Something Penn State players, coaches, fans and administrators probably would agree on is the Nittany Lions have fallen well short of expectations over the past two seasons.

The covid-impacted 2020 campaign was something of a mulligan for all college football programs (those lucky enough to even play a season), but Penn State’s abysmal 0-5 start ensured the year would be disappointing.

The 2021 season began on an opposite note, with Penn State starting 5-0, but the Nittany Lions went 2-6 down the stretch, punctuated by a brutal nine-overtime loss to unranked Illinois.

Coach James Franklin, entering his ninth year at the helm, spoke at the team’s annual media day Saturday. Penn State’s best chance at better results this season, he said, lies in its roster depth.

“I think we have more depth than we’ve had the last two years for a number of different reasons,” Franklin said. “… There are some question marks that we’re working hard to build that depth at those positions, as well, but, overall, really good.”

Offensively, Penn State will benefit from the presence of sixth-year senior Sean Clifford, one of the more experienced quarterbacks in college football.

The Nittany Lions were solid through the air last season, boasting the No. 26 passing offense (268.5 yards per game) in the nation.

Clifford will have no shortage of options to target in the passing game, even with his top wideout from 2021, Jahan Dotson, gone to Washington with 16th pick in the NFL Draft.

Behind Dotson, Penn State’s next two leading receivers, Parker Washington and KeAndre Lambert-Smith, are back, in addition to tight ends Brenton Strange and Theo Johnson, who ranked No. 4 and 5 on the team in receiving yards last year.

A key transfer portal acquisition who looks poised to bolster second-year coordinator Mike Yurcich’s offense is Mitchell Tinsley, a super-senior wideout from Western Kentucky.

Last year, Tinsley caught 87 passes for 1,402 yards and 14 touchdowns, earning second-team All-Conference USA honors.

“Mitch has already had so much production in college, and he’s super mature,” Franklin said. “He also understands some of the things that maybe the young guys don’t understand. … I think he’s got a chance to have a really, really productive year.”

Penn State also brought in reinforcements up front after the offensive line struggled with consistency in 2021.

Namely, Cornell transfer Hunter Nourzad, who finished his career at the Ivy League school riding a 20-game starting streak, appears primed to step in at right tackle. Center Juice Scruggs was named to the preseason Rimington Trophy watchlist.

While other O-linemen such as Olumuyiwa Fashanu and Landon Tengwall got their feet wet last fall, Franklin remains cautious in his optimism about the overall prospects for that group.

“I’m not going to sit here and pound the table about, ‘This is the year,’ because that hasn’t necessarily played out (that) way the last couple of years, so I’m going to take a more measured approach there,” he said.

Franklin is hopeful a retooled offensive line can aid the Nittany Lions in running the ball more effectively. Last year’s ground attack ranked 118th in the nation in yards per game (107.8).

While the team lost Noah Cain to the transfer portal, Keyvone Lee is back after a 530-yard freshman campaign. Penn State’s 2022 recruiting class, ranked No. 7 by Rivals, includes a pair of blue-chip tailback signees: Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen.

Defensively, question marks abound at linebacker and safety.

Linebacker duo Ellis Brooks and Brandon Smith, the team’s two leading tacklers from last year, are in the NFL, as is standout safety Jaquan Brisker, a Gateway grad.

Thus, Manny Diaz, in his opening year as defensive coordinator, has some position battles to hash out. Thus far, Franklin has liked the spark Diaz, head coach at Miami from 2019-21, is bringing to the defense.

“One of the things I’ve noticed right away with Manny is we are emphasizing turnovers like crazy,” he said. “We’re getting our hands on so many more balls, fumbles and turnovers.”

The NFL Draft also took dependable cornerback Tariq Castro-Fields, setting the stage for another important competition this month.

North Allegheny grad Joey Porter Jr. returns for the Nittany Lions after starting every game at cornerback in 2021 and earning third-team All-Big Ten accolades, as awarded by the league’s coaches.

Returning to the fold from a season-ending injury in 2021 is senior defensive tackle PJ Mustipher, who played in just six games last year.

While Penn State must replace its 2021 sacks leader, defensive end Arnold Ebiketie, another player now in the NFL, freshman D-end Dani Dennis-Sutton, the crown jewel of Penn State’s 2022 recruiting class who was ranked as the No. 7 overall prospect in the nation, will be interesting to watch in camp.

At defensive end, rounding out Penn State’s major transfer portal acquisitions, is Chop Robinson from Maryland, whom Franklin hopes can provide viable reinforcements along the edge.

“That was something that was going to be important for us, with the guys that we lost (from last year),” Franklin said. “We needed to make sure that we got somebody who could come in as well as developing the guys on our roster … but we’ve been pleased with him.”

Penn State opens the season on the road at Purdue on Thursday, Sept. 1.

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