Young tight ends proving to be quick learners
If Pat Freiermuth leaves Penn State after this season, as expected, he’ll be remembered as one of the best tight ends in school history.
But since he underwent season-ending surgery on his shoulder or arm, redshirt freshman Brenton Strange and true freshman Theo Johnson have helped the Nittany Lions win three straight games.
“The room has done a great job of filling in for Pat,” Penn State tight ends coach Tyler Bowen said Thursday. “They’re not easy shoes to fill. We take pride in that there’s no drop-off. There’s a standard of playing tight end at Penn State.”
The 6-3, 248-pound Strange has become more active in the passing game since Freiermuth’s season ended, making seven catches for 72 yards the last three games. He and the 6-6, 251-pound Johnson have been very effective blocking in running and passing situations.
“They’ve done a great job in doing whatever’s required to win the game,” Bowen said. “It’s an element of toughness that the room is displaying.”
Freiermuth was named Big Ten Tight End of the Year earlier this week, even though he’s played in only four games. He was a preseason All-American and projected to be a firstround pick in 2021.
Strange and Johnson have shown they can handle the position if he leaves. Strange has 13 catches for 133 yards and one touchdown, and Johnson has two for 14 yards.
“It’s been fun to watch those guys develop,” Bowen said. “It’s been fun coaching that room. There are a lot of great kids who work their tails off. The sky’s the limit for those guys the next couple years.”
ALL-CONFERENCE HONORS »
Penn State’s Jahan Dotson and Will Fries received All-Big Ten recognition on Thursday.
Dotson received honorable mention as a return specialist. He returned a punt 81 yards for a touchdown last week against
Michigan State.
He’s returned seven punts for a 21.1 average, which would rank among the national leaders. But he doesn’t have enough attempts to qualify.
Fries, an All-Big Ten second-team pick at offensive tackle, was named Penn State’s sportsmanship award honoree. ILLINOIS RECEIVER OPTS OUT » Senior wide receiver Josh Imatorbhebhe, Illinois’ leading receiver, announced Thursday that he’s opting out of Saturday’s game against Penn State.
Imatorbhebhe made 22 catches for 297 yards and three touchdowns this season after he had 33 receptions for 634 yards and nine TDs last year when he received All-Big Ten honorable mention.
“Thank you for taking me in a year ago and giving me a chance to reclaim my dream,” Imatorbhebhe said in a message to Illinois.
A native of Gwinnett, Ga., he spent his first three seasons at USC.
GAME CANCELED » Maryland announced Thursday that its home game Saturday night against Michigan State has been canceled for a second time this season because of a COVID-19 spread.
The teams were first scheduled to meet last month before Maryland canceled because of the coronavirus.
Maryland said that 15 players and six staff members tested positive between Dec. 10-16. Further testing Thursday revealed three more potential positive cases.
The cancelation was the third this week in the Big Ten, following Indiana-Purdue because of COVID-19 issues at both schools and Iowa-Michigan because of positive cases with the Wolverines.
That leaves four Big Ten games remaining this weekend: Ohio StateNorthwestern in the conference title game, Minnesota-Wisconsin, NebraskaRutgers and Illinois-Penn State.
Penn State and Rutgers are on track to become the only Big Ten teams to play nine games.