Penn State Sports Magazine
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LAST WORD M A T T L I N G E R M A N | L I N G E R M A N M A T T H E W @ G M A I L . C O M t seems that whenever Penn State's defense is on the field, viewers' eyes are drawn to one of two places: Micah Parsons or the ball. Oftentimes, it's a distinction without a difference. The junior linebacker has already racked up nearly 200 tackles in his ca- reer and has picked up plenty of acco- lades along the way. When he departs University Park for the NFL, it's possi- ble he'll be the most hyped-up line- backing prospect to come out of Penn State this century – and that's saying something, considering he entered Linebacker U unsure of what position he would even play. So it's especially interesting that while he's undoubtedly Penn State's most electrifying and, simply put, best de- fensive player, he may not be the most vital to the linebacking corps' success. Parsons will be the only starter re- turning from last year's linebacker trio, with Jan Johnson and Cam Brown hav- ing both graduated. And although Penn State's LB room has an embarrassment of riches, there is a void in the center of the second level. Enter Jesse Luketa. The junior linebacker from Ottawa, Ontario, is coming off a second season that saw him improve on a quiet true freshman campaign and included his first two collegiate starts. After spend- ing two years under the tutelage of Johnson, Luketa has the opportunity to be a much bigger factor in one of the best linebacker groups in the country. Now, make no mistake. Parsons is the most talented, versatile and dominant defender Brent Pry's unit boasts. He's got a nose for the football and has a com- bination of power, speed and motor that makes him borderline impossible to stop. But the Nittany Lions' middle line- backers are going to play a crucial role in leading a defense that is poised to be one of the conference's best. And the combination of Luketa and redshirt junior Ellis Brooks, both of whom figure to see ample playing time at the posi- tion, could prove to be a major asset. Luketa has the measurables to com- mand the middle of the field. At 6- foot-3, 241 pounds – nearly identical to Parsons – he has the necessary physical attributes for the modern middle line- backer. He and Parsons are listed at the same height, but Luketa is a few pounds lighter and carries his size a bit more compactly. In limited snaps over the course of his first two seasons at Penn State, Luketa put together a modest statistical port- folio. He had 24 tackles last season, as- sisting on only one tackle for loss. But that has less to do with Luketa and more to do with how much of the field he saw. The eye test proves his playmaking abil- ity, both as a stout run-stopper and in his ability to defend the pass; in fact, Luketa was tied with Brown for second- most pass breakups among Nittany Lion linebackers with four. When one considers the style that most Big Ten offenses employ – featur- ing talented runners and heavy tight end use in the passing game – Luketa has the attributes of an ideal Mike linebacker for a team that predominantly runs a basic 4-3 scheme. He has the range to go side- line-to-sideline and the speed to hang with route runners, and he's also a strong tackler in the open field. But there's another element to Luketa's game that is harder to pick up on film or a stat sheet. After spending two years learning from Johnson, one of the most respected players in the locker room, Luketa has the opportunity to fill his void not only as a linebacker, but as a leader. "Jan was my roommate every single time we were in a hotel, home or away," Luketa said in June. "Being able to spend all that time with Jan and having an [opportunity] to pick his brain, to learn and study from him, it's been ex- tremely beneficial for my career. … I feel like it's my turn to step up." Luketa also spent time training with Philadelphia Flyers captain Claude Giroux, a respected leader in his own right, during his three-month return home due to the coronavirus. Just as Giroux is adept at directing a power play, Luketa and Brooks will have to direct Penn State's defense. In many ways, the middle linebacker is the pivot on which the whole defense turns, con- necting the different units to one an- other. Much like a point guard, the middle linebacker has to understand the roles of every other player on the field in addition to mastering his own. In other words, there's a lot more to it than running fast and hitting hard — both of which Luketa is excited to do. But he's equally up to the task of run- ning the defense as a leader. With Parsons and Brandon Smith on the outside and Luketa and Brooks com- peting to start in the middle, one would be hard-pressed to find a more athletic linebacker corps in college football. But it's the leadership and football IQ of the middle linebackers that will enable the defense as a whole to excel. While it will be Parsons who consis- tently makes Penn State and opposing fans alike gawk at his athleticism and playmaking ability, there's a claim to be made that the play-to-play consistency of the defense will come down to its middle men. ■ Middle management I