Minnesota knocks off Penn State as Winfield led the team to victory
Penn State’s run as a top-four team did not last long as they were the first of two top-four teams to be knocked off on Saturday. Of course, it is a group effort to win a game but the way Antonine Winfield played set the tone. At the 11:30 AM update, Tony had the following on the PSU/Minnestoa contest:
The Nittany Lions are involved in a huge contest against unbeaten Minnesota and the battle between Hamler and Antoine Winfield Jr., which could be one for the ages. Winfield Jr has been playing lights out this season and has five INTs to his credit.
The battle between Hamler and Winfield was one for the ages as Hamler put up 7 receptions for 119 yards while Winfield accumulated 11 tackles and two interceptions. The Golden Gophers’ talented defensive back was not the only one who had a great game that caught Tony’s attention.
At the 2:50 PM update, Tony focused on the Gophers’ offensive line:
Have to hand it to the entire Minnesota offensive line, with seven minutes left in the game Yetur Gross-Matos and Shaka Toney have just two tackles each, while Robert Windsor has four. PSU has not recorded a sack all game. Here’s more on Gross-Matos from my Summer Scouting Series.
The upset no doubt helped the NFL Draft stock of the aforementioned players but also helped to cement the potential of Minnesota’s PJ Fleck as a top-caliber head coach.