The 2023 Penn State Nittany Lions will take on the Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens this Saturday. The Nittany Lions are coming off of a big week one win against West Virginia. They are heavy favorites in this weekend’s matchup, but there are still numerous things the team will need to do in order to succeed. Here is everything to watch for in the Penn State game against Delaware.

What to Watch For

The first aspect of the game to watch for is the kicker situation for the Nittany Lions. Penn State had some problems that not many were expecting to see. The first player to take the kicks was sophomore Sander Sahaydak. First, he made the two extra points, and all was fine. He then took two field goals, and both were from less than 40 yards away. He missed both kicks and was replaced by senior kicker Alex Felkins. The senior only had to kick one field goal and thankfully made it. He also made three extra points. It will be interesting to see if it is Felkins who takes the kicks vs. Delaware this weekend.

Penn State QB Drew Allar (15) – Scott Taetsch/Getty Images

Penn State has a strong defense and has for a couple of years now. In week one, there were some communication errors that happened, which caused West Virginia to push down the field. Against Delaware, there should not be these issues; this is the week to make sure that everyone is on the same page before the tough opponents begin.

The defense also struggled to stop the run down the middle. As the game against West Virginia progressed, they did improve, so the hope is that the middle of the defense will pick up the pace right away. The defense has to do better this week against Delaware. The opposing team should not be able to run down the middle of the Penn State defense at ease this week.

This is the game to let the offense see what they can do. Penn State may have put up 38 points, which would have been more if it were not for the missed field goals, but this week, Penn State can explore what Drew Allar can do. Yes, if the Nittany Lions are up by a lot, expect Beau Pribula to replace Allar. This happened last weekend, but the team can use that as an opportunity to see what Pribula can do as well.

If the team scores enough points early on in the game, watch for Allar to take shots downfield more often. His big touchdown to start the game last weekend was just a preview of what he can do. This could give the team the chance to experiment on plays in-game action.

Penn State RB Kaytron Allen (13) – Matthew OHaren/USA TODAY Sports

Penn State Players to Watch

Kaytron Allen

Running back Kaytron Allen will be important to watch this weekend. Allen, along with Nick Singleton, are two strong running backs that the Nittany Lions have on their team. The run game was not as explosive as it could have been last week, totaling just 146 yards, according to ESPN. Allen had just ten carries, essentially splitting the reps with Singleton, who had 13 carries. If Penn State can get that lead over Delaware, Allen could get more chances to stand out on the offense.

Kalen King

Cornerback Kalen King played well for the Nittany Lions last season but did not stand out against West Virginia over the weekend. He ended up with just four combined tackles, only one solo, according to ESPN. What to truly watch for is if King could force an interception. The defense had no turnovers last weekend, but there is a high chance that they can produce some against Delaware.

Keaton Ellis

A standout player on the Penn State defense last week was safety Keaton Ellis. He was a name that was called often throughout the game. He had three tackles in the game, all solo, according to ESPN. It does not sound like a lot, but he was a leader and was where he had to be. With the communication issues on the defense last weekend, watch for Ellis to step up big time to make sure they are all working together as a unit.

Penn State S Keaton Ellis (2) – Steve Luciano/AP Photo

Game Predictions

The Penn State Nittany Lions are heavy favorites against the Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens. Last weekend, Delaware did win their game, but this could still be a big opportunity for the Nittany Lions. The prediction for this week’s game is 13-42, with the Nittany Lions taking the lead. It is possible for Delaware to score, especially if Penn State pulls out some of their starters in order to keep them healthy. The game will be held this Saturday at 12 p.m. Eastern at Beaver Stadium.