Penn State will take on UCLA at noon in Beaver Stadium and will do so without wide receiver Kaden Saunders.
The Nittany Lions’ availability report was released at 10 a.m. Saturday and had 16 players on it who are out and one who is questionable. For UCLA, the report had 18 players who are out and nine who are questionable.
Here’s who was on each team’s report.
Penn State
Out
S K.J. Winston
WR Kaden Saunders
QB Jaxon Smolik
RB Cam Wallace
LB Kari Jackson
LB Keon Wylie
DE Zuriah Fisher
DE Mason Robinson
DE Jaylen Harvey
WR Donte Nastasi
WR Ethan Black
WR Peter Gonzalez
TE Andrew Rappleyea
DT Sam Siafa
DT Liam Andrews
DT TA Cunningham
Questionable
RB Nick Singleton
Penn State running back Nick Singleton stretches before the game against UCLA on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024 at Beaver Stadium. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com
UCLA
Out
LB Donavyn Pellot
DB Kanye Clark
WR Titus Mokiao-Atimalala
QB Dermaricus Davis
WR Braden Pegan
DB D.J. Justice
LB JonJon Vaughns
RB Deshun Murrell
RB Troy Leigber
LB Larry Edwards III
DL Joquarri Price
DL Jordan Abarca
DL Gary Smith III
OL Oluwafunto Akinshilo
OL Reuben Unije
OL Marquise Thorpe-Taylor
DL Keanu Williams
TE Hudson Habermehl
Questionable
WR Rico Flores Jr.
LB Ale Kaho
QB Ethan Garbers
DB Croix Stewart
LS Travis Drosos
OL Jack Clarke
OL Jaylan Jeffers
TE Sam Summa
DL Jacob Busic
Notes: Penn State RB Nick Singleton is listed as “questionable” after he wasn’t seen at the portion of Wednesday’s practice that was open to the media. (Update: As of halftime, despite warming up, Singleton has yet to see a carry.)
Safety K.J. Winston continues to be listed as out on the report after Penn State head coach James Franklin said in September that he had a long-term injury. While there is no publicly available timetable for Winston, I would expect to see him listed as out for the foreseeable future.
Notably for the Bruins, QB Ethan Garbers is listed as questionable, and offensive tackle Reuben Unije is listed as out. Garbers missed multiple practices for UCLA this week and his status for the game is in doubt — especially behind his team’s shaky offensive line that will be without Unije.
Penn State 38, UCLA 10: I don’t think there’s any reason to believe this game will be close. UCLA has been put in a bad spot and it’s showing on the field this year. The Nittany Lions should roll to a win here and should dominate on both sides of the ball. Outside of Purdue in November, this is the team’s easiest remaining game of the season.
Penn State football coach James Franklin talks to UCLA coach DeShaun Foster before the game on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024 at Beaver Stadium. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com
This story was originally published October 5, 2024 at 10:29 AM.
Jon Sauber covers Penn State football and men’s basketball for the Centre Daily Times. He earned his B.A. in digital and print journalism from Penn State and his M.A. in sports journalism from IUPUI. His previous stops include jobs at The Indianapolis Star, the NCAA, and Rivals.
