PETE WERNER VS. PENN STATE TIGHT END PAT FREIERMUTH
Nittany Lion tight end Pat Freiermuth likely would have been one of the top tight ends selected in last month's NFL Draft, but instead, he elected to return for his junior season. The 6-foot-5, 260-pounder was able to enter the draft after only two years in college thanks to spending five years in high school with the fifth being a "prep year."
Pete Werner took some lumps as a sophomore in 2018 (as did the defense as a whole) but was solid last season. Werner often drew matchups against the opposition's tight ends and we saw that late in the season against both Penn State and Michigan. Freiermuth caught six passes for 40 yards in Columbus and will likely be seeing a lot of Werner this time around at Beaver Stadium. The loss of K.J. Hamler makes him that much more important for Sean Clifford and the passing game.