Penn State-SMU Availability Report Released. Who’s Out For the Opening Round of the College Football Playoff?

The availability report for Penn State’s first-round College Football Playoff matchup with SMU has been released. Who’s in and who’s out?

Tyseer Denmark, a true freshman wide receiver, is the only new addition to the Nittany Lions’ list of inactives. That is, with the exception of backup quarterback Beau Pribula, who entered the transfer portal and departed from the program this week. Denmark has caught two receptions for 28 yards and a touchdown across three games this season.

Cornerback Elliot Washington II and safety Tyrece Mills have both been ruled questionable. Washington, who leads the team with five pass breakups, missed the final two games of the regular season before returning and tallying one tackle against Oregon in the Big Ten Championship.

Mills has appeared in all but one game this season, and has played a prominent role on special teams while rotating in on defense. He has 15 total tackles this year, the third-most of any safety.

The prospective third-string quarterback after the departure of former backup Beau Pribula, Jaxon Smolik was surprisingly not on the inactive list after James Franklin said he wasn’t medically cleared for competition. Smolik sustained a “significant” injury in the offseason, and has been rehabbing since. A redshirt freshman, Smolik has yet to make his collegiate debut.

With Smolik’s status uncertain, Ethan Grunkemeyer, a true freshman, is now set to replace Pribula as Allar’s backup. He too has not taken a collegiate snap. 

Alongside from Denmark, 10 other Penn State players were ruled out prior to kickoff: Kevin Winston Jr., Keon Wylie, Kaden Saunders, Cam Wallace, Zuriah Fisher, Alonzo Ford, Kaleb Artis, Anthony Donkoh and Andrew Rappleyea.