Fiesta Bowl matchups: Myles Gaskin vs. PSU linebackers
By Cody Tyo
RB Myles Gaskin faces off against PSU’s strong linebackers in the Fiesta Bowl. The Nittany Lions hold the 16th-ranked rush defense. But Washington Husky running back Gaskin is arguably more effective than PSU’s Saquon Barkley.
If you follow the Washington Football team, you already know that Washington tailback Myles Gaskin remains one of the more underrated players in college football. He generated over 1500 yards from scrimmage and 22 total offensive touchdowns in 2017. This comes on the tail of his previous two seasons rushing for over 1,300 yards and scoring 14 and 11 touchdowns respectively. In his career, he’s rushed for over 3,800 yards carried the ball 43 times into the end zone.
Can Penn State’s defense stop Gaskin this Saturday?
Gaskin’s legacy
Gaskin has cemented his name in Washington football record books, and speculation on his potential move to the NFL following his junior season has begun to swirl.
Myles Gaskin on his looming NFL decision: "We’ve been talking about it. I’m not going to act like it’s sneaking up on me."https://t.co/urxLaXteUU pic.twitter.com/N6a4uGdZsj
— Adam Jude (@A_Jude) December 26, 2017
Gaskin has acknowledged that the thought of leaving one year early for the draft has entered his mind. Nonetheless, he will play at least one more game in the purple and gold.
Primed and fired up
The third-year back found his stride in week four this season and never looked back. He is averaging over six yards per carry, thanks especially to his efforts in his final five regular season games. He rushed for at least 120 yards in four of his last five games, capped off with a four touchdown, 192 yard showing in the Apple Cup. And that has earned the respect of his teammates, particularly defensive standout Vita Vea:
Guys on @UW_Football defense this morning asked a lot about Saquon Barkley. Tremendous respect for Barkley, they kept saying. But they also kept turning conversation back to their own running back, Myles Gaskin. Here's Vita Vea: pic.twitter.com/YgOMV0GekC
— Adam Jude (@A_Jude) December 27, 2017
Gaskin’s greatest help may come from the other tailbacks. Lavon Coleman and Salvon Ahmed have both made major contributions to the UW offense throughout the season, allowing Gaskin to avoid being an every-down player. And they compliment one another well. Coleman is a punishing runner, while Ahmed is pure blinding speed. Gaskin is a combination of both, using quickness to slash through the line and power to beat up on defensive backs.
The state of PSU’s linebacking corps
The two Nittany Lions most responsible for tackling Gaskin — linebackers Jason Cabinda and Brandon Smith. Cabinda is the leading PSU tackler, with 86 total tackles (seven for loss) and a pair of forced fumbles.
Another major development leading into the Fiesta Bowl is Penn State’s third linebacker, and fifth-leading tackler, Manny Bowen’s dismissal from the PSU program. Bowen has been suspended for three games, but was on pace to be Penn State’s second-best tackler earlier in the year.
As Penn State gets ready for the Fiesta Bowl, Manny Bowen and Irv Charles no longer with the team ... https://t.co/Zj4C4H0CU0 via @ydrcom
— Frank Bodani (@YDRPennState) December 27, 2017
Penn State has been able to recover from losing Bowen in its previous three games. However, Gaskin may be the toughest rushing threat the Nittany Lions have seen this season.
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Should the Huskies get their running game established early on, quarterback Jake Browning will have time to find his receivers and keep the chains moving.