It’s looking like USC will be without one of its stars vs. Penn State.
LB Eric Gentry, who didn’t play in last Saturday’s upset loss at Minnesota, is thought to be out again based on coach Lincoln Riley’s words earlier this week.
The status of another key player on that defense is also up in the air.
Per Matt Zenitz of 247Sports, “the status of standout cornerback Jacobe Covington also remains in question” per sources.
“A final call is expected to be made after pre-game warmups on Covington,” Zenitz reported.
In addition to USC set to again be without star linebacker Eric Gentry, the status of standout cornerback Jacobe Covington also remains in question heading into SC’s game vs. No. 4 Penn State, sources tell @247Sports/@CBSSports.
A final call is expected to be made after pre-game… pic.twitter.com/h79JYjKj3B
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) October 12, 2024
Based on this, Covington is likely to be listed as “questionable” on the Big Ten’s mandatory injury report, which is scheduled to be released two hours before kickoff (3:30 eastern time, 12:30 pacific). It’d be much better for USC if he played. Only two players on USC’s defense have played more snaps than Covington this season.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.He’s been getting snaps for four seasons, the first two being at Washington.
Regardless of whether Covington plays, it seems clear that Gentry will not. The former Arizona State Sun Devil has been a staple in USC’s defense for three seasons. Pro Football Focus has Gentry with an 84.3 defensive grade (second-highest on the team) and a 91.8-grade in run defense (nobody else is above 75.7.)
Gentry is important, and his coaches know it.
“Eric is a unique player,” defensive coordinator and former Penn State defensive back D’Anton Lynn said earlier this month. “Like he can play so many spots. He can do so many things. He doesn’t get tired so he’s kind of a fun piece to move around.”
We’ll find out for sure about Gentry and Covington soon. Penn State vs. USC is upon us.
