Penn State Releases Availability Report for Bowling Green

Mark Wogenrich | Sep 7, 2024

Penn State coach James Franklin during the second quarter of the Blue-White spring game at Beaver Stadium. / Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

Penn State released its pregame availability report Saturday ahead of its home opener against Bowling Green, and it includes a few changes at tight end. Khalil Dinkins, who missed last week's game against West Virginia, is available for Saturday's game, but Andrew Rappleyea is listed as "out." Rappleyea, a redshirt freshman, played 24 snaps last week against the Mountaineers, second-most of any tight end behind Tyler Warren.

Dinkins caught two touchdown passes last season and entered 2024 as the Nittany Lions' No. 2 tight end behind Warren. Still, Franklin cautioned that Dinkins has "missed a ton of time, both physically and mentally."

In addition, tight end Jerry Cross, who was out for the West Virginia game, is available Saturday against Bowling Green. Elsewhere, linebacker Ta'Mere Robinson, who appeared to be injured in the West Virginia game, is listed as "out," as is linebacker Keon Wylie for the second straight week.

Penn State also might be light at quarterback, as true freshman Ethan Grunkemeyer is listed as "questionable" and redshirt freshman Jaxon Smolik is "out" as he recovers from a spring injury. That leaves Penn State potentially without any backups to starter Drew Allar and Beau Pribula, who played 20 snaps at West Virginia.

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