Penn State Football: Players Who Will Shine for the Nittany Lions in 2013

Through all the turmoil, Penn State put together a remarkable season, and the team has the talent to continue winning in the future.

Despite crippling sanctions, head coach Bill O’Brien was able to pull the Nittany Lions together and lead them to eight wins this year. He has earned a tremendous amount of respect from fans and media. More importantly, he has earned it from his players.

The players who stayed in Happy Valley have taken part in a special season, and there are a few student-athletes who will help the team to more surprising success.

Here are the players who will stand out for Penn State next season.

Allen Robinson, Wide Receiver

While Matt McGloin’s career at Penn State is over, Allen Robinson will make the transition to a new quarterback significantly easier.

The 6’3”, 201-pound wide receiver has the size and speed to continue to be dominant at his position.

As a sophomore, Robinson racked up 77 catches, 1,018 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. His abilities were on full display against Indiana when he pulled in 10 receptions for 197 yards and three touchdowns.

He will be a star for the Nittany Lions next season, and he is the most exciting talent in the program.

 

John Urschel, Guard

John Urschel has the type of résumé that makes us all wonder what we’ve been doing with our lives. The redshirt junior guard earned a degree in mathematics in three years and graduated with a 4.0 GPA. 

He will also earn a master’s degree by next summer.

Urschel will likely need to work out an equation to maximize wall space, as he will need to hang up his honors from the football field in addition to all of his diplomas.

His play at guard this season earned him a spot on the All-Big Ten Conference First Team, and he has a bright future in the sport. His work ethic and leadership, as well as his blocking ability, will be vital to Penn State’s success next season.

 

Adrian Amos, Defensive Back

The Nittany Lions defense was a driving force behind its success, and it will get back starting cornerback Adrian Amos.

The talented sophomore finished the year with 44 tackles, two interceptions, three passes broken up and five passes defended. 

He showed remarkable consistency and ability for a sophomore, and eventually, teams simply started avoiding his side of the field. At 6’0 and 204 pounds, he is perfectly built for his position.

Amos has the potential to go down as one of Penn State’s great players, and he will continue to build his legacy next season.