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Altoona product Givens apparently is demoted

UNIVERSITY PARK – It appears that Kevin Givens has lost his starting job at defensive tackle for Penn State, according to the team’s depth chart released Monday night.

While the depth chart is not always the most accurate predictor of what will happen in the upcoming game, it has been more revealing in recent weeks for the Nittany Lions.

Givens, an Altoona Area High School product, is listed as second string behind Curtis Cothran for Saturday night’s showdown against No. 2 Ohio State at Beaver Stadium. Givens had earned a starting job in preseason camp and held onto it the first six games.

Givens, a redshirt freshman, has had a few impressive moments this season but otherwise hasn’t been the kind of disruptive force in the middle of the defensive line that the coaches were hoping for. He has 12 tackles (five solo) in six games but does have three tackles for loss and 1 1/2 sacks.

The Lions’ run defense has been a major problem as the team ranks 103rd in the country, and it will get a huge test this week against the Buckeyes.

Meyer on PSU

Ohio State coach Urban Meyer had high praise for running back Saquon Barkley and the Lions’ receivers Monday. He called Barkley a first-round NFL draft pick and added, “We believe this is as good a group of receivers as we’ve faced not just this year, but in a while.”

Meyer also had a lot to say about the Buckeyes’ last trip to Beaver Stadium, a very surprising game that saw the Lions come back from a 17-0 deficit to force double overtime before losing 31-24. That Penn State effort came against a team that eventually went on to win the national title, blowing out just about everybody in its path.

“In that kind of environment, our quarterback was not playing well,” Meyer said of J.T. Barrett. “We had a pick-six, I believe, in that game (by Anthony Zettel), and (Barrett) also had a second-degree MCL sprain. And here we go, we’re going to go play overtime down in front of their end zone, and we’re seven points behind.”

Meyer was thinking his team might be on its way to losing.

“The script was written,” he said. “I just remember thinking, ‘What am I going to say to this team afterwards?'” It crossed my mind. And (Barrett) kind of just took it on his shoulders.

“I get to see things that all fans do not get to see. I get to see him about six inches from my face and see the intensity and the focus and the human spirit that is as good as I’ve ever been around.”

Lynch calls it quits

Former Penn State running back Akeel Lynch announced Monday on Twitter that he will no longer play football after suffering two concussions this season for Nevada. Lynch transferred there from Penn State after last season but has carried only eight times for 29 yards this year.

Lynch said he made the decision after discussing it with doctors and family members.

“Honestly speaking, this is one of the hardest decisions I’ve come across,” Lynch wrote on Twitter. “The decision I made was for my future self. I’ve been battling the internal conflict between a childhood dream and the consequence of another concussion.

“Looking back, I’ve realized this game has blessed me tremendously. It has given a Canadian kid the opportunities to play on a national level, become a college graduate (WeAre), and is now currently allowing me to pursue my Masters in Educational Leadership at (Nevada). I can’t forget to mention the people I’ve met and life lessons I was given while chasing this American Dream. I’ll be forever grateful for this game. #22.”

Purdue kick set

Penn State’s game at Purdue next week will kick off at noon and air on ABC, ESPN or ESPN2.

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