Junior TE Pat Freiermuth announces he will play for Penn State football this season
Penn State football will have its star tight end for the 2020 season, after all. Despite reports of the contrary, Pat Freiermuth will play this fall season, he said Wednesday in a quick appearance on the Big Ten Network.
The Athletic’s Audrey Snyder first reported his decision to play this season.
The junior previously made the decision to not play, a source with knowledge of the situation told the Centre Daily Times, after it appeared the season would not begin until November at the earliest. On his BTN appearance, Feiermuth acknowledged having conversations with coach James Franklin about the pros and cons of sticking with the team, but denied ever opting out of the season.
He announced his intent to stay with the Nittany Lions hours after the Big Ten announced it would play an eight-game season beginning the weekend of Oct. 23-24. Penn State will still have a chance to make the College Football Playoff, with the Big Ten Championship game scheduled for Dec. 19, a day before the final playoff rankings will be revealed.
His decision brings back one of the Nittany Lions’ two best players from last season after Micah Parsons previously announced he would be forgoing the season and signing with an agent in order to prepare for the 2021 NFL Draft.
Freiermuth’s decision will give him an opportunity to add to an already prolific career. He was a reliable weapon for starting quarterback Sean Clifford last year and should once again fill that role this season.
He’s already tallied 69 receptions for 875 yards and 15 touchdowns in 26 games played. His 15 touchdown receptions tie him for ninth all-time at Penn State and have him tied with Mike Gesicki for most among tight ends in school history. His return should allow him to break that record with relative ease.
