STATE COLLEGE − Penn State football will be missing a key backup defensive player in its White Out adventure Saturday night against the USC Trojans.
Sophomore linebacker Alex Tatsch was declared “out” on the latest Big Ten’s pregame availability report. He was the only significant new, impact listing for the Nittany Lions ahead of their critical bounce-back attempt in Beaver Stadium. Defensive tackle Armstrong Nnodim is listed as a “game time decision.”
The Nittany Lions are in dire need of a victory after dropping their first two Big Ten game, the last in embarrassing fashion at Northwestern.
And, if anything, the Lions may need more help than ever on defense. Especially at a position that’s already thin in able bodies, considering that promising backup linebacker Cam Smith also has been injured. The Lions only healthy, reliable options there: starters Tony Rojas and Kooper Ebel and backup Cael Brezina.
Coach Matt Campbell could potentially move edge rusher Caleb Bacon back from defensive end. Tatsch had 11 tackles (1.5 for loss) in four games this season. He also forced a fumble.
Penn State’s list of unavailable players for the USC game include star receiver Koby Howard, starting defensive end Max Granville and kickoff specialist Cristiano Rosa.
The others: defensive ends LaVar Arrington II, Mason Robinson and Dayshaun Burnett, offensive lineman Will Thompkins, cornerbacks Tyler Armstead, Josh Johnson and Christian Askew, tight end Cooper Alexander and linebacker Cam Smith.
Granville is out for the season with an undisclosed injury, for the second straight year. Arrington was expected to be out until mid- to late-October after undergoing an August medical procedure on his knee, Campbell said.
Frank Bodani covers Penn State football for the York Daily Record and USA Today Network. Contact him at [email protected] and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @YDRPennState.
This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: How Penn State football will be shorthanded on defense vs USC