Blogging The Boys
Every week here at Blogging the Boys we spotlight the biggest college matchups and the players who could soon wear the Star. If you want to get a jump on who might help America’s Team in the years to come, this is your weekly college football guide. (For teams previously covered in other weeks, we move down the depth chart, giving you more insight on other draft candidates)
Ohio State and Penn State meet in Week 10 under noon glare in Columbus, and what was circled in August as a top-five showdown has turned into something a lot more one-sided. Ohio State is unbeaten, bullying its way through the schedule behind a suffocating defense that’s giving up fewer than a touchdown a game and a first-year starter, Julian Sayin, who’s playing at an 80% completion rate with 19 touchdown passes through seven wins.
Penn State, meanwhile, staggers in at 3–4, on a four-game losing streak, breaking in an interim head coach and handing the offense to redshirt freshman Ethan Grunkemeyer after Drew Allar’s season-ending injury.
Oddsmakers opened the Buckeyes at -20.5 with a total around 44.5, which tells you everything about how Vegas sees this lopsided game. Expect Ohio Stadium loud and a matchup that’s part rivalry, part stress test. Ohio State should handle this one 31-10.
Penn State:
Zane Durant, DT
Durant is the havoc guy in Penn State’s interior. He’s short, dense, and explosive at 6’1”, 294 pounds, he’s built to win leverage and knife into gaps before the guard even gets his hands set. He’s carried real production two years in a row, coming off a full season where he started every game and finished with 42 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, and three sacks. This year he’s racked up two sacks and one interception proving that he can remain consistent. The appeal is a quick first-step, natural leverage, powerful lower half (he’s been on Bruce Feldman’s Freaks List and reportedly squats in the 600 lbs), so he can either split doubles and break into the backfield or stand his ground.
Ohio State:
Austin Siereveld, OT
Siereveld is basically a guy you plug in and the line settles down. He’s a 6’5”, 325 pound lineman who’s already started games at guard, filled in when they’ve needed help at tackle, and even taken practice reps at multiple spots because the staff trusts him to not blow protections. He’s strong enough to hold his ground against power rushers, and he plays under control not grabby, which is why he ended up starting games during their title run and is now viewed as...
