Penn State-Central Michigan takeaways: Kalen King, Dani Dennis-Sutton and the Sean Clifford experience

STATE COLLEGE — James Franklin sat at the Beaver Stadium media room dais and looked a bit surprised. He admitted that while it didn’t feel like it, Penn State did, in fact, win the “critical areas” he and his staff examine after every game.

Turnover battle. Explosive plays. Penalties. The Nittany Lions were better than Central Michigan in those areas in Saturday’s 33-14 win — even if it didn’t feel like it.

Here are a few takeaways from the Nittany Lions’ final non-conference game of the season.

1. Sean Clifford experience

Last week, Clifford was the epitome of resolve. He got knocked to the ground on a thundering hit by Auburn linebacker Owen Pappoe. Then, he got back up and led the Nittany Lions on a touchdown drive minutes later. He projected confidence and had a command of the offense during Penn State’s dominant day on the plains.

Against Central Michigan, he was unsettled and, quite frankly, ineffective.

Clifford’s stat line — 22 of 34 for 217 yards, three touchdowns and no turnovers — doesn’t look so bad. There were a couple drops, too. But the sixth-year senior missed a lot of throws that would have moved the chains.

It isn’t time to hand the keys to true freshman Drew Allar. But Clifford is a rollercoaster. And Franklin knows that’s the ride he’s choosing to go on.

2. Can’t afford inconsistent kicking

Punt returner Parker Washington and punter Barney Amor made their presence felt in a positive way. The field goal team did the opposite.

An extra-point was blocked. Jake Pinegar missed a 38-yarder in the fourth quarter. And as the second half waned, Sander Sahaydak — Penn State’s long-range specialist — wasn’t close on a 56-yard attempt.

We’ll give Sahaydak, a redshirt freshman, a pass. Attempting a 56-yarder was ambitious on Franklin’s part. But Pinegar shouldn’t be missing kicks from inside 40 yards.

Similar to the Ohio game, when Pinegar missed a 42-yarder, it didn’t cost the Nittany Lions the game. But it might in the future.

3. Dani Dennis-Sutton a budding star

Each week it seems like we say this about a different true freshman. After the Purdue game, it was Allar. After the Ohio blowout, it was Nick Singleton. Last week, it was Kaytron Allen and Abdul Carter. Against Central Michigan, it was Dennis-Sutton.

Go back and watch Dennis-Sutton on Central Michigan’s final series. The five-star freshman ripped through the Chippewas’ line with ease and produced two sacks and a pass breakup behind the line of scrimmage.

Dennis-Sutton was more talented than anyone Central Michigan had to throw his way, and that makes sense. According to 247 Sports, the 6-foot-5 edge rusher was the No. 29 overall prospect in the 2022 recruiting cycle — rated higher than even Singleton and Allar.

His impact will be felt more and more in the years to come. But even as a true freshman, Dennis-Sutton is a weapon Penn State can utilize now.

4. Cornerback room is more than JPJ

We knew the secondary was Penn State’s strongest unit entering the season. A primary factor was Joey Porter Jr., the projected first-round pick at corner. Porter had a school-record six pass breakups at Purdue, proving on the national stage that he’s a lockdown corner worthy of going on Day 1 in the NFL draft.

But if there was any question, Saturday showed that the Nittany Lions aren’t solely reliant on Porter. The other cornerbacks were attacked, and they answered — especially 5-foot-11 sophomore Kalen King.

King had a career-high four pass breakups against Central Michigan. He nearly picked off quarterback Daniel Richardson on his second throw of the game. He also forced and recovered a fumble that halted a fourth-quarter drive into Penn State territory by the Chippewas.

A year ago, King was a true freshman working his way into a rotation. Now? The Detroit native is an integral part of this defense. Should be a fun homecoming for King when Penn State travels to Michigan in a few weeks.