The underestimated Penn State playmaker who spelled trouble for USC: Remember the impact this defender made.

Penn State’s veteran tight end delivered a career-defining performance in the Nittany Lions’ 33-30 overtime win against USC in Los Angeles on Saturday. Warren accumulated 224 receiving yards and a touchdown while also contributing as a runner, thrower, snapper, and blocker.

Additionally, Penn State required both of Jaylen Reed’s crucial plays to overcome Lincoln Riley’s Trojans.That’s right, not just one—two.Reed, the Lions’ experienced safety, halted a promising USC drive that could have led to a game-winning field goal in the closing seconds of regulation with an interception.

Let’s rewind to early in the third quarter.

USC was ahead 20-13 after Warren’s incredible touchdown catch capped off Penn State’s first drive of the second half.

PICKED OFF!!#PennState safety Jaylen Reed (@JaylenReed20) snags the interception with just seconds remaining.

👉 https://t.co/ssGVmKU3SD pic.twitter.com/TrjRM8bhat

— Penn State Nittany Lions | Happy Valley Insider (@PennStateRivals) October 12, 2024

The Trojans’ offense then advanced to the Lions’ 46-yard line.On a third-and-11, USC quarterback Riley Moss completed a 42-yard pass down the right sideline to the towering wide receiver Duce Robinson, who was brought down at the Penn State four-yard line.

However, the play was negated due to a holding penalty on USC running back Woody Marks.

Marks was called for holding Reed, who had charged in from the left side of PSU’s defense to pressure Moss. Using his speed, Reed attacked Marks’ right side, prompting the back to grab him by the shoulder.

It was an obvious call, as Reed would likely have recorded a sack otherwise. How many safeties can blitz with the effectiveness Reed does? He already has 1.5 sacks and a quarterback hurry this season.

“All year long, I know what kind of player I am when I get a one-on-one opportunity to blitz,” Reed said afterward.

The key to Reed’s big play was an adjustment he made with Penn State cornerback A.J. Harris just before the snap. The two defensive backs switched roles, with Harris moving to the deep middle of the field, allowing Reed to position himself near the line of scrimmage to the right of Moss.

“It actually wasn’t my responsibility,” Reed explained.

“I switched responsibilities with A.J. Harris. … The matchup I wanted was to be one-on-one with the running back (Marks), and I knew I would win. … I knew he was going to hold me.”

The holding penalty set the Trojans back 10 yards, and after another false start pushed USC into a third-and-26 situation, they managed to gain only 13 yards on the next play, forcing them to punt. Penn State then took over at their own 10-yard line and drove 90 yards in eight plays, tying the game at 20 with a one-yard rushing touchdown by Kaytron Allen.

The rest, as they say, is history.