The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
Scarcella
record, and moved into first place in the Football Bowl Subdivision with 25 in five games.
Toney finished with three sacks, but he was not named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week by the conference office. He also got snubbed last year when he tied a school record with four sacks at Indiana.
If he’s wondering what he has to do to receive the conference honor, he’s not alone.
“I had an OK game,” Toney said. “Yeah, I got to the quarterback, but I could have done more. I think it was an OK game. I don’t think it was my best. I don’t think I’ve played my best game yet. I have to be more consistent on every single down.
“I’m happy for all the praise, but I’m not a big guy for individual acknowledgements. I’m all about my team. I moved off of there already.”
That’s because No. 10 Penn State (2-0 Big Ten, 5-0) travels to No. 18 Iowa (1-1, 4-1) for a 7:30 p.m. game Saturday (TV-ABC; WEEU-AM-830), its sternest test so far.
As usual, Toney is spending countless hours this week studying film and video of the Hawkeyes, trying to discern their tendencies. He learned about the mental side of football when he was a senior at Imhotep Charter and Mark Schmidt was hired as his defensive coordinator.
“He’s probably one of the persons who’s had the biggest impact in my life as far as how to prepare for football games goes,” Toney said. “He told me, ‘If you want to have a leg up on your opponent before you step on the field, know everything about him and his team.’
“I learned the more you know, the faster you’re going to play. I can see things that a lot of people won’t even take the time to see. I’m able to make plays based on pre-snap reads because I know what’s going on.”
Last week while preparing for the Purdue game, he noticed how wide the stance of right tackle Will Bramel was and told several teammates he’d be able to beat him with a speed rush. That’s how he got his first two sacks.
“The thing that people probably don’t appreciate enough is how intelligent he is,” Penn State coach James Franklin said. “His football IQ is off the charts. I couldn’t be more excited about Shaka and his future at Penn State and very appreciative of how he’s gone about his business.”
Toney also has learned from two former Penn State defensive ends who also are from Philadelphia, Deion Barnes and Shareef Miller, who’s a rookie with the Eagles.
“They’re always a phone call away,” Toney said. “Those are truly my mentors and my older brothers. I look up to them. We all come from the same place, the same environment and the same upbringing. Having them as resources is truly beneficial.
“They’re on the long list of people who helped me become who I am today.”
That includes Penn State defensive line coach Sean Spencer, who said in the summer that he worked constantly to get Toney to “come out of his shell” as far as leadership goes. He’s now the heart and soul of the room.
“We have guys with different backgrounds and different upbringings,” Toney said. “I just try to use the experiences in my life to help them in any way. When I grew up, it was always if someone can’t support themselves, you pick up the slack.
“That’s what I try to do for my guys. I try to let them know that I’d go the extra mile for them and that I really appreciate them because they push me to be better.”
Which explains why he was so happy to see seven of his teammates get a piece of the 10 sacks against Purdue, including Hansard, who got his first.
“You get excited because so many people are contributing,” Toney said. “Everybody works hard yet everybody doesn’t always get on the stat sheet. Seeing new guys get sacks, it’s exciting that everybody is working and that everybody is getting to eat.” Contact Rich Scarcella: 610-371-5070 or rscarcella@readingeagle. com.