On Saturday, Croke Park plays host to two of the leading teams from college football when Penn State and University of Central Florida lock horns.
If you're wondering who the most important players are likely to be during the Croke Park Classic, then navigate your way below to the players which also include a Cork native...
Penn State
Saeed Blacknall
• 4 star Wide Receiver
• 6’3”
• 205lbs
• Blacknall is a four-star prospect from Manalapan (New Jersey) High School. He flipped a long-standing commitment to Rutgers in favour of the Nittany Lions for their offense and more stable coaching staff. Coach James Franklin recently introduced a new, energetic coaching staff at Penn State.
Koa Farmer
• Defensive back
• 6’1”
• 208lbs
• Farmer has the athleticism and physical build to make contributions right away, and he is better positioned to see the field with few proven veterans ahead of him on the depth chart. He is a big hitter and has experience playing both safety and line-backer.
Christian Hackenberg
• Quarterback
• 6’4”
• 234lbs
• Reigning Big Ten freshman of the year. A potential future No. 1 overall draft pick and a former five-star prospect.
Mike Gesicki
• Tight end
• 6‘5”
• 245lbs
• One of the top tight end prospects in the nation, Gesicki possesses a rare blend of size and speed.
• A three-sport star, he was selected to play in the U.S. Army All-America game for football and nominated to play in the McDonald’s All-American game for Basketball.
Cole Chippialle
• Running back
• 5’8”
• 211lbs
• He gave the most impressive performance during Penn State's annual Blue-White spring game came from a relatively unknown walk-on who happens to play a position that is easily the NittanyLions' deepest
• Special teams coordinator Charles Huff, has praised Chiappialle for being a player who "does the little things right”.
UCF Knight's official mascot /Wikimedia Commons
University of Central Florida
Justin Holman
• Quarterback
• 6’4”
• 213lbs
• The quarterback battle has been the hot topic of the spring, and it may not go away any time soon.
• Many people expect Holman to step into the starting spot after playing the role of backup last year.
Jackie Williams
• Wide Receiver
• 5’11”
• 190lbs
• The 5-foot-11, 190-pound receiver amassed more than 1,700 yards at UAB before transferring to UCF. He has only one year left of eligibility, but looks to figure in as a major contributor right away.
Sean Galvin
• Placekicker
• 6’3”
• 226lbs
• All Irish eyes will be on the Cork native scholarship student.
• Galvin grew up playing soccer, Gaelic football, hurling and
rugby.
• He says that playing Gaelic as a child, definitely developed
his kicking ablity.
JJ Worton
• Wide receiver
• 6’2”
• 212lbs
• In 2013, Worton delivered what many consider the top play of the college football season in a 39-36 win at Temple.
• His diving, one-handed, touchdown reception, with 1:06 left in the fourth quarter tied the game at 36-36, and capped a 10 catch, 179 yard, 3 touch-down effort.
Rannell Hall
• Wide receiver
• 6’1”
• 200lbs
• Hall was named a member of the American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team and was selected as the team’s Outstanding Wide Receiver at the postseason awards banquet.
• Last season, Hall started all 13 games for the Knights and totalled 886 receiving yards on 57 catches. He also had five touchdown receptions.
• He was named to the 2014 Biletnikoff Award watch list. The award is given to the nation’s outstanding college receiver by the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation.
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