John

Lovett

Fellow running backs Wes Hills, John Lovett, and Aaron Shampklin also worked out for the Jets. Though any signings from this group will likely be camp bodies and nothing more, a light investment at running back to start camp could be taken as a positive sign on Breece Hall’s recovery. Hall is working his way back from a torn ACL and if the team was worried about his status for Week 1, they would likely add a bigger name to their backfield. They aren’t out of the running for a back like Dalvin Cook, but if Hall makes it through camp without much in the way of competition for touches, he will be locked and loaded for an RB1 season.

While Lovett (6'0/209) being on the field doesn’t guarantee that he’ll make his Penn State debut Saturday night, this is a change from the Nittany Lions’ first two games. The senior running back, who transferred to PSU from Baylor, was not in uniform for the Nittany Lions’ game against Wisconsin (didn’t travel, either) or Ball State. Adding Lovett to the mix would give Penn State a welcome boost with regard to its depth at running back.

Neither Lovett (6'0/209), who joined the Penn State program as a grad transfer from Baylor, nor Smith (5'7/225) played in the season opener against Wisconsin, so they’ll both be sitting for a second consecutive week. The school hasn’t said anything about the reason why either player hasn’t been able to suit up for a game. Their next chance to play will be on September 18 when the Nittany Lions host Auburn.

Lovett (6'0/209), safety Keaton Ellis and defensive end Hakeem Beamon are three scholarship players who did not accompany the Nittany Lions on their season-opening trip to Wisconsin last week. No details have been given as to why the trio did not play, so it’s unknown if the absences were health-related. With regard to Lovett, he was expected to add depth to a backfield that was led by Noah Cain (8-48-1) in Madison. Should Lovett not be able to play against Ball State, Devyn Ford and Keyvone Lee would once again serve as Cain’s primary backups.

Lovett (6'0/212) and fellow RB Tristan Ebner opted out for the 2020 season back in October before changing their minds after a conversation with new Baylor HC Dave Aranda. With the free season of eligibility being granted to all players who participated in the abbreviated season, Lovett now has an extra year and will be immediately able to play since he has earned his degree. It’s an interesting landing spot, as PSU has a crowded backfield with Keyvone Lee, Noah Cain and Devyn Ford all demanding carries for the Nittany Lions.

The writing was on the wall for this announcement, as both Lovett and fellow RB Tristan Ebner opted out for the 2020 season back in October before changing their minds after a conversation with new Baylor HC Dave Aranda. With the free season of eligibility being granted to all players who participated in the abbreviated season, Lovett now has the opportunity to transfer as a graduate and be eligible to play next season wherever he lands.

Baylor is down a total of four players for Saturday’s game, with TE Ben Sims and CB Byron Hanspard also missing a second straight game. The absence of Lovett (6'0/212) means that more will be asked of Craig Williams and Trestan Ebner in the backfield, while R.J. Sneed and Gavin Holmes were likely to lead the way at wide receiver even if Thornton (6'3/180) was cleared to play.

Williams (5'8/173), who missed all of last season due to a knee injury, may have seen his last action of the 2020 campaign. It’s worth noting that the knee that the redshirt sophomore injured Saturday night is not the one that kept him sidelined for all of 2019. That being said, this isn’t good news for a team that has struggled with health issues at the running back position all season long. “It doesn’t look good right now. The diagnosis is not promising,” Baylor HC Dave Aranda said Saturday when asked about Williams’ status moving forward. John Lovett was held out of Saturday’s loss due to injury, and should Baylor be down two backs moving forward that puts even more responsibility upon the shoulders of Trestan Ebner.

Lovett (6'0/212) and Thornton (6'3/180) did not make the trip to Ames for Saturday’s game, as they’ve been declared out due to injuries suffered during last weekend’s loss to TCU. The absence of Lovett means that even more will be asked of Craig Williams and Trestan Ebner in the run game. In addition to Lovett and Thornton, Baylor will also be without TE Ben Sims, C Jackson Kimble and CB Byron Hanspard Saturday night.

Lovett (6'0/212) and Thornton (6'3/180) were both injured during Saturday’s loss to TCU, with the former limited to three rushing (one carry) and 11 receiving yards (one reception). Thornton did not record any statistics. For the time being both are considered to be questionable for Saturday’s game, with Craig Williams and Trestan Ebner set to pick up the slack at running back. Wide receiver has been a group effort this season, with four players having caught between 13 and 17 passes.