The season-ending injuries to Zach Zwinak and Ryan Keiser are brutal shots to players who surprisingly elevated the depth chart after sticking with the program in the toughest times.
Both are seniors. Both college careers are finished now.
Zach Zwinak was a surprising non-factor in the running game before his season-ending injury.
And here’s the strange twist: Though the Nittany Lions will miss their on-field presence to a point, their absence will open up more playing time for two of the most talented young players on the roster.
Who would have thought back in August that a serious injury to Zwinak wouldn’t be a big production loss? He was the team’s leading rusher in back-to-back seasons. He was the kid who went from fourth-teamer to starter as a sophomore (fifth-teamer if Silas Redd would have stuck around). He was the fullback playing tailback.
But then Zwinak suddenly became a non-factor in the running game this fall, especially after the trip to Ireland. Part or even most of that is related to the team’s struggles blocking on the offensive line. And yet you also got the vibe that things just never clicked with Zwinak and the new coaching staff, especially in terms of opportunities.
So when he left the field on a cart after suffering some type of serious left leg injury, you figured he might be done. You felt bad for him. But, oddly, you also knew it really wasn’t going to hurt the Penn State offense much. He had gained only 112 yards in six games with no role change in sight.
If anything, his injury will force coach James Franklin to play Akeel Lynch more, the sophomore tailback who is the most decisive and dynamic runner on the team. While no one, once again, gained many yards on the ground against Ohio State, Lynch did see his most carries of the season (13), which bodes well for the second half of the season.
The Lions may miss Ryan Keiser’s role as a kick holder as much as his safety play.
Keiser was a former walk-on who earned starting time the past couple of seasons and certainly responded well enough. He seemed to make up for what he lacked in size and speed with instincts, experience and a knack for finding the ball.
But there also was only so much Keiser could do. And, unfortunately, his biggest play this season was one he didn’t make — the interception or pass breakup he turned into a Michigan touchdown by freezing and never making a play on a long pass.
His absence now opens the way for talented true freshman Marcus Allen, who accounted for himself well Saturday night against Ohio State. He made 11 tackles, broke up two passes and looked like he belonged.
He came to Penn State as an early-impact recruit. Now he’s showing he can handle not only the hype but the responsibility of big moments. He was favored to become a starter next year anyway, so the extra experience now should only expedite his progress.
Losing Keiser, however, does mean the Lions must do without a co-captain and his on-field leadership, which cannot be underplayed on such a young team. Even more importantly is that he also was an adept holder and had built a strong relationship with kicker Sam Ficken.
The impact of that particular loss still needs to be monitored over the coming weeks.
