IOWA CITY, Iowa — Grading the Penn State football team on its 25-24 loss to Iowa Saturday night at Kinnick Stadium:
Quarterbacks
C: Ethan Grunkemeyer showed poise and pocket presence while making his first college start, but he threw two interceptions. Jaxon Smolik didn’t get to throw.
Running backs
B: Kaytron Allen received far more carries than Nick Singleton and made the most of them, running for 145 yards and two touchdowns.
Receivers
D: Struggling to create separation, they combined for 11 catches for 86 yards, the longest a 14-yarder by freshman Koby Howard.
Offensive linemen
B: They were better against a very good defensive line, opening holes for Allen and protecting Grunkemeyer and Smolik.
Defensive linemen
D: Iowa rushed for 245 yards, including 130 by quarterback Mark Gronowski, which is an indictment on the front four. They also had no sacks.
Linebackers
D: The linebackers were nowhere to be found when Gronowski made two long runs to set up touchdowns in the second half.
Defensive backs
B: Despite no pass rush, the secondary limited Iowa to no catch longer than 12 yards. Zakee Wheatley came up with an early interception.
Special teams
B: Xavier Gilliam blocked a field goal that Elliot Washington II returned for a touchdown. But Cam Wallace muffed a kickoff that cost Penn State field position.
Coaches
C: Penn State nearly won on the road in Terry Smith’s first game as interim coach and Grunkemeyer’s first start. Andy Kotelnicki’s call on fourth-and-1 from the Lions’ 40 late in the third quarter was odd and was stopped. And it’s inexplicable that Jim Knowles’ defense allowed two big QB runs, which set up touchdowns.
Source: Berkshire mont
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