Penn State and Georgia are set to face off this Saturday in the Taxslayer Bowl, and there are plenty of names to remember.
Penn State
Saquon Barkley- The freshman running back has been stellar all season rushing for 1,007 yards and 7 touchdowns. He will face a tough task against Georgia who’s defense ranks 5th nationally, but is 46th nationally against the run.
Daesean Hamilton- The sophomore receiver seemingly took a step back this season after catching 82 passes for 900 yards last season compared to his 40 catches for 510 yards this year. He did catch 5 touchdowns this year compared to his 2 from last season, but it’s become clear that Chris Godwin is Hackenberg’s go-to guy. Penn State finds themselves facing one of the best passing defenses in the nation. Hamilton will have to show up because Godwin will have Dominick Sanders on him, who we’ll get to later.
Austin Johnson- The junior defensive tackle has been over shadowed by fellow defensive linemen Carl Nassib and Anthony Zettel all season. Johnson will be the most important piece on the line for this one though. Georgia is a run heavy offense due to quarterback struggles, and Johnson is the Lion’s best bet at stopping the run with his 9 tackles for loss this season.
Marcus Allen- Marcus Allen is Penn State’s top safety with Jordan Lucas out. The sophomore had 45 tackles this season, but had many broken tackles and will be relied on to stop the running back if he gets to the second level.
Georgia
Sony Michel- When star running back Nick Chubb went down with a major knee injury, the Bulldogs turned to sophomore Sony Michel. Michel rushed for 1,076 yards and 7 touchdowns this season. He will be a nuisance for the Lion’s defense.
Greyson Lambert- The signal caller for the Bulldogs has had an up and down season, at one point he was benched. He has 1,844 yards passing with 11 TDs, but will be without two members of his receiving corps due to injury and suspension. Lambert will be under distress by the best defensive line in the nation, including the national sack leader Carl Nassib.
Dominick Sanders- One of the best defensive backs in the nation, Sanders led the SEC with 5 interceptions this year and while have the task of defending Penn State’s top wide out in Chris Godwin.
Bryan McClendon- Bryan McClendon is not a player, he is the interm head coach of the Georgia Bulldogs. With the firing of Mark Richt and the hiring of Kirby Smart, Georgia will rely on McClendon to lead their team in the bowl game. McClendon is headed for South Carolina after this game to join Will Muschamp’s staff. It will be interesting to see if he can get the players to play inspired on Saturday.
The Taxslayer Bowl will be at noon this Saturday on ESPN. These are just a few of the individuals you should pay attention to while watching this one.
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