Penn State’s summer depth chart provides concrete evidence that, as many expected, the tight end will be a major factor in the new offense.
The depth chart, released Tuesday, shows not just one, but two tight end positions – labeled Y and F – and there are seven players listed as competing at the spots.
“The Y is your traditional big, blocking tight end, and the F is your more receiving-type tight end who moves around,” new coach Bill O’Brien told gopsusports.com. “Many of those guys, like Kyle Carter and Garry Gilliam, are interchangeable. They can play the Y or the F. That’s why it is important to list all of those guys there. They’ve all got a chance to play for us.”
Gilliam, a redshirt junior, is first string at the Y position, and his size (6-foot-6, 277 pounds) makes him a fit for O’Brien’s blocking tight end role.
In perhaps the biggest surprise on the depth chart, Carter, a redshirt freshman, tops the F tight end position. He’s ahead of junior Kevin Haplea, who has played extensively the past two seasons.
Carter, a 6-3, 241-pounder from Delaware and the first commitment of the Nittany Lions’ 2011 recruiting class, is in O’Brien’s receiving tight end role.
The increased importance of the tight end is no surprise, given that O’Brien is coming from a New England Patriots offense that relied heavily on stars Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez.
The depth chart also lists three receiver positions, with seniors Justin Brown and Devon Smith as first-stringers, and the third spot still undecided between sophomore Allen Robinson and redshirt junior Shawney Kersey.
“We will be a multiple personnel grouping team, particularly at wide receiver and tight end,” O’Brien told gopsusports.com.
There’s some fuzzy math with the depth chart, as there are 13 positions listed on offense. One is fullback, and though O’Brien has said he will continue to utilize that position, starter Michael Zordich probably won’t be on the field much with all the multi-receiver formations.
“The offensive philosophy that we have here is really about a lot of guys playing,” O’Brien told gopsusports.com. “The depth is definitely set at offensive line and quarterback, and running back to a certain degree.
“But at tight end and receiver, it depends on what type of personnel grouping we are in — a one, two, three or four wide receiver grouping or a one, two or three tight end grouping. We’re planning on playing a lot of guys at those two positions.”
Depth chart notes
Aside from Robinson and Kersey competing for a receiver spot, there are three other positions listed as “or” at first string: middle linebacker is a battle between juniors Glenn Carson and Khairi Fortt; right cornerback is between sophomore Adrian Amos and redshirt junior Derrick Thomas; and left guard is between redshirt sophomore Miles Dieffenbach and redshirt junior Marc Arcidiacono.
The offensive tackle spots have been reversed. Redshirt freshman Donovan Smith is the first-string left tackle after playing right tackle during the spring, and redshirt junior Adam Gress is now the right tackle after playing on the left side during the spring. The young Smith (6-5, 310) must have made some kind of impression to take the lead for one of the most important spots on the field at left tackle.
Amos has moved back to cornerback after playing safety during spring drills. Amos’ move left Williamsport graduate Jake Fagnano as the starting strong safety on O’Brien’s depth chart.
Redshirt sophomore Kyle Baublitz has moved from defensive end to tackle, and redshirt freshman Anthony Zettel has moved from tackle to defensive end.
Anthony Fera remains the first-string place-kicker and punter after filling both roles last season.
PSU depth chart
These players are listed on the first team. For the second and third teams, see Page B5.
OFFENSE
Receiver
So.Allen Robinson (6-3, 199) OR
Jr. Shawney Kersey (6-1, 199)
Left tackle
Fr.Donovan Smith (6-5, 310)
Left guard
So.Miles Dieffenbach (6-3, 286) OR
Jr.Marc Arcidiacono (6-4, 283)
Center
Sr.Matt Stankiewitch (6-3, 295)
Right guard
Jr.John Urschel (6-3, 287)
Right tackle
Jr.Adam Gress (6-6, 306)
Tight end (Y)
Jr.Garry Gilliam (6-6, 277)
Tight end (F)
Fr.Kyle Carter (6-3, 241)
Quarterback
Sr.Matt McGloin (6-1, 199)
Tailback
Jr.Silas Redd (5-10, 200)
Fullback
Sr.Michael Zordich (6-1, 242)
Receiver
Sr.Devon Smith (5-7, 147)
Receiver
Sr.Justin Brown (6-3, 209)
DEFENSE
Left end
Sr.Sean Stanley (6-1, 247)
Left tackle
Sr.Jordan Hill (6-1, 298)
Right tackle
Jr.DaQuan Jones (6-3,317)
Right end
Sr.Pete Massaro (6-4, 263)
Outside linebacker
Sr.Gerald Hodges (6-2, 233)
Middle linebacker
Jr.Glenn Carson (6-3, 238) OR
Jr.Khairi Fortt (6-2, 238)
Outside linebacker
Sr.Michael Mauti (6-2, 239)
Left cornerback
Sr.Stephon Morris (5-8, 188)
Strong safety
Sr.Jake Fagnano (6-0, 201)
Free safety
Jr.Malcolm Willis (5-11, 205)
Right cornerback
So.Adrian Amos (6-0, 209) OR
Jr.Derrick Thomas (6-0,181)
SPECIAL TEAMS
Punter
Jr.Anthony Fera (6-2, 220)
Kicker
Jr.Anthony Fera (6-2, 220)
Holder
Sr.Matt McGloin (6-1, 199)
Kick snapper
Jr.Ty Howle (6-0, 298)
Kickoff return
So.Adrian Amos (6-0, 209)
Punt return
Sr.Justin Brown (6-3, 209)
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PSU DEPTH CHART
Second and third teams
OFFENSE
Receiver
Fr.Matt Zanellato (6-3, 195)
Jr.Brandon Moseby-Felder (6-2, 188)
Left Tackle
Fr.Nate Cadogan (6-5, 283)
So.Luke Graham (6-4, 273)
Left Guard
Fr.Angelo Mangiro (6-3, 287)
Center
Jr.Ty Howle (6-0, 298)
Fr.Angelo Mangiro (6-3, 287) OR
Jr.Frank Figueroa (6-3, 303)
Right guard
Jr.Eric Shrive (6-6, 312)
Fr.Anthony Alosi (6-4, 292)
Right tackle
Sr.Mike Farrell (6-6, 276)
Fr.Anthony Alosi (6-4, 292)
Tight end (Y)
Fr.Jesse James (6-7, 265)
Jr.Matt Lehman (6-7, 247)
Tight end (F)
Jr.Kevin Haplea (6-4, 248)
So.Dakota Royer (6-1, 223) OR
Sr.Brian Irvin (6-3, 241)
Quarterback
So.Paul Jones (6-3, 245)
Jr.Rob Bolden (6-3, 214)
Sr.Shane McGregor (6-1, 200)
Tailback
So.Bill Belton (5-10, 196)
Sr.Derek Day (5-9, 195)
So.Zach Zwinak (6-1, 226)
Receiver
So.Alex Kenney (6-0, 193)
Receiver
Jr.Shawney Kersey (6-1, 199)
Jr.Christian Kuntz (6-4, 222)
DEFENSE
Left end
So.C.J. Olaniyan (6-3, 250) OR
So.Brad Bars (6-3, 237)
Left tackle
So.Kyle Baublitz (6-5, 270)
Right tackle
Sr.James Terry (6-3, 317)
Right end
Fr.Deion Barnes (6-4, 248) OR
Fr.Anthony Zettel (6-5, 255)
Outside linebacker
So.Mike Hull (6-0, 213)
Middle linebacker
Sr.Michael Yancich (6-2, 240)
Outside linebacker
Fr.Ben Kline (6-2, 224)
Left cornerback
So.Jesse Della Valle (6-1, 187)
Strong safety
Jr.Stephen Obeng-Agyapong (5-10, 201)
Free safety
Fr.Tim Buckley (6-0, 202)
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kicker
So.Sam Ficken (6-3, 180)
Holder
Sr.Evan Lewis (5-10, 173)
Kick snapper
Jr.Emery Etter (6-1, 223)
Kickoff return
So.Bill Belton (5-10, 196)
Sr.Devon Smith (5-7, 147)
Punt return
So.Bill Belton (5-10, 196)