game that was played on December 19, the conference seeded all remaining teams for "championship week" games.[1]
Rankings from AP Poll.

On August 11, 2020, the Big Ten Conference canceled all fall sports competitions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2] On September 16, the Big Ten reinstated the football season, announcing an eight-game season beginning on October 24.[3]

On November 21, after losing to Iowa, Penn State's record dropped to 0–5, the worst start in the program's history, dating to 1887.[4] The team went on to win its final four games, finishing the regular season at 4–5. On December 19, the program announced that it was removing itself from consideration for a bowl game.[5]

Offseason

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Staff changes

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2020 NFL Draft

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Round Pick Player Team
2 38 Yetur Gross-Matos Carolina Panthers
2 46 K. J. Hamler Denver Broncos
4 141 John Reid Houston Texans
6 183 Cam Brown New York Giants
6 193 Robert Windsor Indianapolis Colts
Undrafted Steven Gonzalez Arizona Cardinals
Nick Bowers Las Vegas Raiders
Garrett Taylor Buffalo Bills
Jan Johnson Houston Texans
Blake Gillikin New Orleans Saints
Dan Chisena Minnesota Vikings

Recruiting

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The Nittany Lions signed 27 recruits during the 2020 signing cycle, securing the 15th ranked recruiting class in the country. This was Penn State's fourth consecutive top 15 recruiting class. 11 of the 27 signings in the 2020 class enrolled early.

Transfers

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Returning starters

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Offensive returning starters (8)
Player Year Position 2019 Games

Started

Sean Clifford Senior QB 13
Journey Brown Senior RB 13
Rasheed Walker Junior OL 13
Mike Miranda Senior OL 8
Michal Menet 5th-Sr OL 13
C.J. Thorpe Senior OL 5
Will Fries Graduate student OL 13
Pat Freiermuth Junior TE 13

Personnel

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Coaching staff

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Penn State football current coaching staff[6]
Name Position Alma Mater Years at Penn State
James Franklin Head Coach East Stroudsburg University (1995) 7th
Brent Pry Defensive coordinator/linebackers University at Buffalo (1993) 7th
Kirk Ciarrocca Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Temple University (1990) 1st
Tim Banks Co-defensive coordinator/safeties Central Michigan University (1995) 5th
Tyler Bowen Co-offensive coordinator/offensive recruiting coordinator/tight ends University of Maryland (2010) 3rd
Phil Trautwein Offensive line University of Florida (2007) 1st
John Scott Defensive line Western Carolina University (2000) 1st
Taylor Stubblefield Wide receivers Purdue University (2004) 1st
Ja'Juan Seider Run Game Coordinator/running backs West Virginia University (2000) 3rd
Terry Smith Assistant head coach/defensive recruiting coordinator/cornerbacks Penn State University (1991) 7th
Joe Lorig Special teams coordinator/outside Linebacker Western Oregon University (1995) 2nd
Dwight Galt III Assistant AD, Performance Enhancement University of Maryland (1981) 7th
V'Angelo Bentley Graduate Assistant University of Illinois (2015) 2nd
Jeff Carpenter Graduate Assistant Penn State University (2015) 1st
Deion Barnes Graduate Assistant Penn State University (2014) 1st
Wendy Laurent Graduate Assistant Penn State University (2016) 1st
Ty Howle Offensive assistant Penn State University (2013) 1st

Roster

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2020 Penn State Nittany Lions football roster

Quarterback

  •  2 Micah Bowens – freshman (5'11, 196)
  •  7 Will Levis  sophomore (6'3, 222)
  •  9 Ta'Quan Roberson –   freshman (5'11, 195)
  • 14 Sean Clifford  junior (6'2, 217)
  • 17 Mason Stahl – freshman (6'0, 204)

Running back

  •  4 Journey Brown  junior (5'11, 217)
  • 21 Noah Cainsophomore (5'10, 226)
  • 24 Keyvone Lee – freshman (6'0, 230)
  • 26 Caziah Holmes – freshman (5'11, 209)
  • 28 Devyn Ford – sophomore (5'11, 205)
  • 30 Joseph Bruno – freshman (6'0, 202)
  • 38 Tank Smith –   freshman (5'7, 227)

Wide receiver

  •  3 Parker Washingtonfreshman (5'10, 205)
  •  5 Jahan Dotsonjunior (5'11, 182)
  •  6 Cam Sullivan-Brown –   junior (6'0, 191)
  • 10 TJ Jones –   freshman (6'1, 202)
  • 11 Daniel George –   sophomore (6'2, 210)
  • 13 KeAndre Lambert-Smithfreshman (6'1, 185)
  • 19 Jaden Dottin – freshman (6'2, 190)
  • 29 Henry Fessler –   sophomore (5'10, 182)
  • 80 Malick Meiga – freshman (6'4, 198)
  • 80 Justin Weller –   junior (6'0, 194)
  • 83 Johnny Crise – freshman (6'5, 201)
  • 84 Benjamin Wilson – senior (6'2, 212)
  • 85 Isaac Lutz –   senior (5'11, 197)
  • 88 Norval Black – junior (6'1, 178)

Tight end

Placekicker

  • 90 Rafael Checa –   sophomore (6'2, 203)
  • 92 Jake Pinegar – junior (6'2, 192)
  • 95 Vlad Hilling –   sophomore (5'10, 213)
  • 96 Anthony DaSilva –   freshman (5'11, 157)
 

Offensive lineman

  • 50 Will Knutsson –   sophomore (6'2, 319)
  • 51 Jimmy Christ – freshman (6'7, 298)
  • 52 Blake Zalar –   freshman (6'1, 289)
  • 53 Rasheed Walker  sophomore (6'6, 310)
  • 54 George French II – freshman (6'8, 320)
  • 55 Anthony Whigan –   junior (6'4, 315)
  • 57 Ibrahim Traore – freshman (6'5, 325)
  • 59 Kaleb Konigus –   sophomore (6'2, 291)
  • 62 Michal Menet  senior (6'4, 306)
  • 63 Collin De Boef –   sophomore (6'5, 264)
  • 66 Nick Dawkins – freshman (6'4, 310)
  • 69 C.J. Thorpe –   junior (6'3, 313)
  • 70 Juice Scruggs  sophomore (6'3, 302)
  • 71 Will Fries  senior (6'6, 306)
  • 72 Bryce Effner –   sophomore (6'5, 301)
  • 73 Mike Miranda –   junior (6'3, 301)
  • 74 Olu Fashanufreshman (6'6, 300)
  • 75 Des Holmes –   junior (6'5, 312)
  • 76 Justin Kopko –   freshman (6'3, 318)
  • 77 Sal Wormley –   freshman (6'3, 317)
  • 78 Golden Israel-Achumba – freshman (6'4, 345)
  • 79 Caedan Wallace  freshman (6'5, 313)

Defensive lineman

  • 18 Shaka Toney – DE –   senior (6'3, 252)
  • 20 Adisa Isaac – DE – sophomore (6'4, 251)
  • 27 Aeneas Hawkins – DT –   sophomore (6'2, 288)
  • 28 Odafe Oweh – DE –   sophomore (6'5, 252)
  • 33 Bryce Mostella – DE – freshman (6'6, 248)
  • 34 Shane Simmons – DE –   senior (6'3, 257)
  • 42 Ellison Jordan – DT –   junior (6'0, 320)
  • 44 Joseph Darkwa – DT –   freshman (6'5, 293)
  • 46 Nick Tarburton – DE –   sophomore (6'3, 252)
  • 51 Hakeem Beamon – DE –   freshman (6'3, 292)
  • 53 Fred Hansard – DT –   junior (6'3, 324)
  • 54 Fatorma Mulbah – DT – freshman (6'3, 289)
  • 55 Antonio Shelton – DT –   senior (6'2, 327)
  • 56 Amin Vanover – DT – freshman (6'4, 279)
  • 77 Judge Culpepper – DT –   sophomore (6'4, 295)
  • 91 Dvon Ellies – DT –   freshman (6'1, 296)
  • 92 Smith Vilbert – DE –   freshman (6'6, 251)
  • 94 Jake Wilson – DE – freshman (6'3, 241)
  • 95 Cole Brevard – DT – freshman (6'3, 312)
  • 97 P. J. Mustipher – DT – junior (6'4, 300)
  • 98 Dan Vasey – DE –   junior (6'4, 251)
  • 99 Coziah Izzard – DT – freshman (6'3, 290)

Punter

  • 93 Levi Forrest – freshman(6'5, 184)
  • 93 Bradley King –   junior (6'2, 214)
  • 97 Carson Landis –   junior (6'2, 206)
  • 98 Jordan Stout  junior (6'3, 208)
 

Linebacker

  • 10 Lance Dixon –   freshman (6'2, 225)
  • 12 Brandon Smithsophomore (6'3, 244)
  • 13 Ellis Brooks –   junior (6'1, 233)
  • 23 Curtis Jacobsfreshman (6'1, 226)
  • 36 Zuriah Fisher – freshman (6'3, 244)
  • 39 Robbie Dwyer –   freshman(6'1, 247)
  • 40 Jesse Luketajunior (6'3, 242)
  • 43 Tyler Elsdon – freshman (6'2, 230)
  • 45 Charlie Katshir –   sophomore (6'3, 231)
  • 47 Alex Furmanek –   freshman(6'2, 265)
  • 50 Max Chizmar –   junior (6'2, 229)

Defensive back

  •  0 Jonathan Sutherland – S –   junior (5'11, 202)
  •  1 Jaquan Brisker – S – senior (6'1, 210)
  •  2 Keaton Ellis – CB – sophomore (5'11, 186)
  •  3 Donovan Johnson – CB –   junior (5'9, 180)
  •  5 Tariq Castro-Fields – CB – senior (6'0, 191)
  •  8 Marquis Wilson – CB – sophomore (5'11, 181)
  •  9 Joey Porter Jr. – CB –   freshman (6'2, 193)
  • 15 Enzo Jennings – S – freshman (6'1, 197)
  • 16 Ji'Ayir Brown – S – junior (5'11, 209)
  • 17 Joseph Johnson III – CB – freshman (6'2, 168)
  • 19 Trent Gordon – S –   sophomore (5'11, 199)
  • 21 Tyler Rudolph – S –   freshman (6'0, 203)
  • 25 Daequan Hardy – CB –   freshman (5'9, 180)
  • 27 Jaden Seider – S –   freshman (5'10, 174)
  • 29 Sebastian Costantini – CB –   freshman (5'11, 185)
  • 32 Dylan Farronato – S –   freshman (5'11, 187)
  • 36 Makai Self – CB –   freshman (5'9, 170)
  • 37 Drew Hartlaub – S –   junior (5'11, 177)
  • 38 Lamont Wade – S – senior (5'9, 191)
  • 48 Cody Romano – S –   sophomore (6'2, 207)

Long snappers

  • 49 Michael Wright – freshman (6'1, 197)
  • 91 Chris Stoll  junior (6'2, 242)

Source:[7]

Depth chart

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Schedule

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Spring game

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Date Time Network Spring Game Site Result Attendance
April 18 1:30pm FS1 Blue vs. White Beaver StadiumUniversity Park, PA Canceled

Because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Penn State, like other institutions, switched to distance-learning during the spring semester and canceled all sporting events.

Regular season

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The Nittany Lions are a member of the Big Ten East Division, and will play all of the division's other six members. Cross-divisional opponents include the Iowa Hawkeyes, Northwestern Wildcats, Nebraska Cornhuskers, and Illinois Fighting Illini.

Three out-of-conference opponents were originally scheduled: a road game at Virginia Tech, and home games versus Kent State and San Jose State.[8] However, these non-conference games were canceled on July 9 as a result of ongoing concerns with the COVID-19 pandemic.[9][10] In early August, the 9-game conference schedule increased to 10 games, adding cross-divisional opponent Illinois.[11]

A week later, the season was promptly postponed. On August 11, in the wake of multiple Group of Five conferences deciding to do so,[12] the council of the Big Ten voted 11–3 to postpone fall athletics for the 2020–21 season (with all but Iowa, Nebraska, and Ohio State voting in favor). Commissioner Kevin Warren cited negative trends and uncertainties surrounding COVID-19 as a factor in the decision. The conference stated that it would evaluate options, including possibly playing in spring 2021 instead.[13][14][15] After the decision to postpone the season, the Big Ten formed a taskforce to investigate options for a return to play.[15] President Donald Trump criticized the Big Ten's decision to postpone fall football, as part of his general criticism of U.S. colleges and universities that have not resumed on-campus activities. All other Power Five conferences besides the Pac-12 (which also postponed its season shortly after the Big Ten's decision) were still planning to play in the fall.[16][17]

On September 14, it was reported that the Big Ten was considering the possibility of reversing its decision and playing a shortened conference football season as early as mid-to-late October.[18] On September 16, the Big Ten approved an eight-game conference season that would begin October 24, and conclude on December 19 (with the top seeds in each division playing for the conference championship, and all other seeds playing similar cross-division matchups). The conference is instituting a daily antigen testing protocol beginning September 30; PCR tests will be used to confirm positives found via antigen testing. Players who test positive on both tests will be removed from play for at least 21 days and undergo cardiac tests during this period, and will have to be cleared by a cardiologist before they can return to play. Positivity rates among participating teams and the local population will also be a factor: teams with a positivity rate above 5% or a population positivity rate above 7% will be required to halt all activity for seven days.[15]

Penn State and Rutgers were the only 2 Big Ten teams to compete in all 9 regular season games. Following their victory over Illinois on December 19, Penn State opted out of a college bowl game appearance.[19]

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
October 243:30 p.m.at IndianaNo. 8FS1L 35–36 OT995
October 317:30 p.m.No. 3 Ohio StateNo. 18
ABCL 25–381,500
November 73:30 p.m.Maryland
  • Beaver Stadium
  • State College, PA (rivalry)
BTNL 19–351,500
November 1412:00 p.m.at NebraskaFS1L 23–300
November 213:30 p.m.Iowa
  • Beaver Stadium
  • State College, PA
BTNL 21–411,500
November 2812:00 p.m.at MichiganABCW 27–170
December 512:00 p.m.at RutgersFS1W 23–70
December 1212:00 p.m.Michigan State
  • Beaver Stadium
  • State College, PA (rivalry)
ABCW 39–240
December 195:30 p.m.Illinois
  • Beaver Stadium
  • State College, PA (Big Ten Champions Week)
FS1W 56–210

[20]

Game summaries

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At Indiana

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No. 8 Penn State at Indiana – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34OTTotal
No. 8 Penn State 7 0 714735
Indiana 0 17 011836

at Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, Indiana

Game information

No. 3 Ohio State

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No. 3 Ohio State at No. 18 Penn State – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
No. 3 Ohio State 14 7 10738
No. 18 Penn State 3 3 71225

at Beaver Stadium, University Park, Pennsylvania

Game information

Maryland

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Maryland at Penn State – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Maryland 14 14 7035
Penn State 0 7 01219

at Beaver Stadium, University Park, Pennsylvania

Game information

At Nebraska

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Penn State at Nebraska – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Penn State 0 6 10723
Nebraska 10 17 0330

at Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska

Game information

Iowa

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Iowa at Penn State – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Iowa 3 21 71041
Penn State 7 0 14021

at Beaver Stadium, University Park, Pennsylvania

Game information

At Michigan

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Penn State at Michigan – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Penn State 7 10 3727
Michigan 7 0 3717

at Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Game information

At Rutgers

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Penn State at Rutgers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Penn State 7 10 3323
Rutgers 0 0 707

at SHI Stadium, Piscataway, New Jersey

Game information

Michigan State

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Michigan State at Penn State – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Michigan State 0 21 3024
Penn State 3 7 151439

at Beaver Stadium, University Park, Pennsylvania

Game information

Illinois

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Illinois at Penn State – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Illinois 21 0 0021
Penn State 21 21 7756

at Beaver Stadium, University Park, Pennsylvania

Game information

Statistics

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Scores by quarter (Big Ten opponents)

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1 2 3 4OT Total
Big Ten opponents 69 97 37 388 249
Penn State 55 64 66 767 268

Rankings

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Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre12345678910111213141516Final
AP77*1099818RV
Coaches77*131088717RV
CFPNot releasedNot released

Players drafted into the NFL

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Round Pick Player Position NFL club
1 12 Micah Parsons LB Dallas Cowboys
1 31 Odafe Oweh DE Baltimore Ravens
2 55 Pat Freiermuth TE Pittsburgh Steelers
7 246 Shaka Toney DE Washington Football Team
7 247 Michal Menet C Arizona Cardinals
7 248 Will Fries OG Indianapolis Colts

Undrafted players

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Player Position NFL club
Lamont Wade S Pittsburgh Steelers

Source:[21]

References

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  1. ^ Stevens, Matthew. "Big Ten To Play A "Championship Weekend" 9th Game Of 2020 Season". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  2. ^ "Big Ten Statement on 2020–21 Fall Season". Big Ten Conference. August 11, 2020. Archived from the original on August 11, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  3. ^ "The Big Ten Conference Adopts Stringent Medical Protocols; Football Season to Resume October 23–24, 2020". Big Ten Conference. September 16, 2020. Archived from the original on September 16, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  4. ^ Ryan, Jack (November 22, 2020). "Penn State's 0–5 Makes History: Worst Start Since 1887!". fastphillysports.com. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  5. ^ Pickel, Greg (December 20, 2020). "Penn State announces that it won't go to a bowl game in 2020". pennlive.com. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  6. ^ "Football Coaching Staff". GoPSUsports.com. Penn State Nittany Lions. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  7. ^ "2020 Football Roster". GoPSUSports.com. Archived from the original on February 6, 2021. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
  8. ^ "2020 Penn State Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com.
  9. ^ Myerberg, Paul (July 9, 2020). "Big Ten football reduces season schedule to only conference games, maybe setting stage for others to follow". USA Today. usatoday.com. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  10. ^ Dinich, Heather; Schlabach, Mark (July 9, 2020). "Big Ten moving to conference-only model for all sports this fall". espn.com. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  11. ^ Pickel, Greg (August 5, 2020). "Penn State's 2020 college football schedule is out; here is who the Lions will face this fall". Penn Live. pennlive.com. Archived from the original on August 10, 2020. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  12. ^ "Mountain West postpones football, fall sports". ESPN.com. August 10, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  13. ^ "Big Ten Statement on Fall Season". BigTen.org. August 11, 2020. Archived from the original on August 11, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  14. ^ "Big Ten nixes fall football season, eyes spring". ESPN.com. August 11, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  15. ^ a b c "Big Ten football to resume weekend of Oct. 24". ESPN.com. September 16, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  16. ^ Blinder, Alan; Martin, Jonathan (September 12, 2020). "Trump and Biden Seek an Electoral Edge From an Unlikely Source: College Football". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  17. ^ Klar, Rebecca (September 10, 2020). "Trump pushes for schools to stay open, Big Ten to play football". TheHill. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  18. ^ Kim, Allen. "Big Ten officials to vote on whether to reverse course and hold an abbreviated fall college sports season". CNN. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  19. ^ "2020 Football Season Concludes". GoPSUsports.com. December 19, 2020. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  20. ^ "2020 Football Schedule". Penn State University Athletics.
  21. ^ Bible, The NFL Draft. "2021 NFL Draft undrafted free agent tracker: Rookie UDFA signings from all 32 teams". The NFL Draft Bible on Sports Illustrated: The Leading Authority on the NFL Draft. Retrieved May 12, 2021.