2019 Penn State Nittany Lions football team


The 2019 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented Pennsylvania State University in the 2019 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was led by sixth-year head coach James Franklin and played its home games in Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. They competed as a member of the Big Ten East Division of the Big Ten Conference.

Previous season

In 2018, the Nittany Lions finished with a 9–4 overall record and finished third in the Big Ten East Division, with a 6–3 conference record. They finished ranked seventeenth nationally in the AP Poll and Coaches Poll after a 27–24 loss to Kentucky in the Citrus Bowl.

Offseason

Staff changes

On January 2, 2019, James Franklin announced that wide receivers coach David Corley was relieved of his duties. This came just one day after Penn State's 27–24 loss to Kentucky in the Citrus Bowl. On January 10, former Duke assistant coach Gerad Parker was announced as the team's new wide receivers coach. On February 15, 2019, it was announced that special teams coordinator and assistant defensive line coach Phil Galiano would be leaving Penn State to become an assistant special teams coach with the New Orleans Saints. On February 21, 2019, Penn State hired Joe Lorig, from Texas Tech, as special teams coordinator and defensive assistant.

Recruiting

The Nittany Lions signed 19 recruits on early signing day in December 2018. Four recruits signed with Penn State on February 6, 2019, pushing their total commitments to 23.

2019 NFL Draft

Transfers

The Nittany Lions added 2 players and lost 12 players due to transfer.
NamePos.HeightWeightYearHometownTransfer from
Weston CarrWR6'2200Senior Benicia, CAAzusa Pacific
Jordan StoutK6'2197Sophomore Honaker, VAVirginia Tech

NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownTransfer to
Manny Bowen#43OLB6'2231Senior Barnegat, NJUtah
Torrence Brown#19DE6'3257Senior Tuscaloosa, ALSouthern Miss
Danny Dalton#80TE6'4247Junior Marshfield, MABoston College
Dae'lun Darien#41OLB6'4223Junior Baltimore, MDDelaware
Alex Gellerstedt#51OL6'6311Junior Dublin, OHVirginia
Isaiah Humphries#2S6'0187Freshman Rowlett, TXCalifornia
Sterling Jenkins#76OT6'8334Senior Pittsburgh, PADuquesne
Juwan Johnson#84WR6'4225SeniorGlassboro, NJOregon
Zech McPhearson#14CB5'11184Junior Columbia, MDTexas Tech
Jarvis Miller#9OLB6'2223Senior Suffield, CTUMass
Ayron Monroe#23S5'11206Senior Largo, MDTemple
Tommy Stevens#2QB6'5230SeniorIndianapolis, INMississippi State

Returning starters

Offense (9)

Defense (11)

Special teams (2)

Preseason Big Ten poll

Although the Big Ten Conference has not held an official preseason poll since 2010, Cleveland.com has polled sports journalists representing all member schools as a de facto preseason media poll since 2011. For the 2019 poll, Penn State was projected to finish in fourth in the East Division.
Media poll

Schedule

Spring game

Regular season

The team hosted three non-conference games against the Idaho Vandals from the Big Sky Conference, Buffalo Bulls from the Mid-American Conference and the Pittsburgh Panthers from the Atlantic Coast Conference.
During the 2019 Nittany Lions season, Penn State went against Big Ten conference opponents Maryland, Purdue, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Indiana, Ohio State and Rutgers. The 2019 schedule consisted of 7 home games and 5 away.

Game summaries

Idaho

Buffalo

Pittsburgh

at Maryland

Overall recordLast meetingResult
39–2–12018W, 38–3

Purdue

at No. 17 Iowa

Overall recordLast meetingResult
16–122018W, 30–24

No. 16 Michigan

at Michigan State

Overall recordLast meetingResult
15–17–12018L, 17–21

at No. 13AP/17CFP Minnesota

Overall recordLast meetingResult
9–52016W, 29–26OT

No. 24AP Indiana

at No. 2AP/CFP Ohio State

Overall recordLast meetingResult
14–192018L, 26–27

Rutgers

vs. No. 15AP/17CFP Memphis (Cotton Bowl)

Rankings

Personnel

Coaching staff

Roster

Source:

Players drafted into the NFL

RoundPickPlayerPositionNFL Club
238Yetur Gross-MatosDECarolina Panthers
246K. J. HamlerWRDenver Broncos
4141John ReidCBHouston Texans
6183Cam BrownOLBNew York Giants
6193Robert WindsorDTIndianapolis Colts