Penn State will be without two significant contributors against USC in the Rose Bowl.
The program announced Wednesday that sophomore linebacker Manny Bowen and junior wide receiver Saeed Blacknall have both been suspended for violating team rules. Neither will play against the Trojans on Jan. 2.
Bowen, a starter at outside linebacker, is fifth on the team with 68 total tackles and tied for second with 8.5 tackles for loss. Bowen, who also has two sacks, has started all but one game for the fifth-ranked Nittany Lions.
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Saeed Blacknall caught two touchdowns for Penn State in the Big Ten title game. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
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Blacknall is PSU’s sixth-leading receiver, but is coming off a huge performance in the Big Ten title game. In the 38-31 win over Wisconsin, Blacknall hauled in six passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns. The junior, who missed five games earlier in the year with a finger injury, has just 15 catches on the year, but averages 23.1 yards per reception. He’s made seven starts on the season.
The Nittany Lions should be able to overcome the loss of Blacknall, but Bowen’s absence could have more of an impact. With Bowen out, redshirt sophomore Koa Farmer, a California native, will likely get the start. Farmer, a converted safety, has 27 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and three sacks this season.
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