Welcome back into the Penn State paulse I'm your host. Still in Dawson. Penn State put their most complete performance of the season on the table last Saturday as they dismantled Purdue forty nine to ten. This game was a controlled one from start to finish by the Nitney Lyons.

Welcome back into the Penn State paulse I'm your host. Still in Dawson. Penn State put their most complete performance of the season on the table last Saturday as they dismantled Purdue forty nine to ten. This game was a controlled one from start to finish by the Nitney Lyons.

The starters looked great, the two deep guys.

The starters looked great, the two deep guys.

Looked great, and some of the young guys down on the depth chart they got to get some meaningful reps.

Looked great, and some of the young guys down on the depth chart they got to get some meaningful reps.

They also looked promising.

They also looked promising.

So let's jump into what stood out and start with one of those young guys in true freshman tight end, Luke Reynolds.

So let's jump into what stood out and start with one of those young guys in true freshman tight end, Luke Reynolds.

Already seeing the comparisons to George Kittle.

Already seeing the comparisons to George Kittle.

It's kind of funny to already see that as I heard that a little bit as his comp coming out.

It's kind of funny to already see that as I heard that a little bit as his comp coming out.

Of high school.

Of high school.

He obviously has a ton of production to take care of until he's at that level, but you can see it in the way he moves. Luke was a five star coming out of Cheshire Academy in Connecticut. Last year, twenty four to seven Sports had him as the number one tight end recruit in the country, and he has certainly looked.

He obviously has a ton of production to take care of until he's at that level, but you can see it in the way he moves. Luke was a five star coming out of Cheshire Academy in Connecticut. Last year, twenty four to seven Sports had him as the number one tight end recruit in the country, and he has certainly looked.

The part thus far. On limited reps this.

The part thus far. On limited reps this.

Season, Reynolds talley three catches for fifty four yards and his first collegiate touchdown on that wheel route. I think he only played in one or two drives, so that level of efficiency was very impressive to see. Mc Reynolds is about six four two forty and I'm pretty sure he runs in the high four fives, So this is the next star tight end to come out of PSU.

Season, Reynolds talley three catches for fifty four yards and his first collegiate touchdown on that wheel route. I think he only played in one or two drives, so that level of efficiency was very impressive to see. Mc Reynolds is about six four two forty and I'm pretty sure he runs in the high four fives, So this is the next star tight end to come out of PSU.

Other young guys that deserve.

Other young guys that deserve.

A mention include safety Dwan Lane, interior lineman Cooper Cousins, who got in there for a little bit, and then running back Corey Smith who put together a nice little string of runs there towards.

A mention include safety Dwan Lane, interior lineman Cooper Cousins, who got in there for a little bit, and then running back Corey Smith who put together a nice little string of runs there towards.

The end of the game.

The end of the game.

Next, we saw a nearly perfect game from Drew Aller. Literally he was seventeen of nineteen, which is an insane eighty nine point five completion percentage.

Next, we saw a nearly perfect game from Drew Aller. Literally he was seventeen of nineteen, which is an insane eighty nine point five completion percentage.

One of those throws was also a pretty easy drop by k.

One of those throws was also a pretty easy drop by k.

He did miss one throw, which I believe was also to k Tron where he just sailed it over his head, So one true miss on the day in nineteen attempts is very impressive. That seventeen of nineteen translated into two hundred and forty seven yards three touchdowns and another zero turnover.

He did miss one throw, which I believe was also to k Tron where he just sailed it over his head, So one true miss on the day in nineteen attempts is very impressive. That seventeen of nineteen translated into two hundred and forty seven yards three touchdowns and another zero turnover.

Game for Drew.

Game for Drew.

His efficiency has seen a huge jump when you look at the numbers from last season to this one. His completion percentage is currently at seventy one point nine on the year, which is up from fifty nine point nine and twenty twenty three. His yards per attempt have also seen a big jump, going from six point eight in twenty twenty three to nine point eight this year. Andy Kottniki has unlocked a whole new layer to Drew, and his game against Perdue on Saturday was a perfect example of that. Tyler Warren, of course, he needs his flowers as well. He is now garnering a decent amount of conversation around the Heisman Trophy. On three actually has Tyler sixth on their Heisman rankings that they released today, which is Monday. So maybe we could see him in New York among the four finalists if one or two of those guys slip up, Maybe Dylan Gabriel slides a little bit, maybe he sneaks his way into New York. Last Saturday certainly helped his chances. He put up eight catches for one hundred and twenty seven yards in a touchdown as well as three carries on the ground for an additional sixty three yards and another touchdown. So that is one hundred and ninety yards and two touchdowns on the day for mister Warren, which seems to be becoming the standard for him. Tyler may just go out as the best tight end in Penn State history.

His efficiency has seen a huge jump when you look at the numbers from last season to this one. His completion percentage is currently at seventy one point nine on the year, which is up from fifty nine point nine and twenty twenty three. His yards per attempt have also seen a big jump, going from six point eight in twenty twenty three to nine point eight this year. Andy Kottniki has unlocked a whole new layer to Drew, and his game against Perdue on Saturday was a perfect example of that. Tyler Warren, of course, he needs his flowers as well. He is now garnering a decent amount of conversation around the Heisman Trophy. On three actually has Tyler sixth on their Heisman rankings that they released today, which is Monday. So maybe we could see him in New York among the four finalists if one or two of those guys slip up, Maybe Dylan Gabriel slides a little bit, maybe he sneaks his way into New York. Last Saturday certainly helped his chances. He put up eight catches for one hundred and twenty seven yards in a touchdown as well as three carries on the ground for an additional sixty three yards and another touchdown. So that is one hundred and ninety yards and two touchdowns on the day for mister Warren, which seems to be becoming the standard for him. Tyler may just go out as the best tight end in Penn State history.

And we're at the point now as fans.

And we're at the point now as fans.

Where we just need to appreciate what we're witnessing from number forty four. Next up the Penn State O line, they put together another very good performance as well.

Where we just need to appreciate what we're witnessing from number forty four. Next up the Penn State O line, they put together another very good performance as well.

For the second straight game.

For the second straight game.

They gave up zero sacks, also gave up zero tackles for loss last week, but they did allow some against Purdue. PSU also went for two hundred and thirty four yards and three touchdowns on the ground on six point nine yards per carry, and this complas just one week after going for two hundred and sixty six yards and four touchdowns on six point seven yards per carry against the Washington Huskies. So this unit appears to be finding their stride just in time for a playoff run. I love what I'm seeing from the big boys up front.

They gave up zero sacks, also gave up zero tackles for loss last week, but they did allow some against Purdue. PSU also went for two hundred and thirty four yards and three touchdowns on the ground on six point nine yards per carry, and this complas just one week after going for two hundred and sixty six yards and four touchdowns on six point seven yards per carry against the Washington Huskies. So this unit appears to be finding their stride just in time for a playoff run. I love what I'm seeing from the big boys up front.

Right.

Right.

Another trend I'm seeing forming with this team in regards to its efficiency on third and fourth downs. If you watch any of Franklin's pressers, whether they're in season or during the offseason, he's always harping on a few specific things like explosive plays and turnovers, and third down efficiency is one that he frequently mentions. Well. Penn State went nine to fourteen on third down against the boiler Makers, as well as one for one on their fourth down attempt. I believe that was Tyler Warren going wildcat up the middle. Can't stop it. They also held Purdue to five or fourteen on their third down conversions. Good to see. It's just that simple. It's very good to see. When you're converting on third and fourth down, you're gonna improve your chances to win that game by a pretty wide margin. So now let's transition into segment two, which is some areas for improvement.

Another trend I'm seeing forming with this team in regards to its efficiency on third and fourth downs. If you watch any of Franklin's pressers, whether they're in season or during the offseason, he's always harping on a few specific things like explosive plays and turnovers, and third down efficiency is one that he frequently mentions. Well. Penn State went nine to fourteen on third down against the boiler Makers, as well as one for one on their fourth down attempt. I believe that was Tyler Warren going wildcat up the middle. Can't stop it. They also held Purdue to five or fourteen on their third down conversions. Good to see. It's just that simple. It's very good to see. When you're converting on third and fourth down, you're gonna improve your chances to win that game by a pretty wide margin. So now let's transition into segment two, which is some areas for improvement.

You have to start with the wide receiver room here.

You have to start with the wide receiver room here.

Yes, Tyler Warren is great, but his extreme increase in production has also been due to the lack thereof from Penn State wide receivers. This was a spot where I really wanted to see the wide receivers show us something. I made that pretty clear pregame that I was keeping an eye on that. They finished the day as a unit with three combined catches for fifty six yards and a touchdown. Just putting it flatly, that is pretty concerning. There was the one deep ball where Harrison Wallace got behind the Purdue average for a forty six hour touchdown, and outside of that explosive, the wide receivers went two catches for ten yards. That is not gonna cut it. Tyler Warren cannot do it all when you face an elite defense. We saw that against Ohio State play out in real time.

Yes, Tyler Warren is great, but his extreme increase in production has also been due to the lack thereof from Penn State wide receivers. This was a spot where I really wanted to see the wide receivers show us something. I made that pretty clear pregame that I was keeping an eye on that. They finished the day as a unit with three combined catches for fifty six yards and a touchdown. Just putting it flatly, that is pretty concerning. There was the one deep ball where Harrison Wallace got behind the Purdue average for a forty six hour touchdown, and outside of that explosive, the wide receivers went two catches for ten yards. That is not gonna cut it. Tyler Warren cannot do it all when you face an elite defense. We saw that against Ohio State play out in real time.

I'm not gonna beat a dead horse here, so I'll just leave it at this.

I'm not gonna beat a dead horse here, so I'll just leave it at this.

We need to see improvement from the wide receivers if this team is going to get where it wants to go this season. That's really all I have to take away from this game as far as negatives. Like I said before, this is probably the most complete game on the season thus far from the fellas, so that was great to see as a whole. Let's jump into segment three. Next up on the docket, let's look ahead to what's left on the twenty twenty four season that is seemingly flown by I can't believe we're on game eleven already. The Nitty Lions have two regular season games remaining on the schedule as they look to cement a first round home playoff game.

We need to see improvement from the wide receivers if this team is going to get where it wants to go this season. That's really all I have to take away from this game as far as negatives. Like I said before, this is probably the most complete game on the season thus far from the fellas, so that was great to see as a whole. Let's jump into segment three. Next up on the docket, let's look ahead to what's left on the twenty twenty four season that is seemingly flown by I can't believe we're on game eleven already. The Nitty Lions have two regular season games remaining on the schedule as they look to cement a first round home playoff game.

This Saturday is another road.

This Saturday is another road.

Game as they travel up north to take on Minnesota. This isn't a walk through game by any stretch of the imagination. That's a very talented and physical Minnesota team looking to spoil Penn State season. I'm sure a bunch of you remember that twenty nineteen game. Both teams went into that thing. I believe eight and oher and physical. Excuse me, Minnesota was able to upset Penn State. They played a very physical game and they just beat Penn State up and they were not allowed to not able to come back from that halftime deficit. They were down like eleven and a half time. Minnesota just clung to that lead and spoiled Penn State season. So the betting line on this one opened at Penn State minus eleven and a half, currently sits at twelve and a half.

Game as they travel up north to take on Minnesota. This isn't a walk through game by any stretch of the imagination. That's a very talented and physical Minnesota team looking to spoil Penn State season. I'm sure a bunch of you remember that twenty nineteen game. Both teams went into that thing. I believe eight and oher and physical. Excuse me, Minnesota was able to upset Penn State. They played a very physical game and they just beat Penn State up and they were not allowed to not able to come back from that halftime deficit. They were down like eleven and a half time. Minnesota just clung to that lead and spoiled Penn State season. So the betting line on this one opened at Penn State minus eleven and a half, currently sits at twelve and a half.

The Gophers are six and four right now, not.

The Gophers are six and four right now, not.

Amazing, but they have some nice wins over teams like USC and a road win at Illinois.

Amazing, but they have some nice wins over teams like USC and a road win at Illinois.

Very impressive.

Very impressive.

They also play Michigan very close on the road in ann Arbor. They came up just short with a twenty seven to twenty four loss in that one. Yes, I know Michigan isn't up the standards this season, but that's still a very tough road environment to hang around in. Minnesota's offense when it's on is a tough unit to stop. They hung forty eight points on Maryland three four weeks ago and then twenty five on that tough Illinois defense on the road.

They also play Michigan very close on the road in ann Arbor. They came up just short with a twenty seven to twenty four loss in that one. Yes, I know Michigan isn't up the standards this season, but that's still a very tough road environment to hang around in. Minnesota's offense when it's on is a tough unit to stop. They hung forty eight points on Maryland three four weeks ago and then twenty five on that tough Illinois defense on the road.

This will be a very good road test for Penn State to end the season.

This will be a very good road test for Penn State to end the season.

End the season as far as they're away games, then Penn State will head back to Beaver where they finished their regular season at home against Maryland. That one was just officially announced today as a three point thirty evening kick on Big Ten Network. If Maryland can somehow find a way to upset I believe it's Iowa this weekend. They will be heading into this one with a five and six record and fighting for Bowl eligibility, which I guess makes it mean a little bit more to them. No betting line on that one yet, I believe ESPN's FPI gives Penn State about a ninety three percent chance to win. I would guess that the line opens in like the twenty one to twenty four point range on that one. If the Nitty Lions can win out and finish the regular season at eleven and one, they will be staring a home playoff game right in the face. I mean, can you guys imagine that that's unprecedented. We have not seen home playoff games anywhere, and to get one in Beaver in the first year of the expanded twelve team playoff. Maybe a southern school coming up north in the cold, maybe some rain or snow, potential emergency white out seems to be in play as well. If a home playoff game were to be the case for Penn State, that would just simply be electric. Some teams PSU has been commonly matched up with in these playoff projections that people like on three are putting out include Notre Dame, Ole, Miss Georgia, and Boise State. If I'm personally picking from that bunch, give me Notre Dame. That was a pretty big rivalry back in the day. From what I've heard from Pops and some other older fans that have been watching Penn State for years, I think that would be a very close game between two very good teams, pretty low scoring, physical. That would just be a very interesting game for me to watch. Boise State, that would be a very interesting matchup. But I think that would be a weird situation to be in as potential double digit home favorites against a group of five school. It's just kind of a lose lose situation where you win and everyone says, yeah, that was supposed to happen, or you lose, you get upset by a group of five school at home in the playoff.

End the season as far as they're away games, then Penn State will head back to Beaver where they finished their regular season at home against Maryland. That one was just officially announced today as a three point thirty evening kick on Big Ten Network. If Maryland can somehow find a way to upset I believe it's Iowa this weekend. They will be heading into this one with a five and six record and fighting for Bowl eligibility, which I guess makes it mean a little bit more to them. No betting line on that one yet, I believe ESPN's FPI gives Penn State about a ninety three percent chance to win. I would guess that the line opens in like the twenty one to twenty four point range on that one. If the Nitty Lions can win out and finish the regular season at eleven and one, they will be staring a home playoff game right in the face. I mean, can you guys imagine that that's unprecedented. We have not seen home playoff games anywhere, and to get one in Beaver in the first year of the expanded twelve team playoff. Maybe a southern school coming up north in the cold, maybe some rain or snow, potential emergency white out seems to be in play as well. If a home playoff game were to be the case for Penn State, that would just simply be electric. Some teams PSU has been commonly matched up with in these playoff projections that people like on three are putting out include Notre Dame, Ole, Miss Georgia, and Boise State. If I'm personally picking from that bunch, give me Notre Dame. That was a pretty big rivalry back in the day. From what I've heard from Pops and some other older fans that have been watching Penn State for years, I think that would be a very close game between two very good teams, pretty low scoring, physical. That would just be a very interesting game for me to watch. Boise State, that would be a very interesting matchup. But I think that would be a weird situation to be in as potential double digit home favorites against a group of five school. It's just kind of a lose lose situation where you win and everyone says, yeah, that was supposed to happen, or you lose, you get upset by a group of five school at home in the playoff.

State College would probably get.

State College would probably get.

Burned down if that were to happen. Georgia would be my second pick personally, behind Notre Dame. I think that's a team Penn State can absolutely beat if they play well at home, and it would be an opportunity to be a team that has been elite in recent years and to change that big game narrative that has been hanging over State College for four.

Burned down if that were to happen. Georgia would be my second pick personally, behind Notre Dame. I think that's a team Penn State can absolutely beat if they play well at home, and it would be an opportunity to be a team that has been elite in recent years and to change that big game narrative that has been hanging over State College for four.

Or five years now.

Or five years now.

I also wouldn't mind a rematch against Ole Miss, that is obviously a blazing hot team right now.

I also wouldn't mind a rematch against Ole Miss, that is obviously a blazing hot team right now.

It did just beat Georgia a couple of weeks ago.

It did just beat Georgia a couple of weeks ago.

But getting them in Beaver with a full team this time wouldn't be the end of the world in my opinion. Let's not forget that all three of PSU's All Americans sat out of that Peach Bowl against the Rebels and over half of the starters played one half or less of that game. So regardless of the outcome, who they play, it is a very exciting future on the horizon. Regarding the season for Penn State, they just need to finish strong here and take care of business against the Gophers and the Terrapians, So that is gonna do it. For today's episode of the Penn State Pause, thank you all so much for tuning in. As always, I appreciate the support more than you could ever know. Have a great week, and I will see y'all in a few days to break down this matchup with Minnesota.

But getting them in Beaver with a full team this time wouldn't be the end of the world in my opinion. Let's not forget that all three of PSU's All Americans sat out of that Peach Bowl against the Rebels and over half of the starters played one half or less of that game. So regardless of the outcome, who they play, it is a very exciting future on the horizon. Regarding the season for Penn State, they just need to finish strong here and take care of business against the Gophers and the Terrapians, So that is gonna do it. For today's episode of the Penn State Pause, thank you all so much for tuning in. As always, I appreciate the support more than you could ever know. Have a great week, and I will see y'all in a few days to break down this matchup with Minnesota.