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College football rankings: Post-spring Top 25 – Clemson, Alabama vie for top spot

By Cody Williams

SANTA CLARA, CA - JANUARY 07: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts against the Clemson Tigers in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Levi's Stadium on January 7, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - JANUARY 07: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts against the Clemson Tigers in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Levi's Stadium on January 7, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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Penn State wide receiver KJ Hamler avoids Iowa defenders at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pa., on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. Penn State won, 30-24. (Abby Drey/Centre Daily Times/TNS via Getty Images)
Penn State wide receiver KJ Hamler avoids Iowa defenders at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pa., on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. Penn State won, 30-24. (Abby Drey/Centre Daily Times/TNS via Getty Images) /
  • Notable Losses: Trace McSorley, Amani Oruwariye, Connor McGovern, Miles Sanders, Koa Farmer, DeAndre Thompkins, Shareef Miller, Ryan Bates, Juwan Johnson (transfer)
  • Notable Returners: K.J. Hamler, Tommy Stevens, Micah Parsons, Yetur Gross-Matos, Garrett Taylor, Jan Johnson, John Reid
  • 2019 Recruiting Class Ranking: 13th

Call it a mass exodus from Happy Valley, but there has been tremendous turnover on the Penn State Nittany Lions roster heading into the 2019 season. James Franklin not only had five underclassmen declare early for the NFL Draft, but they had 11 players enter the transfer portal as well. With key players like Trace McSorley, Miles Sanders, Amani Oruwariye and Juwan Johnson all gone, the Nittany Lions are going to have some inexperience on their roster.

Having said that, Franklin did do a fantastic job of filling holes with a strong recruiting class, one ranked 13th in the country. While it’s not one that relies heavily on quantity, they have a ton of high-end players that include one 5-star and then 17 players with 4-star ratings. That bodes well for them as they look to rebuild this offense around Tommy Stevens, a decorated prospect who finally gets his shot now that McSorley has graduated.

Though losing some key pieces, there are high hopes for the defense of Penn State in 2019 as well. Linebacker Micah Parsons started his career in a big way last season and could now emerge as the leader in the middle of the field for the Nittany Lions defense. He’ll need to for this young team to come along, grow quickly and realize their potential.

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