Scouting Report: Who to watch during Penn State football vs Illinois

The Penn State football team gets set for their first road game of the season. The Nittany Lions will take on the Illinois Fighting Illini on Saturday at 12 p.m. EST. This will be the first Big Ten matchup for both teams and could be the toughest challenge for Penn State so far this season. The game will be part of FOX’s Big Noon Saturday with Gus Johnson and Joel Klatt on the call. But who should the Nittany Lion fans be aware of ahead of this matchup?

Scouting Report: Who to watch during Penn State football vs. Illinois

The Illinois Fighting Illini had a very successful campaign during the 2022 season. Almost a season where they made the Big Ten Championship game. But this team that Penn State will face on Saturday has a very different look and feel.

Starting with their quarterback Luke Altmyer. A transfer from Ole Miss who is finally getting his chance to start. During the first two games his inexperience showed, but he has a dynamic skillset. He is a dual-threat quarterback who ripped a 72-yard touchdown run last week against Kansas. Manny Diaz will need to have his defense contain Altmyer in the pocket.

Another player on offense to watch out for on the Illinois football team is wide receiver Isaiah Williams. A quarterback who has converted to wide receiver, Williams is a legitimate No. 1 option at wide receiver. Kalen King will need to keep an eye on this shifty playmaker.

Defensive stars that Penn State needs to neutralize

Defensively, the strength of the Fighting Illini comes from the defensive line. If the Penn State offensive line can establish the running game early and take these studs out of the game it’ll be extremely difficult for Illinois. Starting with defensive lineman Jer’Zhan Newton who had a monster game last week against Kansas. In that game, Newton collected 6 tackles, 2 sacks, and 2 tackles for loss. He is someone who will look to get after Drew Allar and the Nittany Lion rushing attack.

The other player to keep an eye on is Keith Randolph Jr. He had an impressive 6 tackles against Kansas. At 300 pounds this is a player that can eat up space and disrupt the Penn State offensive line.

Thank you for reading Basic Blues Nation. Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news and insights on your favorite Penn State athletics. For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email us at [email protected] or direct message us on our social media. Also, be sure to check out our new site shop. It’s due to your support that we can become one of the market’s fastest-growing Penn State sports outlets!