Penn State will be without another linebacker when it faces Clemson on Saturday in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl.
Freshman linebacker Alex Tatsch suffered an injury during bowl preparations and will be unavailable for the game, according to confirmation from Blue White Illustrated.
Penn State’s linebacker depth had already been tested earlier in the season following Tony Rojas’ season-ending injury prior to the UCLA game. In response, the Nittany Lions gradually worked Tatsch into the rotation, initially hoping to keep him under the four-game threshold in order to preserve his redshirt.
However, with Penn State surrendering nearly 200 rushing yards per game in Big Ten play prior to the Ohio State matchup, the coaching staff had little choice but to turn to Tatsch to help stabilize the run defense. The freshman ultimately appeared in the season’s final five games, playing in six games overall.
Tatsch finished the season with 14 total tackles, one tackle for loss, and a pass breakup.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.His best performance came in November against Nebraska, when he helped slow then–Big Ten leading rusher Emmett Johnson, recording a season-high five tackles in Penn State’s 37–10 victory.
A four-star prospect and the No. 6 overall prospect in Pennsylvania in the Class of 2025, Tatsch demonstrated that he is a foundational piece of Penn State’s future at the position.
Penn State will kick off against Clemson on Saturday at noon ET in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium, with coverage airing on ABC.
