ATLANTA — When Penn State announced that cornerbacks Kalen King and Johnny Dixon would not play in Saturday’s Peach Bowl (King traveled with the team and was seemingly set to play; Dixon did not travel with the team) it was an immediate blow to the Nittany Lions’ chances facing a deep and talented Ole Miss passing attack.
While it’s impossible to know how Saturday might have unfolded had both of those players taken the field, it certainly didn’t help any matters that they were absent. Ole Miss racked up 394 passing yards, a 15.2 yards per completion rate and two different 130+ yard receivers over the course of the afternoon en route to a 38-25 win. The Rebels were bound to post some fairly impressive numbers no matter what, but as a slew of younger players filled in for two NFL Draft locks, it was hard not to think “what if?”
The conversation about opting out of bowl games is an ongoing phenomenon and one that Penn State has largely avoided having to deal with. That said, it’s hard to blame an NFL hopeful — let alone a lock — from making a smart business decision to sit out one last game to avoid an injury. It might matter to many if Penn State does or does not win the Peach Bowl, but it’s not the playoffs and stakes are lessened. Move on with your career happy and healthy. Can’t argue too much with that.
For fans, that can be hard to hear, but for players it’s likely a bit more complicated. Take, for example, former Penn State running back Saquon Barkley. Toward the end of his college career, with a potential No. 1 pick in his future, some of his teammates joked that they wanted him to sit out of the Fiesta Bowl. There was an appreciation for what he had done for them and a desire to see him make good on what he had earned.
For the likes of Penn State offensive tackle Olu Fashanu, there is a similar desire to see a potential top 10 pick finally head to the NFL after returning this season – passing up on a similar opportunity. For King and Dixon, that desire teammates might have to see them succeed might be the same, but both probably could have helped their stock with a strong showing against a talented Ole Miss team. Neither are quite the high-end lock of Fashanu or defensive end Chop Robinson, who made known his intention to opt out weeks ago.
But all of this is conjecture. What do their teammates think?
“It’s hard for sure,” safe Jaylen Reed said after the game. “Especially with the type of guys [they are]. Kalen is a potential first rounder, Johnny is probably a day one, day two type draft pick … It’s kind of hard to replace them. But that’s the point of a recruiting. You know, we did a great job of recruiting guys and they had a chance to step up today and they did good. Just as a defense we didn’t execute as a whole, not just them … I feel like [younger players] did good. It’s just that they’re young.”
There’s no animosity there. Reed is just stating facts, but it did underscore the challenges Penn State’s coverage unit faced. Then again, in the case of cornerback Cam Miller it was an opportunity to get meaningful reps, holding his own but not without the occasional moments of being reminded he still has room to grow.
“It sucks not having them there,” Miller said. “But for me, it’s an opportunity to step into a bigger role. And help contribute to this team.”
Miller finished the day with three passes defended and five tackles. Penn State finished with a loss. Whether or not King and Dixon could have changed that part remains unknown by all, teammates included.
