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Penn State will enter the 2017 season with something it hasn’t had to deal with for years- expectations. After rapidly improving throughout 2016 to claim the Big Ten championship and an oh-so-close near-victory against USC in the Rose Bowl, many Nittany Lions will be in the spotlight as the team chases its goal to earn its first playoff berth in program history.
We all know Saquon Barkley will be entering the season as a preseason All-American and Heisman hopeful. Outside of Barkley, which Penn State player has the best chance of being named as an All-American in 2017?
The argument could be made for several players on both sides of the ball, but tight end Mike Gesicki is the best bet in my book. All three tight ends from last season’s All-American teams will be chasing their dreams in the NFL in the fall, leaving the door open for Gesicki to truly make a name for himself on a national level.
Gesicki made something obvious as a junior that we’ve been expecting since he committed to Penn State- he is an absolute match-up nightmare. At 6-6, Gesicki has freakish athleticism for someone with his size, and his ability to make circus catches means that any ball thrown in his general direction has the chance for a huge gain. Following another offseason further to hone his game, Gesicki should be able to improve upon his stellar performance in 2016- the most productive for a tight end in school history as he amassed 48 receptions for 679 yards and five touchdowns.
So what say you, BSD reader? Outside of Barkley, which Penn State player has the best odds to be named as a 2017 All-American?