Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1430714
D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 1 2 5 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M Penn State has 24 players listed on its 2021 roster as seniors or redshirt seniors. Whether or not all of those players appear together when the Nittany Lions exit the Beaver Stadium tun- nel on Senior Day against Rutgers is another matter, though. With the NCAA having extended the eligibility of all participants in the 2020 season, each of the Nittany Lions in that group could conceiv- ably have the opportunity to return for a fifth or sixth year in the program. This year, there are six "super seniors" on the roster, players who would have exhausted their eligibility had the NCAA not granted them an extra year. Those players are receiver Ben- jamin Wilson, cornerback Tariq Castro-Fields, safety Jaquan Brisker, offensive lineman Eric Wilson, defensive tackle Derrick Tangelo and running back John Lovett. Those players didn't count against the 85-player scholarship limit this year, but super seniors are expected to count next year. So that will be a factor in the decisions that will need to be made in the coming weeks. So, who are next year's potential super se- niors? Here's a look at six possibilities, ranked from least likely to most likely: 6 . C A M S U L L I V A N - B R O W N | W R An infrequent contributor due to injuries during his first three seasons, Sullivan-Brown was seemingly on the right track going into the 2021 campaign. But through Penn State's first 10 games, he had only caught four passes for 44 yards. If he wants it, he's got that extra year in his back pocket, and there may be a bigger role awaiting him in 2022 with Jahan Dotson set to leave for the NFL. But KeAndre Lambert-Smith and Parker Wash- ington are going to be the focal points of the passing game next season when they will both be juniors, and it looks as though Malick Meiga is starting to push for playing time as a redshirt freshman this year. It's possible that Sullivan-Brown would con- tinue to be a role player if he were to come back, which makes his return very far from assured. 5 . S E A N C L I F F O R D | Q B Clifford said in October that he hadn't thought much about whether he will take ad- vantage of the extra year of eligibility. But if he's hoping to get a shot at the NFL, there's a very compelling reason why he might want to forgo another college season. As Eric Galko, director of operations for the East-West Shrine Bowl, explained this past summer, the league doesn't want 25-year-old rookie quarterbacks. Clifford turned 23 in July. If he were to stay for another year past his 24th birthday, that would make him 25 by the time he started his first preseason camp in the NFL. The counterargument is that Penn State won't want to go into the 2022 season with redshirt junior Ta'Quan Roberson, redshirt freshman Christian Veilleux, and a pair of true freshman recruits in Drew Allar and Beau Pribula. While the transfer portal might yield a more-experienced contender, this looks like a risky proposition. So, maybe? But, honestly, probably not. 4 . D E S H O L M E S | O G / O T Holmes already took a redshirt year, which makes his return unlikely. But he's had trouble staying healthy, so if he wants one more chance to show his potential, a sixth year might look enticing. As a redshirt freshman in 2018, Holmes saw just 16 total snaps, then saw that production increase to 288 as a redshirt sophomore in '19 before falling back down to 71 last year. Able to play both guard and tackle, Holmes had been expected to compete with seniors An- thony Whigan and Eric Wilson for the starting left guard job this season, but Wilson won the battle, and Holmes has played sparingly. Still, he brings a versatility that's always useful along the offensive line, and if he sees an op- portunity in 2022, he may look to seize it. 3 . P J M U S T I P H E R | D T Mustipher would be preparing for his last few games in a Penn State uniform had he not suf- fered a season-ending lower-body injury against Iowa. Before his injury, he was certain to be selected at some point in the NFL Draft next spring and would not have had any need to use the extra year that the NCAA has provided. Now, though, Mustipher may have an incen- tive to play one more college season. He hadn't announced a decision as of mid-November, but Franklin said he's eager to discuss the matter with the veteran defensive tackle. "I'm hoping to sit down with him again one- on-one," Franklin said. "Obviously, the scenario has changed a little bit." 2 . A N T H O N Y W H I G A N | O G Whigan wasn't quite ready for the Power Five level when he arrived at Penn State in 2019 out of Lackawanna College, and he redshirted that year, appearing in just two games. Even after a year of seasoning, Whigan was still limited to a minor role on special teams in 2020. This year, he was the Nittany Lions' opening- day starter at left guard. But he was replaced in Week 2 by Wilson, and the graduate transfer from Harvard has started every game since. Wilson won't be back next year, and it's not hard to imagine Whigan sticking around in the hope of regaining the starting spot. 1 . J I ' A Y I R B R O W N | F S Of all the players who seem like candidates to use their bonus year of eligibility, Brown checks the most boxes. He played two seasons at Lackawanna College before transferring to Penn State in 2020, then was thrust into action as the Nittany Lions dealt with injuries in the secondary. He ended up seeing action as a backup at free safety, finish- ing with 222 snaps for the year. This year, Brown has started every game, and through the first 10 weeks of Penn State's sea- son he ranked third on the team in tackles with 53 and first in interceptions with four. His 87- yard pick-six in the fourth quarter clinched the Nittany Lions' victory over Maryland on Nov. 6. Throughout his career, he's followed in the footsteps of fellow Lackawanna standout Jaquan Brisker. And with Brisker enjoying an outstanding 2021 bonus season, one that will likely serve as a springboard to the early rounds of the next NFL Draft, it's easy to picture Brown doing likewise. — Nate Bauer Through Penn State's first 10 games, senior safety Ji'Ayir Brown was third on the Nittany Lions in tackles with 53 and first in interceptions with four. PHOTO BY STEVE MANUEL These Six Nittany Lions Could Be Next Year's Super Seniors