Penn State’s 271-lb kicker Joey Julius has become a bit of a national star in the college football world for the way he plays, and Minnesota was going to have none of that on Saturday afternoon in Happy Valley. Last week Julius laid a hit on Michigan’s Jourdan Lewis (the guy that had the amazing interception Saturday) that led the Michigan star to suggest Julius hits like a nose tackle. Minnesota’s Jaylen Waters was not about to be in Julius’ next highlight.
From the start of the game, Waters and Julius let the emotions run its course, as the two got into a bit of a wrestling match on a kickoff early in the game…
Minnesota's Jaylen Walters went a bit overboard in not trying to be Joey Julius' next victim. pic.twitter.com/hKyCYdcMLd
— Roar Lions Roar (@RLRblog) October 1, 2016
After Penn State took a 20-13 lead on Minnesota, Julius was taken out toward the end of a kickoff return by Minnesota’s Jaylen Waters. Waters got a lick in on Julius, who appeared to be letting up at the end of the kickoff sequence. The hit leveled Julius and left him laying on the ground as medical trainers came out to check on him. Penn State players on the field did not take kindly to the action, which drew a penalty flag.
https://vine.co/v/56ZMbt1eL30
Fortunately, what could have been a truly ugly situation in college football avoided a complete meltdown. James Franklin rushed on the field to gather his players back to his sidelines, and Minnesota’s staff reeled in Waters to cool him off a bit as well. And the refs handled it well too.
Perhaps it was an act of karma then, that Minnesota would go on to lose in State College in overtime after coughing up a late three-point lead on the road.
[@cjzero; Sporting News; Big Ten Network]