STATE COLLEGE - Penn State football will be missing its top punt returner for its Stripe Out game today against UCLA.
Will it also be without it star running back?
Nittany Lion junior Kaden Saunders, who has handled punt returning duties for parts of the past two seasons, is listed as "out" on the Big Ten's weekly availability report released this morning. Though Saunders has been dealing with an undisclosed injury suffered in preseason camp and has not been part of the receiver rotation yet, he had played in each previous game.
He had taken the bulk of the punt return reps, though mostly to "fair-catch" the ball without attempting to run.
Meanwhile, sensational junior tailback Nick Singleton is listed as "questionable" on the Big Ten report as the Lions (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) get ready to take on four-touchdown underdog UCLA in Beaver Stadium. He was not seen during the "media window" at Wednesday's practice and coach James Franklin was vague when asked about his status.
If Singleton cannot go today, the Lions will rely on his co-starting counterpart Kaytron Allen and true freshman backup Quinton Martin.
The Lions already will be without All-America candidate safety KJ Winston, top backup tight end Andrew Rappleyea and third-string running back Cam Wallace, each out with undisclosed "long-term" injuries, according to Franklin.
Can PSU fix its placekicking, punt returning problems in time?
With Saunders unavailable, Penn State should go with either backup cornerback Zion Tracy or backup receiver Jake Spencer or both today returning punts.
Penn State and UCLA (1-3, 0-1) will be playing for the first time in 56 years, and their first as Big Ten members.
Frank Bodani covers Penn State football for the York Daily Record and USA Today Network. Contact him at fbodani@ydr.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @YDRPennState.