Three takeaways from Penn State football’s 56-0 demolition of Kent State in Beaver Stadium

Penn State demolished Kent State on Saturday afternoon 56-0 in Beaver Stadium.

Here are three takeaways from the Nittany Lions’ final nonconference game of the regular season.

Offense has more tricks up its sleeve

Penn State offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki had shown his creativity through the first two games but, on Saturday, he introduced even more. The Nittany Lions debuted a few new offensive wrinkles, including a shift with four of the five offensive linemen that forced Kent State to call a timeout. Kotelnicki also put tight end Tyler Warren at quarterback for multiple snaps.

The reps with Warren at QB are particularly notable because that’s something the team did in previous years but had yet to debut under Kotelnicki. The tight end played quarterback in high school and adds another layer to the offense that Illinois — and other future opponents — will have to prepare for the rest of the season.

Penn State staff rotates like it should

The Nittany Lions came into the game as nearly seven touchdown favorites, making the priorities clear: Get the win, stay healthy and get reps for young players. It didn’t take them long to take care of business on that last part, with the defense rotating heavily from the get-go and limiting important players’ reps at positions with less depth.

Safety Jaylen Reed is a crucial part of the defense with fellow safety K.J. Winston out with a long-term injury, and the coaching staff treated him like it. Reed was rotated out frequently in favor of young players, as were defensive ends Dani Dennis-Sutton and Abdul Carter — three of the most important players on the defense. While they did not make it out of the game entirely unscathed — linebacker Dom DeLuca left the game early and went into the medical tent before going down the tunnel — they were able to mitigate much of that risk for the team’s best players.

QB Drew Allar keeps rolling

There wasn’t a player on the roster under more scrutiny heading into this season than Drew Allar, and he once again delivered for Penn State. Yes, the level of competition was low, but he was still on the money for most of the game and was able to exit early on in the second half. His stat line was impressive enough — 17-of-21 for 309 yards and three touchdowns — but he also handled his business in a way that ensured Kent State wasn’t going to be able to stay close on the scoreboard.

The Nittany Lions moved the ball easily and he never put the ball in harm’s way, which would have been the only way the Golden Flashes could have had a chance. Allar continues to impress and show he’s made progress in all facets as a quarterback in Kotelnicki’s offense.