2015 Penn State Nittany Lions Season

2015 Penn State Nittany Lions
Big Ten Champion Fiesta Bowl Champion Orange Bowl Champion
2015 CFBHC National Championship, vs Oklahoma, L 41-44
Conference	Big Ten Conference East Division
2015 record	15-1 (8-0 Big Ten)
Head coach	Soluna (3rd year)
Offensive scheme	Spread
Base defense	3-4
MVP	Todd Jennings
Captain	Todd Jennings, Kevin Siemon, Ryan Hanspard, Matt Fisk
Home stadium	Beaver Stadium (Capacity: 106,572)
Seasons « 2014 2016 »

2015 Big Ten football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
East
x- #1 Penn State		8	–	0					15	–	1
#6 Michigan State		5	–	2					9	–	4
Michigan		4	–	3					9	–	4
#25 Ohio State		3	–	4					6	–	7
Maryland		3	–	4					9	–	4
Rutgers		1	–	6					4	–	8
Indiana		0	–	7					1	–	11
West
x- #18 Iowa		7	–	1					10	–	4
#19 Wisconsin		5	–	2					10	–	3
Illinois		4	–	3					9	–	4
Purdue		4	–	3					8	–	5
#24 Minnesota		3	–	4					8	–	5
Northwestern		3	–	4					7	–	6
Nebraska		0	–	7					2	–	10
Big Ten Championship Game: Penn State 16, Iowa 9
x – Division champion/co-champions Rankings from Coaches Poll

The 2015 Penn State Nittany Lions represented Pennsylvania State University in the 2015 CFBHC Season. The team was coached by Soluna and played its home games in Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. They were a member of the East Division of the Big Ten. Penn State lost the 2015 CFBHC National Championship against the Oklahoma Sooners, after beating the USC Trojans in the Orange Bowl and the Georgia Bulldogs in the Fiesta Bowl as part of the CFBHC Playoffs.

Before the season Penn State was seen as a favorite and was expected to finish with a challenge for the championship. Todd Jennings took over as quarterback after two years of Derek Keys, in combination with new starting running back Pete Choboian and returning number one wide receiver Mark Harrington.

Penn State finished the regular season undefeated as Todd Jennings won the first Heisman in Penn State history.

Schedule

Regular Season

Date	Opponent#	Rank#	Site	Result
08/16/2014	at Army*	#10	Beaver Stadium • University Park, PA	W 24-3
08/23/2014	#6 Boise State*	#9	Beaver Stadium • University Park, PA	W 21-14
08/30/2014	at UCF*	#6	BrightHouse Networks Stadium • Orlando, FL	W 49-14
09/06/2014	#1 Florida State*	#6	Doak Campbell Stadium • Tallahassee, FL	W 23-20
09/27/2014	at Indiana	#3	Beaver Stadium • University Park, PA	W 51-0
10/04/2014	at Maryland	#3	Byrd Stadium • College Park, MD	W 42-13
10/11/2014	at #8 Michigan	#1	Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI	W 42-13
10/18/2014	at #15 Ohio State	#1	Ohio Stadium • Columbus, OH	W 35-6
10/25/2014	Rutgers	#1	Beaver Stadium • University Park, PA	W 40-7
11/01/2014	at Northwestern	#1	Ryan Field • Evanston, IL	W 16-3
11/08/2014	#3 Michigan State	#1	Beaver Stadium • University Park, PA	W 17-13
11/15/2014	at Pittsburgh*	#1	Heinz Field • Pittsburgh, PA	W 52-21
11/22/2014	at #18 Iowa	#1	Lucas Oil Stadium • Indianapolis, IN	W 16-9
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to game.

Post-season

Date	Opponent#	Rank#	Site	Result
11/25/2014	vs. #19 USC	#8	Dolphin Stadium • Miami Gardens, FL	W 31-29
11/28/2014	vs. #4 Georgia	#1	University of Phoenix Stadium • Glendale, AZ	W 30-14
11/29/2014	vs. #2 Oklahoma	#1	Cowboys Stadium • Arlington, TX	L 40-43
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to game.

Personnel

Key Personnel

Name	Position	Season at Penn State	Season in current role
Soluna	Head Coach	3rd	3rd
Todd Jennings	Quarterback	3rd	1st
Pete Choboian	Running Back	3rd	1st
Mark Harrington	Wide Receiver	3rd	2nd
Anthony Beltran	Defensive Tackle	2nd	1st
Ryan Hanspard	Inside Linebacker	3rd	1st
Matt Fisk	Kicker	2nd	2nd

Position key

Back	B		Center	C		Cornerback	CB		Defensive back	DB
Defensive end	DE		Defensive lineman	DL		Defensive tackle	DT		End	E
Fullback	FB		Guard	G		Halfback	HB		Kicker	K
Kickoff returner	KR		Offensive tackle	OT		Offensive lineman	OL		Linebacker	LB
Long snapper	LS		Punter	P		Punt returner	PR		Quarterback	QB
Running back	RB		Safety	S		Tight end	TE		Wide receiver	WR

Pre-Season Roster

2015 Penn State Nittany Lions football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. Name Class QB Brooks, RonRon Brooks  4.5 !Sr QB Mare, LawrenceLawrence Mare 57.0 !Sr QB Jennings, ToddTodd Jennings  2.5 !So QB McLane, AndyAndy McLane 3.0 !So QB Connor, SeanSean Connor  1.5 !Fr RB Scifres, RayRay Scifres  3.5 !Jr RB Campbell, JimJim Campbell  3.5 !Jr RB Choboian, PetePete Choboian  2.5 !So RB Campbell, KevinKevin Campbell 1.0 !Fr FB Michael, DarrenDarren Michael 57.0 !Sr FB Payne, AlanAlan Payne  3.5 !Jr FB Salisbury, JohnJohn Salisbury 3.0 !So FB Bettis, BenBen Bettis  1.5 !Fr WR Stransky, MarrioMarrio Stransky 57.0 !Sr WR Harrington, MarkMark Harrington 5.0 !Jr WR Sims, DarrenDarren Sims 5.0 !Jr WR Settles, CurtisCurtis Settles 3.0 !So WR McMichael, BradBrad McMichael  1.5 !Fr WR Brown-Sanderson, JamaalJamaal Brown-Sanderson 1.0 !Fr WR Hall, MichaelMichael Hall 1.0 !Fr WR Cooper, PaulPaul Cooper 1.0 !Fr WR Bell, ZacharyZachary Bell 1.0 !Fr TE Baum, JosephJoseph Baum  3.5 !Jr TE Waddy, OmariOmari Waddy 5.0 !Jr TE Horne, BenjaminBenjamin Horne 1.0 !Fr TE Kelley, RobertRobert Kelley 1.0 !Fr TE McGee, BrandonBrandon McGee 1.0 !Fr OT Dyal, ClintClint Dyal 57.0 !Sr OT Smith, GregGreg Smith 5.0 !Jr OT Jude, AdamAdam Jude 3.0 !So OT Eaton, JohnJohn Eaton  1.5 !Fr OT Miller, JosephJoseph Miller 1.0 !Fr OG Davis, JohnJohn Davis 57.0 !Sr OG Cason, TerrellTerrell Cason 57.0 !Sr OG Wilcox, DrewDrew Wilcox 5.0 !Jr OG McNeese, AlshonAlshon McNeese 3.0 !So OG Sellers, ChristopherChristopher Sellers 1.0 !Fr OG King, KeithKeith King 1.0 !Fr C Siemon, KevinKevin Siemon 57.0 !Sr C Bennett, ToddTodd Bennett 5.0 !Jr C Jolley, HenryHenry Jolley 5.0 !Jr C Reed, PhillipPhillip Reed 1.0 !Fr	Defense Pos. Name Class DE Berry, DubDub Berry  4.5 !Sr DE Smith, UlyssesUlysses Smith 57.0 !Sr DE Johnson, JasonJason Johnson 5.0 !Jr DE Bridges, JonathanJonathan Bridges  1.5 !Fr DE Rivera, JohnnyJohnny Rivera 1.0 !Fr DE Barnes, FrankFrank Barnes 1.0 !Fr DT Powell, LindsayLindsay Powell 57.0 !Sr DT Kemoeatu, AdrianAdrian Kemoeatu  2.5 !So DT Beltran, AnthonyAnthony Beltran 3.0 !So ILB Sanderson, RonRon Sanderson 57.0 !Sr ILB Hanspard, RyanRyan Hanspard 5.0 !Jr ILB Cyr, StevenSteven Cyr 3.0 !So OLB Williams, MorrisMorris Williams  4.5 !Sr OLB Wetknight, TonyTony Wetknight 57.0 !Sr OLB Barry, ToddTodd Barry 5.0 !Jr OLB Perry, ChuckChuck Perry 5.0 !Jr OLB Goodman, PaulPaul Goodman 3.0 !So OLB Harris, ChadChad Harris 3.0 !So OLB Weiner, SamuelSamuel Weiner 3.0 !So OLB Jenkins, GregoryGregory Jenkins  1.5 !Fr OLB Harris, EdwardEdward Harris  1.5 !Fr CB Martin, KadeemKadeem Martin  4.5 !Sr CB McCullough, ButchButch McCullough  3.5 !Jr CB Whiting, KenKen Whiting  2.5 !So CB McCullough, MattMatt McCullough 3.0 !So CB Herrera, MikeMike Herrera 1.0 !Fr CB Varela, MiguelMiguel Varela 1.0 !Fr FS Owens, TedyTedy Owens  2.5 !So FS Gamble, ThomasThomas Gamble 3.0 !So SS Brown, ClintClint Brown 57.0 !Sr SS Birk, KennyKenny Birk 5.0 !Jr SS Higgins, FrederickFrederick Higgins 5.0 !Jr SS Townsend, GeorgeGeorge Townsend 1.0 !Fr SS Osborne, LarryLarry Osborne 1.0 !Fr	Special teams Pos. Name Class K Fisk, MattMatt Fisk 3.0 !So K Hopkins, LeonardLeonard Hopkins 3.0 !So P Randall, CliffCliff Randall  3.5 !Jr P Scarpitto, LouisLouis Scarpitto 5.0 !Jr P Bowers, JohnJohn Bowers 1.0 !Fr	Head coach Soluna Coordinators/assistant coaches None Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt Roster Last update: end of 2015 season

Depth chart

Defense FS Tedy Owens Thomas Gamble WLB ILB ILB SLB Todd Barry Ryan Hanspard Ron Sanderson Paul Goodman Samuel Weiner Steven Cyr Steven Cyr Edward Harris SS Frederick Higgins Clint Brown CB Kadeem Martin Miguel Varela DE NT DE Ulysses Smith Anthony Beltran Jason Johnson Jonathan Bridges Lindsay Powell Dub Berry CB Ken Whiting Butch McCullough Offense WR Mark Harrington Jamaal Brown-Sanderson WR Jamaal Brown-Sanderson Paul Cooper LT LG C RG RT Clint Dyal Terrell Cason Kevin Siemon Drew Wilcox John Eaton Greg Smith Christopher Sellers Todd Bennett Keith King Joseph Miller WR Michael Hall Zachary Bell WR Curtis Settles Michael Hall QB Todd Jennings Ron Brooks RB Pete Choboian Ray Scifres Special Teams PK Matt Fisk P Cliff Randall KR Mark Harrington, Curtis Settles PR Mark Harrington, Curtis Settles LS Kevin Siemon H Ron Brooks

Recruiting

Name	Hometown	High school / college	Height	Weight	Commit date
Christopher Clayton ILB	Cheyenne, WY	East HS	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	240 lb (110 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
P.K. Fletcher OG	Bedford, MA	Bedford HS	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	272 lb (123 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Raheem Burkett ILB	Maryville, TN	William Blount HS	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	240 lb (110 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Austin Sheppard CB	Columbia, TN	Spring Hill HS	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	188 lb (85 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Will McCormick OT	Leominster, MA	Leominster HS	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	272 lb (123 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Nick Baldwin P	Collinwood, TN	Collinwood HS	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	184 lb (83 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Brian McQueen TE	Fruitdale, AL	Fruitdale HS	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	236 lb (107 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Ajani Samuels WR	Pilgrims Knob, VA	Twin Valley HS	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	184 lb (83 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Kamari Whitfield OT	Ramsey, NJ	Don Bosco Prep HS	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	333 lb (151 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Logan Lindsay DT	Bucksport, ME	Bucksport HS	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	311 lb (141 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Thomas Driver C	Sharon, MA	Sharon HS	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	264 lb (120 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Aaden McQueen OLB	Morgantown, WV	University HS	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	228 lb (103 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Coley Smith FB	Black Mountain, NC	Charles D. Owen HS	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	200 lb (91 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Aaron Bowling QB	Harrison, NJ	Harrison HS	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	214 lb (97 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Christian Stacy OG	Pylesville, MD	North Harford HS	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)	315 lb (143 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Mahamadou Wilkins OG	Greensboro, NC	Southern Guilford HS	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	219 lb (99 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Tristan Lockett FS	Bel Air, MD	John Carroll HS	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	216 lb (98 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Dave Elliott FB	Gibsonville, NC	Eastern Guilford HS	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	254 lb (115 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Lamont Seals OT	Allentown, PA	L.E. Dieruff HS	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	331 lb (150 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Jacob Tomlinson OT	Southport, NC	South Brunswick HS	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	261 lb (118 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Tyler Clement K	Concord, NC	Concord HS	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	170 lb (77 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Alex Dyson ILB	Thomasville, NC	Thomasville HS	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	226 lb (103 kg)	TBD
	Skill:   Potential:
Overall recruiting rankings:
Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.