Eagles players with ties to Penn State and Oregon are engaging in friendly trash talk and wagers ahead of the highly anticipated matchup between the Nittany Lions and the Ducks. Former Penn State stars Jahan Dotson and Saquon Barkley are backing the Nittany Lions, while Oregon's Brandon Johnson and special teams coordinator Michael Clay are rooting for the Ducks.
Penn State lettermen Jahan Dotson and Joey Porter Jr. enjoy the West Virginia game on Sept. 2, 2023. Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com Everyone knows the Eagles’ roster has a large contingent of Alabama and Georgia stars, with eight players from the Tide and seven Bulldogs.
Georgia hosting Alabama this weekend created a lively locker room on Wednesday, with Alabama rookie linebacker Jihaad Campbell asking teammates which SEC power will win . But the other primetime Saturday matchup — No. 3 Penn State vs. No. 6 Oregon — has also set the stage for some trash talking and friendly wagers. “We’re coming out on top,” Eagles wide receiver and former Penn State star Jahan Dotson told PennLive. “No doubt in my mind.” “I mean, you know who I’m rocking with,” Eagles rookie cornerback and former Oregon standout Brandon Johnson said. “I’ve got the Ducks pulling it out.” Johnson might be outnumbered, but he isn’t the only one in south Philly backing Oregon to pull out a White Out win on Saturday. Special teams coordinator Michael Clay walked into the Eagles’ media room on Tuesday proudly wearing a “Ducks” hat. Johnson said he’s been “talking a little smack” and “chopping it up” this week with Dotson and star running back Saquon Barkley, the two Nittany Lions on the Eagles’ roster. Oregon defensive back Nikko Reed celebrates his interception with defensive back Brandon Johnson during the fourth quarter of the Big ten Championship game on Dec. 7, 2024 Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.comJohnson has a unique perspective on Saturday’s matchup between James Franklin’s Nittany Lions and Dan Lanning’s Ducks. Johnson was a member of last year’s Oregon team that beat Penn State in the Big Ten title game, 45-37, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Johnson had three tackles and was a part of an Oregon defensive effort that limited Penn State quarterback Drew Allar to 226 passing yards on 39 attempts. “You could tell he was experienced,” Johnson said of Allar, now in his third year as the Nittany Lions’ starter. “He wasn’t really getting too rattled under pressure. So they’re going to have to contain him and the weapons he has around him. He obviously has two good running backs who are back. Those guys are physical. It should be a good test for Oregon’s defense.” “The biggest thing is going to be the offense and how they get it going and establishing the run game. Because I feel like they’ve got the two best backs in the country,” Dotson said of. “We have some dynamic playmakers at receiver. Those guys are going to showcase what they can do in a big game. ... I think it’s going to be a good one.” Dotson predicts Penn State will hold Oregon to less than 28 points. He also added that he has a couple wagers with the Oregon guys: “I’m going to keep them on the hush until we win.”Barkley couldn’t stop to chat during Wednesday’s open locker room session. But when the former Penn State star was told what Johnson’s prediction was, the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year shook his head in disbelief. Whichever team wins will go a long way in the College Football Playoff and Big Ten title race. The Nittany Lions have national title hopes that both Barkley and Dotson believe are realistic. But first, they have to get past Oregon. And while 100,000 fans will pack Beaver Stadium on Saturday night, Barkley, Dotson and the rest will be watching 1,100 miles away in Tampa Bay before Sunday’s game vs. the Bucs. “Usually, we watch the night games in the meal room with the whole team,” Dotson said before cracking a smile. “But for that one, I’ll probably be alone in my room screaming at the TV. If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation.and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our
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