MMQB: Which Position of Perceived Weakness Will End Up a Strength for Penn State?

Well it’s official, Penn State has begun its preseason camp for the 2018 football season. This past off-season has seen some sizable turnover for the Lions: gone is offensive guru Joe Moorhead, in is protege Ricky Rahne. Out is phenom Saquon Barkley, in is rising Junior Miles Sanders. DaeSean Hamilton, Josh Gattis, Mike Gesicki, the list goes on. As a result, Penn State finds itself at a cross-roads: can veterans like Trace McSorley lead a talented, yet inexperienced squad?

Heading in to camp, there appear to be three positions with more unknowns than others: tight ends, linebackers, and kicker.

Gesicki was a lethal weapon at tight end, and is set to be replaced by one (or more) of Nick Bowers, Jonathan Holland, or Danny Dalton, all of whom have shown flashes, but have yet to be called on as THE guy. Will someone step up to replace Mike’s productivity?

Jason Cabinda and Brandon Smith are gone at linebacker, leaving only Koa Farmer behind as a starter, along with Jake Cooper, Cam Brown, Ellis Brooks, Jan Johnson, Jarvis Miller, and Micah Parsons. The LB corps also just received some great news, in the form of Manny Bowen’s return to the team. Can a serviceable corps be cobbled together from the available talent?

Lastly, Tyler Davis is off to the NFL, leaving incoming freshman Jake Pinegar as the only scholarship kicker on the roster. Can Jake put it together, or will rumors of accuracy issues prove to be the kicking game’s undoing?

So what say you, dear reader? Which perceived weakness - tight end, linebacker, or kicker - will end up being a strength by the end of the season . . . if any?