LOS ANGELES โ No. 4 Penn State is expected to get two starters back from injury as the Nittany Lions visit the USC Trojans on Saturday.
Running back Nick Singleton and tackle Anthony Donkoh are both not on the Big Ten availability report for Saturdayโs game, and should be ready to return to play.
Singleton, the Lionsโ leading rusher, missed the teamโs home game against UCLA last week. He was injured the previous week against Illinois and was a late scratch against the Bruins after being listed as questionable. Head coach James Franklin said he expected Singleton to play against the Trojans.
“Weโre very confident, and I think Nickโs very confident talking to him on Sunday, that heโll be ready to go,โ Franklin said during his weekly press conference Monday.
Photo by Matt Lynch, Nittany Sports Now: Nicholas Singleton
Singleton leads the Lions with 408 rushing yards on 53 carries over four games, and his 7.7 yards per carry also paces the Penn State running backs. He has added six receptions for 74 yards and has scored a team-high five total touchdowns from scrimmage.
Kaytron Allen started last week against UCLA, rushing 21 times for 78 yards and a touchdown.
Donkoh will start his sixth straight game this season for Penn State at right tackle after suffering an in-game injury last week. Junior transfer Nolan Rucci replaced him against the Bruins.
Penn State is expected to start the same five offensive linemen for the sixth consecutive game.
Redshirt sophomore wide receiver and kick returner Kaden Saunders has been ruled out and will miss his second straight game. Saunders caught six passes for 56 yards last year but had been used exclusively as a return man for the first four games of this season, returning four punts for 25 yards. He also did not dress against Illinois.
The other Penn State players ruled out are safety Kevin Winston, Jr., running back Cam Wallace, linebacker Keon Wylie, defensive end Zuriah Fisher, wide receiver Jake Spencer and tight end Andrew Rappleyea.
