Redshirt Report: Pat Freiermuth Breaks Out Against Ohio State

Redshirt Burned (5)

Each of these players has now played in five or more games this season, meaning that they are now officially ineligible to redshirt this season under the NCAA’s new redshirt rules.

K Rafael Checa

Checa saved his best week of kickoffs for the Buckeyes with all six of kickoffs going for touchbacks. The kickoff specialist now has 21 touchbacks on 40 kickoffs this season, and is only getting more consistent with each week. If Checa continues his high level of play, he will be a true special teams weapon for the Nittany Lions going forward.

TE Pat Freiermuth

The true freshman out of Merrimac, Massachusetts had a career day against the Buckeyes, with three receptions for 44 yards and a spectacular touchdown catch in the back of the end zone. Freiermuth, or “Moose” as we enjoy to call him, is becoming more and more comfortable every week, and seems to be on the fast track to being a star tight end.

LB Jesse Luketa

Luketa played only special teams against the Buckeyes, but failed to record any stats on the night.

LB Micah Parsons

The former five-star recorded his 0.5 TFL via half-a-sack on Saturday against the Buckeyes, but the majority of the WILL snaps went to redshirt senior Koa Farmer.

K Jake Pinegar

Pinegar had two field goal attempts against the Buckeyes. His first field goal attempt from the right hash mark went far left as he overcompensated for the angle. His second field goal attempt of the night was from 39 yards and was down the middle. The Iowa native is now 3-for-6 on the season, but has yet to make a kick from outside 40 yards, missing all three attempts so far.

Green (2)

DT P.J. Mustipher

Mustipher appeared in the Nittany Lions first four games, but failed to appear against the Buckeyes. Instead, the Penn State coaching staff decided to move offensive lineman CJ Thorpe to defensive tackle for the remainder of the season in order to help with the depth issues at the position. Still, expect to see Mustipher’s redshirt burned in the next few weeks.

RB Ricky Slade

Slade, like the rest of Penn State’s running back stable outside of Miles Sanders, was absent on Saturday. There’s been no word on why the Virginia native was missing in action against the Buckeyes.

Yellow (3)

DE Nick Tarburton/DE Jayson Oweh

To be honest, I don’t think anyone knows what will happen with Tarburton and Oweh. Both have played in two games, but it remains to be seen what will happen going forward.

WR Justin Shorter

Once thought to be a green light all the way, Shorter is playing catchup after being dinged up in preseason camp. While a redshirt year is looking more and more likely, we are still remaining optimistic that Shorter will be ready for a heavier load after the bye week.

Red (5)

These five players may see a bit of playing time here-and-there, but we don’t expect to see them on the field a ton the remainder of the year unless the injury bug bites in a big way.

• OT Rasheed Walker
• WR Jahan Dotson
• TE Zach Kuntz
• WR Daniel George
• CB Trent Gordon

The Real Reds (7)

These remaining seven players have not seen playing time this season, and it appears doubtful that they’ll see the field at all in 2018.

• QB Will Levis
• OG Bryce Effner
• OG Juice Scruggs
• DT Aeneas Hawkins
• DT Judge Culpepper
• LB Charlie Katshir
• S Isaiah Humphries