Arkansas scored 17 unanswered points in the second half to cruise past Penn State.
Avery plays both defensive end and tight end at Our Lady of Good Counsel High School.
In a statement, Penn State said its leadership felt current COVID-19 conditions don't require a switch to online learning yet.
"I think it's also going to give us a really good kind of picture of what our future is going to be. Guys are going to get a bunch of reps in this game that maybe hadn't throughout the season."
The redshirt freshman will make his first career start when the Nittany Lions kick off against Arkansas in the Outback Bowl.
Penn State men's hockey's upcoming series against Maine has been canceled due to positive COVID-19 tests within the Black Bears' program, the team announced Wednesday.