2015 Penn State Nittany Lions football
TaxSlayer Bowl, L 17–24 vs. Georgia
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
DivisionEast Division
Record7–6 (4–4 Big Ten)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorJohn Donovan (2nd season)
Offensive schemeMultiple
Defensive coordinatorBob Shoop (2nd season)
Base defense4–3
CaptainChristian Hackenberg
Jordan Lucas
Angelo Mangiro
Von Walker
Anthony Zettel
Home stadiumBeaver Stadium
Seasons
← 2014
2016 →
2015 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
East Division
No. 6 Michigan State xy$^   7 – 1     12 – 2  
No. 4 Ohio State x   7 – 1     12 – 1  
No. 12 Michigan   6 – 2     10 – 3  
Penn State   4 – 4     7 – 6  
Indiana   2 – 6     6 – 7  
Rutgers   1 – 7     4 – 8  
Maryland   1 – 7     3 – 9  
West Division
No. 9 Iowa xy   8 – 0     12 – 2  
No. 23 Northwestern   6 – 2     10 – 3  
No. 21 Wisconsin   6 – 2     10 – 3  
Nebraska   3 – 5     6 – 7  
Minnesota   2 – 6     6 – 7  
Illinois   2 – 6     5 – 7  
Purdue   1 – 7     2 – 10  
Championship: Michigan State 16, Iowa 13
  • ^ – College Football Playoff participant
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2015 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented Pennsylvania State University in the 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was led by second year head-coach James Franklin and played its home games at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. They were a member of the East Division of the Big Ten Conference. They finished the season 7–6, 4–4 in Big Ten play to finish in fourth place in the East Division. They were invited to the TaxSlayer Bowl where they lost to Georgia.

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
September 53:30 p.m.at Temple*
ESPNL 10–2769,176
September 1212:00 p.m.Buffalo*
ESPN2W 27–1493,065
September 198:00 p.m.Rutgers
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA
BTNW 28–3103,323
September 263:30 p.m.San Diego State*
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA
BTNW 37–2195,107
October 312:00 p.m.Army*
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA
ESPNUW 20–14107,387
October 1012:00 p.m.Indianadagger
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA
ESPNW 29–797,873
October 178:00 p.m.at No. 1 Ohio State
ABCL 10–38108,423
October 243:30 p.m.vs. Maryland
ESPNW 31–3068,948
October 3112:00 p.m.Illinois
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA
ESPN2W 39–094,417
November 712:00 p.m.at Northwestern
ESPNUL 21–2334,116
November 2112:00 p.m.No. 14 Michigan
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA (rivalry)
ABCL 16–28107,418
November 283:30 p.m.at No. 6 Michigan State
ESPNL 16–5574,705
January 2, 201612:00 p.m.vs. Georgia*
ESPNL 17–2458,212
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time

Roster

2015 Penn State Nittany Lions football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
WR 2 Jake Kiley  Jr
WR 3 DeAndre Thompkins  Fr
QB 4 Tommy Stevens Fr
WR 5 DaeSean Hamilton  So
RB 6 Andre Robinson Fr
WR 7 Geno Lewis  Jr
RB 8 Mark Allen  Fr
QB 9 Trace McSorley  Fr
WR 10 Brandon Polk Fr
TE 11 Brent Wilkerson  Jr
WR 12 Chris Godwin So
WR 13 Saeed Blacknall So
QB 14 Christian Hackenberg Jr
QB 16 Billy Fessler  Fr
QB 17 Jackson Erdmann Fr
TE 18 Jonathan Holland Fr
WR 19 Gregg Garrity Jr
RB 20 Johnathan Thomas  Fr
RB 22 Akeel Lynch  Jr
RB 24 Nick Scott  Fr
RB 26 Saquon Barkley Fr
RB 27 Brandon Johnson Sr
TE 30 Charles Idemudia  Jr
TE 34 Dominic Salomone  Jr
RB 36 Troy Shorts Fr
WR 39 Josh McPhearson So
G, C 52 Ryan Bates Fr
G, C 53 Derek Dowrey  Jr
C, G 55 Wendy Laurent  Jr
G, C 57 Steven Gonzalez Fr
OT 58 Chance Sorrell  Fr
OT 59 Andrew Nelson  So
OT 60 Noah Beh  Fr
G 61 Jack Lasher Fr
G 62 Zach Simpson Fr
OL 66 Angelo Mangiro  Sr
OL 68 Kevin Reihner  Sr
G, C 69 Adam De Boef  Fr
G, C 70 Brendan Mahon  So
OT 71 Albert Hall  Jr
G, C 72 Brian Gaia  Jr
OT 73 Paris Palmer Jr
G, C 74 Evan Galimberti  So
OT 75 Brendan Brosnan  Fr
OT 76 Sterling Jenkins Fr
G, C 77 Chasz Wright  Fr
C, G 78 Tom Devenney  So
OT 79 Charlie Shuman  Fr
WR 80 Matt Zanellato  Sr
TE 81 Adam Breneman  So
WR 82 Tyler Shoop Fr
TE 83 Nick Bowers Fr
WR 84 Juwan Johnson Fr
WR 85 Irvin Charles Fr
TE 87 Kyle Carter  Sr
WR 87 Dan Chisena Fr
TE 88 Mike Gesicki So
WR 89 Gordon Bentley  So
TE 89 Tom Pancoast  So
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
CB 1 Christian Campbell So
S 2 Marcus Allen So
CB 4 Daquan Worley  Fr
LB 5 Nyeem Wartman-White  Jr
S 6 Malik Golden  Jr
LB 7 Koa Farmer  Fr
LB 8 Gary Wooten Jr.  Jr
S 9 Jordan Lucas Sr
CB 10 Trevor Williams Sr
LB 11 Brandon Bell Jr
CB 12 Jordan Smith Jr
S 14 Jarvis Miller Fr
CB 15 Grant Haley So
S 16 John Petrishen Fr
CB 17 Garrett Taylor Fr
DE 19 Torrence Brown  Fr
LB 20 Jordan Dudas Sr
CB 21 Amani Oruwariye  Fr
S 23 Ayron Monroe Fr
S 24 Anthony Smith  So
LB 25 Von Walker Jr
S 27 Colin Harrop  Jr
S 28 Troy Apke So
CB 29 John Reid Fr
DE 30 Kevin Givens Fr
CB 31 Desi Davis  So
S 32 Joe Berg  Fr
LB 32 Jack Haffner  Jr
LB 33 Jake Cooper Fr
LB 34 Jan Johnson Fr
LB 35 Matthew Baney Sr
CB 37 Kyle Alston  So
CB 38 Desi Davis  So
LB 38 Ben Kline  Sr
LB 40 Jason Cabinda So
DT 41 Parker Cothren  So
LB 42 Troy Reeder  Fr
LB 43 Manny Bowen Fr
S 45 Bryant Harper Jr
DE 46 Colin Castagna Fr
LB 47 Brandon Smith  So
DE 48 Shareef Miller Fr
DE 49 Will Eikenberry  Fr
S 49 Brian Tomasetti  So
DE 52 Curtis Cothran  So
DT 54 Robert Windsor Fr
DE 55 Kam Carter Fr
DT 63 Ryan Monk Fr
DE 90 Garrett Sickels  So
DT 91 Tarow Barney Sr
DT 92 Joe Holmes  Fr
DT 93 Antoine White  Fr
DE 94 Evan Schwan  Jr
DE 95 Carl Nassib Sr
DT 96 Immanuel Iyke Fr
DE 97 Ryan Buchholz Fr
DT 98 Anthony Zettel Sr
DT 99 Austin Johnson  Jr
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
K, P 37 Chris Gulla  So
SN 41 Zach Ladonis  So
SN 44 Tyler Yazujian  Jr
K, P 91 Nick Boumerhi Fr
P 92 Daniel Pasquariello So
P 93 Robby Liebel  Fr
K, P 95 Tyler Davis  So
SN 96 Kyle Vasey  Fr
SN 97 Nick Cox Fr
K, P 98 Jordan Wombacker Fr
K 99 Joey Julius  Fr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
  • Bob Shoop (defensive coordinator/safeties)
  • John Donovan (offensive coordinator/tight ends)
  • Charles Huff (running backs/special teams coordinator)
  • Brent Pry (assistant head coach/co-defensive coordinator/linebackers)
  • Ricky Rahne (quarterbacks/passing game coordinator)
  • Josh Gattis (wide receivers/offensive recruiting coordinator)
  • Terry Smith (cornerbacks/defensive recruiting coordinator)
  • Herb Hand (run game coordinator/offensive line)
  • Sean Spencer (defensive line)
  • Dwight Galt (strength and conditioning)
  • Joe Brady IV (graduate assistant)
  • Tommy Galt (graduate assistant)
  • Andrew Jackson (graduate assistant)
  • Ryan Smith (graduate assistant)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Staff

Position Name Alma mater
Head coach James Franklin[1] East Stroudsburg (1994)
Defensive coordinator/Safeties Bob Shoop[2] Yale (1988)
Offensive coordinator/tight ends John Donovan[2] Johns Hopkins (1997)
Linebackers/co-Defensive coordinator/assistant head coach Brent Pry[2] Buffalo (1993)
Running backs/Special teams coordinator Charles Huff[2] Hampton (2005)
Quarterbacks/Passing Game Coordinator Ricky Rahne[2] Cornell (2002)
Wide receivers/offensive Recruiting coordinator Josh Gattis[2] Wake Forest (2006)
Cornerbacks/defensive Recruiting coordinator Terry Smith[2] Penn State (1991)
Offensive line/Run Game Coordinator Herb Hand[2] Hamilton College (1990)
Defensive line Sean Spencer[2] Clarion (1995)
Strength and Conditioning Dwight Galt[2] Maryland (1981)
Graduate Assistant Joe Brady IV College of William & Mary (2013)
Graduate Assistant Tommy Galt Maryland (2009)
Graduate Assistant Andrew Jackson LIU Post (2011)
Graduate Assistant Ryan Smith College of William & Mary (2014)

Game summaries

Temple

See also: 2015 Temple Owls football team
Penn State vs. Temple – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Penn State 10 0 0010
Temple 0 7 101027

at Lincoln Financial Field

Game information

This was Penn State's first loss to Temple since 1941.

Buffalo

See also: 2015 Buffalo Bulls football team
Buffalo vs. Penn State – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Buffalo 0 0 7714
Penn State 0 10 31427

at Beaver Stadium

Game information

Rutgers

See also: 2015 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team
Rutgers vs. Penn State – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Rutgers 0 0 033
Penn State 0 21 0728

at Beaver Stadium

Game information

San Diego State

See also: 2015 San Diego State Aztecs football team
San Diego State vs. Penn State – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
San Diego State 7 7 7021
Penn State 10 17 01037

at Beaver Stadium

Game information

Army

See also: 2015 Army Black Knights football team
Army vs. Penn State – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Army 0 0 7714
Penn State 7 3 10020

at Beaver Stadium

Game information

Indiana

See also: 2015 Indiana Hoosiers football team
Indiana vs. Penn State – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Indiana 7 0 007
Penn State 7 12 01029

at Beaver Stadium

Game information

Ohio State

See also: 2015 Ohio State Buckeyes football team and Ohio State–Penn State football rivalry
Penn State vs. Ohio State – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Penn State 3 0 7010
#1 Ohio State 0 21 01738

at Ohio Stadium

Game information

Maryland

See also: 2015 Maryland Terrapins football team and Maryland–Penn State football rivalry
Penn State vs. Maryland – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Penn State 7 10 7731
Maryland 7 6 14330

at M&T Bank Stadium

Game information

Illinois

See also: 2015 Illinois Fighting Illini football team
Illinois vs. Penn State – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Illinois 0 0 000
Penn State 12 3 101439

at Beaver Stadium

Game information

Northwestern

See also: 2015 Northwestern Wildcats football team
Penn State vs. Northwestern – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Penn State 0 7 7721
Northwestern 0 20 0323

at Ryan Field

Game information

Michigan

See also: 2015 Michigan Wolverines football team
Michigan vs. Penn State – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
#14 Michigan 7 7 7728
Penn State 3 7 0616

at Beaver Stadium

Game information

Michigan State

See also: 2015 Michigan State Spartans football team and Land Grant Trophy
Penn State vs. Michigan State – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Penn State 0 10 0616
#6 Michigan State 6 14 142155

at Spartan Stadium

Game information

Georgia

See also: 2015 Georgia Bulldogs football team and 2016 TaxSlayer Bowl (January)
Penn State vs. Georgia – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Penn State 0 3 01417
Georgia 3 14 7024

at EverBank Field

Game information

References

  1. ^ "Penn State Selects James Franklin To Lead Football Program". Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics. Archived from the original on January 11, 2014. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Penn State Official Athletic Site - Football". Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics. Archived from the original on October 17, 2013. Retrieved January 31, 2014.
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