2015 Penn State Nittany Lions football team

Last updated

2015 Penn State Nittany Lions football
Penn State Athletics wordmark.svg
TaxSlayer Bowl, L 17–24 vs. Georgia
Conference Big Ten Conference
DivisionEast Division
Record7–6 (4–4 Big Ten)
Head coach
Offensive coordinator John Donovan (2nd season)
Offensive scheme Multiple
Defensive coordinator Bob Shoop (2nd season)
Base defense 4–3
Captain Christian Hackenberg
Jordan Lucas
Angelo Mangiro
Von Walker
Anthony Zettel
Home stadium Beaver Stadium
Seasons
  2014
2016  
2015 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
East Division
No. 6 Michigan State xy$^  7 1   12 2  
No. 4 Ohio State x  7 1   12 1  
No. 12 Michigan  6 2   10 3  
Penn State  4 4   7 6  
Indiana  2 6   6 7  
Rutgers  1 7   4 8  
Maryland  1 7   3 9  
West Division
No. 9 Iowa xy  8 0   12 2  
No. 23 Northwestern  6 2   10 3  
No. 21 Wisconsin  6 2   10 3  
Nebraska  3 5   6 7  
Minnesota  2 6   6 7  
Illinois  2 6   5 7  
Purdue  1 7   2 10  
Championship: Michigan State 16, Iowa 13
  • ^ College Football Playoff participant
  • $ Conference champion
  • x Division champion/co-champions
  • y Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2015 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented Pennsylvania State University in the 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was led by second year head-coach James Franklin and played its home games at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. They were a member of the East Division of the Big Ten Conference. They finished the season 7–6, 4–4 in Big Ten play to finish in fourth place in the East Division. They were invited to the TaxSlayer Bowl where they lost to Georgia.

Contents

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
September 53:30 p.m.at Temple * ESPN L 10–2769,176
September 1212:00 p.m. Buffalo * ESPN2 W 27–1493,065
September 198:00 p.m. Rutgers
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA
BTN W 28–3103,323
September 263:30 p.m. San Diego State *
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA
BTNW 37–2195,107
October 312:00 p.m. Army *
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA
ESPNU W 20–14107,387
October 1012:00 p.m. Indiana Dagger-14-plain.png
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA
ESPNW 29–797,873
October 178:00 p.m.at No. 1 Ohio State ABC L 10–38108,423
October 243:30 p.m.vs. Maryland ESPNW 31–3068,948
October 3112:00 p.m. Illinois
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA
ESPN2W 39–094,417
November 712:00 p.m.at Northwestern ESPNUL 21–2334,116
November 2112:00 p.m.No. 14 Michigan
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA (rivalry)
ABC L 16–28107,418
November 283:30 p.m.at No. 6 Michigan State ESPNL 16–5574,705
January 2, 201612:00 p.m.vs. Georgia *ESPNL 17–2458,212
  • *Non-conference game
  • Dagger-14-plain.pngHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time

Roster

2015 Penn State Nittany Lions football team roster
PlayersCoaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
WR 2Jake Kiley Redshirt.svg  Jr
WR 3 DeAndre Thompkins Redshirt.svg  Fr
QB 4 Tommy Stevens Fr
WR 5 DaeSean Hamilton Redshirt.svg  So
RB 6Andre RobinsonFr
WR 7 Geno Lewis Redshirt.svg  Jr
RB 8Mark Allen Redshirt.svg  Fr
QB 9 Trace McSorley Redshirt.svg  Fr
WR 10Brandon PolkFr
TE 11Brent Wilkerson Redshirt.svg  Jr
WR 12 Chris Godwin So
WR 13 Saeed Blacknall So
QB 14 Christian Hackenberg Jr
QB 16 Billy Fessler Redshirt.svg  Fr
QB 17Jackson ErdmannFr
TE 18Jonathan HollandFr
WR 19Gregg GarrityJr
RB 20Johnathan Thomas Redshirt.svg  Fr
RB 22Akeel Lynch Redshirt.svg  Jr
RB 24 Nick Scott Redshirt.svg  Fr
RB 26 Saquon Barkley Fr
RB 27Brandon JohnsonSr
TE 30Charles Idemudia Redshirt.svg  Jr
TE 34Dominic Salomone Redshirt.svg  Jr
RB 36Troy ShortsFr
WR 39Josh McPhearsonSo
G, C 52 Ryan Bates Fr
G, C 53Derek Dowrey Redshirt.svg  Jr
C, G 55Wendy Laurent Redshirt.svg  Jr
G, C 57 Steven Gonzalez Fr
OT 58Chance Sorrell Redshirt.svg  Fr
OT 59Andrew Nelson Redshirt.svg  So
OT 60Noah Beh Redshirt.svg  Fr
G 61Jack LasherFr
G 62Zach SimpsonFr
OL 66Angelo Mangiro Redshirt.svg  Sr
OL 68Kevin Reihner Redshirt.svg  Sr
G, C 69Adam De Boef Redshirt.svg  Fr
G, C 70 Brendan Mahon Redshirt.svg  So
OT 71Albert Hall Redshirt.svg  Jr
G, C 72Brian Gaia Redshirt.svg  Jr
OT 73Paris PalmerJr
G, C 74Evan Galimberti Redshirt.svg  So
OT 75Brendan Brosnan Redshirt.svg  Fr
OT 76Sterling JenkinsFr
G, C 77Chasz Wright Redshirt.svg  Fr
C, G 78Tom Devenney Redshirt.svg  So
OT 79Charlie Shuman Redshirt.svg  Fr
WR 80Matt Zanellato Redshirt.svg  Sr
TE 81 Adam Breneman Redshirt.svg  So
WR 82Tyler ShoopFr
TE 83 Nick Bowers Fr
WR 84 Juwan Johnson Fr
WR 85 Irvin Charles Fr
TE 87 Kyle Carter Redshirt.svg  Sr
WR 87 Dan Chisena Fr
TE 88 Mike Gesicki So
WR 89Gordon Bentley Redshirt.svg  So
TE 89Tom Pancoast Redshirt.svg  So
Defense
Pos.#NameClass
CB 1 Christian Campbell So
S 2 Marcus Allen So
CB 4Daquan Worley Redshirt.svg  Fr
LB 5Nyeem Wartman-White Redshirt.svg  Jr
S 6 Malik Golden Redshirt.svg  Jr
LB 7Koa Farmer Redshirt.svg  Fr
LB 8Gary Wooten Jr. Redshirt.svg  Jr
S 9 Jordan Lucas Sr
CB 10 Trevor Williams Sr
LB 11 Brandon Bell Jr
CB 12Jordan SmithJr
S 14Jarvis MillerFr
CB 15 Grant Haley So
S 16John PetrishenFr
CB 17Garrett TaylorFr
DE 19Torrence Brown Redshirt.svg  Fr
LB 20Jordan DudasSr
CB 21 Amani Oruwariye Redshirt.svg  Fr
S 23Ayron MonroeFr
S 24Anthony Smith Redshirt.svg  So
LB 25Von WalkerJr
S 27Colin Harrop Redshirt.svg  Jr
S 28 Troy Apke So
CB 29John ReidFr
DE 30Kevin GivensFr
CB 31Desi Davis Redshirt.svg  So
S 32Joe Berg Redshirt.svg  Fr
LB 32Jack Haffner Redshirt.svg  Jr
LB 33Jake CooperFr
LB 34Jan JohnsonFr
LB 35Matthew BaneySr
CB 37Kyle Alston Redshirt.svg  So
CB 38Desi Davis Redshirt.svg  So
LB 38Ben Kline Redshirt.svg  Sr
LB 40 Jason Cabinda So
DT 41Parker Cothren Redshirt.svg  So
LB 42Troy Reeder Redshirt.svg  Fr
LB 43Manny BowenFr
S 45Bryant HarperJr
DE 46Colin CastagnaFr
LB 47Brandon Smith Redshirt.svg  So
DE 48 Shareef Miller Fr
DE 49Will Eikenberry Redshirt.svg  Fr
S 49Brian Tomasetti Redshirt.svg  So
DE 52Curtis Cothran Redshirt.svg  So
DT 54 Robert Windsor Fr
DE 55Kam CarterFr
DT 63Ryan MonkFr
DE 90 Garrett Sickels Redshirt.svg  So
DT 91Tarow BarneySr
DT 92Joe Holmes Redshirt.svg  Fr
DT 93Antoine White Redshirt.svg  Fr
DE 94Evan Schwan Redshirt.svg  Jr
DE 95 Carl Nassib Sr
DT 96Immanuel IykeFr
DE 97Ryan BuchholzFr
DT 98 Anthony Zettel Sr
DT 99 Austin Johnson Redshirt.svg  Jr
Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
K, P 37Chris Gulla Redshirt.svg  So
SN 41Zach Ladonis Redshirt.svg  So
SN 44Tyler Yazujian Redshirt.svg  Jr
K, P 91Nick BoumerhiFr
P 92Daniel PasquarielloSo
P 93Robby Liebel Redshirt.svg  Fr
K, P 95 Tyler Davis Redshirt.svg  So
SN 96Kyle Vasey Redshirt.svg  Fr
SN 97Nick CoxFr
K, P 98Jordan WombackerFr
K 99 Joey Julius Redshirt.svg  Fr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
  • Bob Shoop (defensive coordinator/safeties)
  • John Donovan (offensive coordinator/tight ends)
  • Charles Huff (running backs/special teams coordinator)
  • Brent Pry (assistant head coach/co-defensive coordinator/linebackers)
  • Ricky Rahne (quarterbacks/passing game coordinator)
  • Josh Gattis (wide receivers/offensive recruiting coordinator)
  • Terry Smith (cornerbacks/defensive recruiting coordinator)
  • Herb Hand (run game coordinator/offensive line)
  • Sean Spencer (defensive line)
  • 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
  • Injury icon 2.svg Injured
  • Redshirt.svg Redshirt

Staff

PositionNameAlma mater
Head coach James Franklin [1] East Stroudsburg (1994)
Defensive coordinator/Safeties Bob Shoop [2] Yale (1988)
Offensive coordinator/tight ends John Donovan [2] Johns Hopkins (1997)
Linebackers/co-Defensive coordinator/assistant head coach Brent Pry [2] Buffalo (1993)
Running backs/Special teams coordinator Charles Huff [2] Hampton (2005)
Quarterbacks/Passing Game Coordinator Ricky Rahne [2] Cornell (2002)
Wide receivers/offensive Recruiting coordinator Josh Gattis [2] Wake Forest (2006)
Cornerbacks/defensive Recruiting coordinator Terry Smith [2] Penn State (1991)
Offensive line/Run Game Coordinator Herb Hand [2] Hamilton College (1990)
Defensive line Sean Spencer [2] Clarion (1995)
Strength and ConditioningDwight Galt [2] Maryland (1981)
Graduate Assistant Joe Brady IV College of William & Mary (2013)
Graduate AssistantTommy Galt Maryland (2009)
Graduate AssistantAndrew Jackson LIU Post (2011)
Graduate AssistantRyan Smith College of William & Mary (2014)

Game summaries

Temple

Penn State vs. Temple – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Penn State1000010
Temple07101027

at Lincoln Financial Field

Game information

This was Penn State's first loss to Temple since 1941.

Buffalo

Buffalo vs. Penn State – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Buffalo007714
Penn State01031427

at Beaver Stadium

Game information

Rutgers

Rutgers vs. Penn State – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Rutgers00033
Penn State0210728

at Beaver Stadium

Game information

San Diego State

San Diego State vs. Penn State – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
San Diego State777021
Penn State101701037

at Beaver Stadium

Game information

Army

Army vs. Penn State – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Army007714
Penn State7310020

at Beaver Stadium

Game information

Indiana

Indiana vs. Penn State – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Indiana70007
Penn State71201029

at Beaver Stadium

Game information

Ohio State

Penn State vs. Ohio State – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Penn State307010
#1 Ohio State02101738

at Ohio Stadium

Game information

Maryland

Penn State vs. Maryland – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Penn State7107731
Maryland7614330

at M&T Bank Stadium

Game information

Illinois

Illinois vs. Penn State – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Illinois00000
Penn State123101439

at Beaver Stadium

Game information

Northwestern

Penn State vs. Northwestern – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Penn State077721
Northwestern0200323

at Ryan Field

Game information

Michigan

Michigan vs. Penn State – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
#14 Michigan777728
Penn State370616

at Beaver Stadium

Game information

Michigan State

Penn State vs. Michigan State – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Penn State0100616
#6 Michigan State614142155

at Spartan Stadium

Game information

Georgia

Penn State vs. Georgia – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Penn State0301417
Georgia3147024

at EverBank Field

Game information

References

  1. "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.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Penn State Official Athletic Site - Football". Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics. Archived from the original on October 17, 2013. Retrieved January 31, 2014.