By Tommy Rezac
The starting quarterback for Saturday hasn’t officially been decided yet, but it looks like Tanner Lee will be on the trip and likely ready for action.
“(Lee) is actually going through the (concussion protocol), and if he does not have a setback, as of today, if everything checks out okay after this practice heading into tomorrow’s walk through, he will be cleared to play,” head coach Mike Riley said after Thursday’s practice.
Does he start?
“How we do that, we have not yet decided what that means about playing time,” Riley said.
“We’re going to talk about it.”
Lee was walking off the practice field Thursday evening in full pads, wearing a green no-contact practice jersey.
Riley said Lee’s protocol has been “really smooth and pretty seamless”. Lee has been around practice all week, “in tune” with the game plan.
Other Injuries
Sr. TE Connor Ketter (back) is out for the rest of the season, as is So. WR Conor Young (high ankle sprain).
So. CB Eric Lee (concussion protocol) has also been cleared “as long as he does the same things Tanner does for tomorrow.”
Lee hasn’t played since the Purdue game on Oct. 28.
Jr. LB Luke Gifford (hip) underwent surgery on Thursday as planned. He should be ready to return during summer workouts.
Jr. S Aaron Williams (neck) has gone through the week without “any episodes” with his neck and should be ready to play.
Riley says having him back on the field adds a good “football IQ.”
Fr. RB Jaylin Bradley “looks good” according to Riley.
“We intend to get him in the game.”
Jr. WR/holder/emergency QB Zack Darlington, who had missed a couple of games due to illness, is officially back.
Patrick O’Brien
When the week began, the team had been preparing with O’Brien as the presumed starter. Riley says the reps at QB have been split between O’Brien and Lee the last two days.
“I’ve been impressed (with Patrick),” Riley said. “I was impressed with how he went into the (Minnesota) game.”
O’Brien completed 12-of-18 passes for 137 yards in the second half against the Gophers.
Right Guard
With Jr. Tanner Farmer (ankle) out for the season, Sr. David Knevel will start at guard for the first time in his career. Knevel has played in six games this year.
“David is smart, and he’s healthy now,” Riley said. “He gives us that pretty impressive, physical figure in there. His deal hasn’t been about playing ability, but about playing ability.”
Knevel is 6-9, 315. That size and presence certainly can’t hurt going against Penn State’s front seven.
Forecast
Currently, there’s about a 60 percent chance of rain in State College, PA right around 4 p.m. ET when the Huskers and Nittany Lions are scheduled to kick off.
You can contact Tommy at 402-840-5226, or you can follow him on Twitter @Tommy_KLIN.
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