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By Neil Rudel
nrudel@altoonamirror.com
Some nitpicking as the Nittany Lions welcome Maryland:
n Penn State's offensive line has shown improvement this season.
Other than the game at Michigan, when they were dominated up front on both sides, the Lions have run the ball effectively and protected their quarterback(s) reasonably well.
Consequently, O-line coach Phil Trautwein has gotten some kudos.
The unit's depth will be tested today against the visiting Terps (3:30 p.m., FOX).
Based on reports from the portion of Wednesday's practice open to the media, possible starters include Drew Shelton (LT), Hunter Nourzad (LG), Juice Scruggs (C), Vega Ioane (RG) and Bryce Effner (RT).
Shelton, still a redshirt candidate because you're allowed to play in four games before losing a year, made his first start last week at Indiana last week and played well.
Alongside him was J.B. Nelson, in place of Nourzad, the Cornell transfer.
Ioane has yet to start a game, and Effner has been playing for the injured Caeden Wallace.
Of this group, Scruggs is the only player who started the first nine games.
Right guard Sal Wormley has, too, but he was nicked last week. Fellow starting guard Landon Tengwall is out for the year with a shoulder injury.
Projected first-round pick Olu Fashanu, the left tackle hurt late against Ohio State, didn't make the trip last week and is also questionable.
Keep an eye on the O-line today.
Rivals?
Just as James Franklin has been reluctant in the past to acknowledge Pitt as a Penn State rival, Mike Locksley is taking a similar attitude toward Maryland vs. the Lions.
"They're a natural geographic game to us so (this) makes this one of those games," he said. "I told our team it's not a rivalry game. We have to compete a little better to get it to that point."
Since Franklin's first two seasons at PSU, when the teams split one-point wins, the Lions have dominated except for 2020, the Covid year, when Maryland jumped ahead 35-7 in maybe Penn State's most listless effort ever.
The Lions were 0-2 at that point after having their hearts broken at the Indiana pylon followed by a loss to Ohio State.
The other five games have been decided by an average of 39.6 points and two (both in College Park) have gotten totally out of hand - 66-3 in 2017 and 59-0 in 2019.
But Locksley's right - it's not a rivalry until the other guy starts winning consistently.
SUBHD: Chop, chop
Penn State sophomore defensive end Chop Robinson played his freshman year at Maryland before transferring.
He has 5.5 tackles for loss and just two sacks this year.
His dad, John, told The Daily Collegian, "He's definitely been talking about this game since he transferred to Penn State. He's been saying, 'I can't wait to play Maryland.'"
The Lions' defensive ends, Robinson and Adisa Isaac, have been quiet for most of the season before each made two tackles for loss against Indiana.
SUBHD: Projected playoff
I keep reading about the 12-team playoff that apparently will be coming as early as 2024.
It's hard for me to envision that college football players with NFL Draft aspirations will be too excited about playing what could amount to a 16-game season.
That would include a possible conference final plus CFP quarterfinals, semifinals and finals.
You'll recall seven Lions skipped last year's Outback Bowl.
SUBHD: Local connection
Maryland punter Colton Spangler is enjoying an excellent season.
Spangler is averaging 46.1 yards on 35 punts - sixth-best in the country. He is in his fourth season with the Terps.
Spangler's mother, Crista, graduated from Altoona Area High School in 1985. His grandparents are Barb and the late Bob Crago.
Penn State's punter, Barney Amor, is ranked ninth nationally, averaging 44.5 yards on 37 punts.
Rudel can be reached at 814-946-7527 or nrudel@altoonamirror.com. You can also follow him on Twitter@neilrudel.