Kent State injury report: Players injured ahead of Week 4 showdown
The Kent State Golden Flashes go on the road to play the Penn State Nittany Lions on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET. Kent State is coming off a 71-0 loss to Tennessee on the road last weekend.
The Golden Flashes are looking to get some momentum after the blowout loss, but head coach Kenni Burns already talked about Penn State's lack of weaknesses.
“It’s another top 10 football team. Like Tennessee, you’re not going to find very many weaknesses anywhere. I thought (Bowling Green) did a good job with some of the formational stuff to create confusion," coach Kenni Burns said on September 17, via Centre Daily Times.
"But I think, like any good coaching staff, they’re going to make adjustments. They’re coming off the bye week. They’re going to know how to fix these things and grow. But they’re exceptional. They’re good on offense. They can throw the ball, they can run the ball. They’ve got a good front five."
Entering Week 4, Kent State has a few injuries.
Kent State injury report Week 4
The Kent State Golden Flashes have six players on the injury report ahead of Week 4.
Nicholas Giacolone, LB
Kent State linebacker Nicholas Giacolone is out due to an undisclosed injury.
The senior linebacker has yet to appear in a game this season. Last season, Giacolone recorded 54 tackles, one pass defense, one forced fumble, and one interception.
Dru DeShields, QB
Quarterback Dru DeShields is questionable out with an undisclosed injury.
DeShields redshirted all of 2023 with an injury designation and is still working his way back. He was a three-star recruit in the class of 2023.
Hunter Hopperton, TE
Tight end Hunter Hopperton is questionable to play in Week 4 due to an injury.
Hopperton has yet to play this season due to the injury.
Ali Fisher, WR
Ali Fisher is questionable to play against Penn State due to an undisclosed injury.
Fisher played in the Week 1 loss to Pittsburgh, as he recorded one reception for 13 yards. Since then, he has yet to get back into the lineup.
Marques Hicks, RB
Running back Marques Hicks is out of the lineup with an undisclosed injury.
Hicks appeared in the loss to Pitt running the ball three times for -5 yards.
Gavin Garcia, RB
Junior running back Gavin Garcia is out of the lineup with an undisclosed injury. Garcia is yet to play in 2024.
In 2023, he rushed 138 times for 544 yards (3.9 yards per carry) and a couple of touchdowns.