Penn State center Brock Riker has been playing in pain.
He left the Week 3 game against Buffalo after the first two series, and although Riker returned the next week against Wisconsin (67 snaps per Pro Football Focus) and played again against Northwestern (51 snaps), coach Matt Campbell noted that it hasn’t been easy for him.
“He’s as tough as they come and he’s trying to play through it…,” Campbell said on his weekly radio show Tuesday night. “He’s a guy we gotta get back to full strength.”
Campbell was asked a follow up at Wednesday’s morning’s post-practice availability, and said that Riker has been “gutting it out the last couple weeks,” and although he still hasn’t 100%, he’s better than he had been recently from a band standpoint.
With Riker battling, Vaea Ikakoula got more of a look at center Friday night.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.After playing just one snap at left guard against Wisconsin, Ikakoula played 17 at center against Northwestern, and Campbell said Ikakoula “really settled the ship” on his radio show.
Ikakoula has played the most snaps of any Penn State offensive lineman outside of the starting five with 91. 52 of those took place Week 3 against Buffalo in place of Riker.
Campbell was impressed then, and is still impressed.
“Vae has done a really good job,” Campbell said after Buffalo. “You get an opportunity at the center spot, can you go in and execute? I thought he was one of the highlights of today. I thought he played outstanding.”
