Well, that was fun!

Penn State football took care of business against West Virginia on Saturday, curb-stomping the Mountaineers 34-12 in Morgantown. Quarterback Drew Allar displayed plenty of attitude as the Nittany Lions’ new-look offense took off, while the defense maintained its high standard from the 2023 season.

Not much could’ve gone better to open the 2024 season, and each position group convincingly passed their respective tests. After Penn State’s season-opener, let’s take a deeper dive into each of those groups.

Quarterbacks: A-

Allar delivered a strong and reassuring performance. He was 11-of-17 with 216 passing yards, three touchdowns, and 44 rushing yards. The junior’s confidence and awareness were evident, as he knew when to run and, for the most part, didn’t make any bad throws. His accuracy was consistently on point, which was demonstrated in his 50-yard touchdown pass to hit wide receiver Trey Wallace in stride over the middle and a 55-yard dot to wideout Omari Evans to set up an eventual second Wallace touchdown.

Simply put, not much more could’ve been asked of Allar. We now have evidence suggesting new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki’s system is a good fit for his development, and that he’s taken a positive step this season. As a result of Saturday, everyone can head into Bowling Green with even more optimism about what the future holds for the Medina, Ohio, native.

Quarterback Beau Pribula, meanwhile, had 25 rushing yards over three attempts. His lone passing attempt resulted in a 19-yard Tyler Warren touchdown in the fourth quarter. Pribula struggled at times to hold onto the ball, as he fumbled a snap that resulted in a turnover in the first quarter. He’s had better games, but the quarterbacks overall had a great day.

Running Backs: A+

Nick Singleton led the way with 144 yards and a touchdown, which was a 40-yard foot race to the end zone. He played with the same explosive, home-run threat capabilities that defined his game during his freshman season but were rarely seen last season.

Meanwhile, Kaytron Allen also had a good day. Although he only had 20 rushing yards, FOX play-by-play announcer Gus Johnson labeled Allen “the Zamboni” after he barreled his way to the house for a 20-yard touchdown reception. That was a fitting label to describe his game, and few things make Allen happier than scoring touchdowns.

Wide Receivers: A-

Wallace was sensational against the Mountaineers, with 117 receiving yards and two touchdowns. If he can stay healthy, it’s hard to see someone else supplanting him as Penn State’s top receiving target.

Evans also had a nice catch, hauling in a 55-yard catch in the second quarter. The receivers get an A- because of Wallace’s outstanding performance, but he and Evans were the only wide receivers targeted.

Tight Ends: B

The tight ends weren’t much of a factor besides Warren’s touchdown and his three receptions for 30 yards. However, he continued to show how reliable he could be with a seven-yard reception on fourth down, during which he bodied his way past a Mountaineer to reach the line to gain. It’ll be interesting, though, to see how things play out with Andrew Rappleyea and five-star freshman Luke Reynolds expected to see a good amount of playing time this season.

Offensive Line: A-

The offensive line paved the way for the aforementioned success for the running backs by giving them gaps to run through, but it didn’t do just that. The group did a great job protecting Allar, who had plenty of time to make throws or escape the pocket. West Virginia didn’t have a single quarterback hurry or sack all game.

A questionable snap from center Nick Dawkins set this group back a little bit, though the group stayed strong despite playing in a stadium that was loud through at least one half.

Defensive Line: A+

It was disruption after disruption from the defensive line. Defensive tackle Zane Durant had four tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and a sack, while defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton had a fumble recovery. Defensive end Smith Vilbert also made his mark by stripping the ball from West Virginia quarterback Garrett Greene in the second half. There were several instances throughout the game when the group overpowered the offensive line blew up plays and/or chased Greene several yards back. Oh, and West Virginia’s backfield was only held to 85 rushing yards.

Linebackers: A+

Tony Rojas was all over the field, with five total tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. Dom DeLuca also impressed with five tackles, while Tyler Elsdon and Kobe King also made their presences known throughout the game. Rojas, in particular, looked the part as a potential anchor for the linebackers moving forward.

Cornerbacks: A+

The Mountaineers only had 161 passing yards, which is a significant testament to how the cornerbacks performed. Jalen Kimber and A.J. Harris each had a pass breakup, while Cam Miller had three tackles. It’s an encouraging sign from a unit that had some question marks heading into the year, including how the two new transfers would fit in and how Miller would develop after a bad showing at the Peach Bowl.

Safeties: A+

The safeties were the best position in the game. Jaylen Reed and K.J. Winston dominated both in coverage and at the line of scrimmage. They combined for a game-high 21 tackles, while Reed terrorized Greene throughout the whole game, but especially the first two drives. He opened the game with a huge pass breakup and tackled him for a nine-yard loss to set the tone for an overall great day for the defense.

Special Teams: B-

Riley Thompson had another solid day punting, with an average of 44 yards. However, Sander Sahaydak missed a field goal attempt, and the decision to try a two-point conversion after Penn State’s first touchdown didn’t make sense.