Northwestern will be without two key players for Friday’s matchup against Penn State.
Per ESPN’s Pete Thamel, tight end Luke Dehnicke (undisclosed) and DB Braden Turner (lower body) won’t play against PSU.
Dehnicke was a monster for Northwestern in last Friday’ssix-point loss at defending national champion Indiana.
He ended the night with 140 yards on seven catches. It showed that he could become the best tight end in the Big Ten before his college career is done. Dehnicke is only a redshirt sophomore. He spent his first two seasons at Division II Minnesota Duluth. Last season, Dehnicke went off for 1,119 yards and 14 touchdowns on 61 catches, and so far, that production is translating to the Big Ten.
Turner is a Northwestern mainstay, having recovered a fumble against Penn State at the old Ryan Field in 2023. Now, he’s in Year 5 at Northwestern, and in that time, he’s become a regular starter and was an All-Big Ten honorable mention performer last year.
Thamel also noted that another DB, Damon Walters, will be a “game-time decision” for Northwestern, as will Hayden Eligon, who was the team’s second-leading receiver last year (521 yards, 3 TD, 37 REC). Thamel added that sources are “very confident” that Eligon will play.
Penn State is dealing with its own injury problems. Defensive end Max Granville is out for the season, and top receiver Koby Howard is out “for an extended period of time.” Top DB Daryus Dixson is also questionable for Northwestern, and his status will be known closer to kickoff.
Penn State-Northwestern is scheduled to begin at 8 on Fox in Evanston.
