From stats to starters to recruiting, here are 15 predictions for the Penn State Nittany Lions in 2015.

Given some more time in the pocket, Hackenberg should cut down his turnovers.

1. Christian Hackenberg will throw fewer than 10 interceptions.

Penn State’s rifle-armed quarterback threw 10 picks in 12 games as a true freshman in 2013 then added 15 in 13 games this past season. But though he still tries to do just a bit too much sometimes and his velocity will lead to a tipped interception or two, he should cut down his bad throws as he gets more comfortable with John Donovan’s offense and his offensive line is able to establish some more consistent pass protection.

2. Johnathan Thomas will finish with at least a third of Penn State’s carries.

Look for Akeel Lynch, who will be Penn State’s most experienced running back by a mile when the season opens, to get the majority of the reps and touches, but Thomas, who redshirted in 2014, is a powerful runner who does not shy away from contact. At least one of the talented true freshmen (Saquon Barkley or Andre Robinson) coming in could see early playing time, too, but either way Thomas should be in line for a decent amount of work; Charles Huff doesn’t like to rely too much on any one back.

3. Joe Julius will win the placekicking job.

The freshman from Hummelstown, Pa., is going to draw more than a few comparisons to longtime Oakland Raiders kicker Sebastian Janikowski, due to both his bulky build and the fact that he’s left-footed but, like Janikowski, he’s able to translate that weight into power. The former soccer star will have to beat out the likes of Nick Bouhermi, Chris Gulla and Switzerland import Yannick Haller, but if he can show the coaches consistency, Julius will have a chance to be a weekly hero and to be a force on kickoffs.

4. Adam Breneman will catch 30 passes.

The big tight end spent a frustrating year on the sidelines with an injury but should be fully healthy when the season rolls around and could give the Nittany Lions the kind of pass-catching ability they’ll need to replace the production of Jesse James as well as the kind of blocking they didn’t see from any of the tight ends in 2014. Kyle Carter and Mike Gesicki will get plenty of snaps as well but don’t be surprised if Breneman winds up being one of Hackenberg’s favorite targets.

5. Penn State will finish just outside the top 10 in the 2015 recruiting team rankings.

What looked like it had the potential to be a top-10 group at various points throughout 2014 (particularly the spring) was dealt some blows when Josh Barajas, Brandon Wimbush and Adam McLean decommitted and Christian Wilkins opted for Clemson. James Franklin might be able to pull a trick or two before Signing Day but it’s looking more like the biggest pieces of the class are already in place.

6. Penn State will win at least eight regular-season games in 2015.

The returning roster and incoming group of players suggests the Nittany Lions might not be much different from the 2014 squad. The 2015 schedule, though, sets up quite nicely for the Nittany Lions, whose most daunting home opponent looks to be Michigan (which will be going through a coaching transition) and who will have winnable road dates at Temple, Maryland and Northwestern. Penn State isn’t entirely clear of the effects of the sanctions yet but this isn’t a schedule that should have the Nittany Lions at .500 at the end of November, either.

7. DaeSean Hamilton will be the team’s leading receiver again.

Chris Godwin and Saeed Blacknall will be more experienced, DeAndre Thompkins will remove his redshirt, Juwan Johnson, Brandon Polk and Irvin Charles will be throwing their hats into the ring and 2015 could be the year Eugene Lewis puts it all together. But Hamilton was the team’s most consistent wideout in 2014, even while playing on a bad hamstring for most of the year. His route-running will continue to make him a trusted target of Christian Hackenberg and the additions of Thompkins and Polk will allow him to play outside as well as in the slot.

8. Brandon Bell will lead the team in tackles.

This is a bit of an off-the-wall prediction given that Bell had just 47 stops -- 28 fewer than Nyeem Wartman and 93 fewer than Mike Hull -- in 2014, but he made some big strides in his first year as a starter. Wartman will likely be among the squad’s tackle leaders whether he stays outside or moves to the middle, but Bell will likely be on the field more on passing downs, which will increase his chances for more big plays and more tackles.

9. Anthony Zettel will record double-digit sacks.

We know Penn State’s freakishly athletic defensive tackle is going to get to the quarterback; he had a total of eight sacks in 2012 and 2013 while coming off the bench, and eight at his new position this past fall. Zettel might not have the help off the edge that he did with Deion Barnes and C.J. Olaniyan but he will have Austin Johnson to eat up blockers again, as well as a first step that’s as good as you’ll see from any college defensive lineman.

10. Daniel Pasquariello will average 40 yards per punt.

Breaking in a new punter was a struggle for the Nittany Lions in 2014, as both Pasquariello and Chris Gulla had issues with consistent contact, distance and hang time. Pasquariello looked increasingly more comfortable as the year went on, though, and should improve both his long drives and his pooch punting. He’ll better his 37.3-yard average and Penn State’s coverage team will again help avoid long returns.

11. Penn State will play five true freshmen in 2015.

Nine different first-year players saw action for the Nittany Lions this past season, seven (including Pasquariello) in a starting role. That was mostly out of necessity, though. The 2015 class looks like it will have just as much talent but the Nittany Lions shouldn’t need quite so much out of it in its first season as it did of the 2014 class. That’s ultimately a good thing.

12. Penn State will average at least 400 yards of offense per game.

Four hundred yards is not exactly a huge watermark for an average college football offense the way the game is played today, but the Nittany Lions reached 300 total yards just twice in their final eight regular season games before hanging 453 yards on Boston College in the Pinstripe Bowl. An improved offensive line, another year for the coaching staff to tweak the game plan and the aforementioned easy schedule should all help the offense make significant strides in 2015.

13. The Nittany Lions’ defense will exceed 25 takeaways.

Penn State’s veteran unit played an aggressive, attacking style that stuffed the run and made it tough for opponents to establish much rhythm in the passing game, but it forced a modest 21 turnovers, seventh-best in the Big Ten. Look for the Nittany Lions, who continue to get more athletic in the secondary, to take more chances and generate more big plays in 2015, and wind up with something in the neighborhood of 18 interceptions and 10 fumble recoveries.

14. Penn State continues to ‘Dominate the State’ but not to same degree.

James Franklin was on fire in the Keystone State in his first year in State College, landing commitments from seven of Pennsylvania’s top 10 prospects. The Nittany Lions already have a commitment from the No. 2 prospect in Pennsylvania’s 2016 class, Miles Sanders, and could easily nab a few more from the top 10 or 15. However, it’s unlikely that the final number of in-state 2016 commitments will be quite so high, which will be fine if the staff recruits at a high level elsewhere.

15. Torrence Brown will be a breakout player.

The Nittany Lions will need all hands on deck at defensive end after Deion Barnes left a year early, and though he hasn’t played a snap yet, the coaching staff is excited about what the freshman defensive end from Tuscaloosa might be able to bring to the lineup. If Brown is able to continue to add weight in the offseason and performs well in spring ball and the preseason, he could have a chance to have an impact off the bench similar to what Barnes did as a redshirt freshman in 2012.

