Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1462941
3 2 A P R I L 2 0 2 2 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M This trio of second-year players could be poised to break out in 2022 I nevitably, the question of which sec- ond-year player could change his role in spring practice is asked and an- swered each spring within the Nittany Lion football team. Having completed their first season with the Lions — whether they spent it on the scout team or as game-day contribu- tors — players typically find their footing in the ensuing winter and spring. The spring performance then acts as a springboard into the summer. By pre- season camp, a starting job is legitimately up for grabs. Now that spring practice is underway, we have three second-year players in mind who are in line for that type of a jump: Jaylen Reed The easiest pick using the criteria out- lined above would be Reed. Playing in eight games as a true freshman in 2021, the 6-foot, 209-pounder from Detroit drew praise for his preparedness and performance at safety, a position where depth was lacking. "Football makes sense to him," coach James Franklin said last season. "He's a football-smart guy. He's a physical guy. You guys have seen flashes of that as well. And he can run. So, we're very high on Jaylen." Certainly, Penn State still has some sorting out to do within the unit. Super senior Jonathan Sutherland is playing a hybrid safety/linebacker role this year, and juco transfer Tyrece Mills will join the safeties, but not until the summer. The same is true of his Class of 2022 mates, Mekhi Flowers, Cristian Driver and KJ Winston. That leaves senior Ji'Ayir Brown, a clear-cut starter who has returned to use his bonus year of eligibility, along with senior Keaton Ellis, redshirt fresh- man Zakee Wheatley and Reed to fill the available scholarships at the position this spring. How position coach Anthony Poin- dexter and new defensive coordina- tor Manny Diaz divvy up the field and boundary roles will impact Reed's out- look this coming season. He ended the 2021 campaign filling in for an absent Jaquan Brisker at the boundary safety spot in the Outback Bowl. Reed finished his true freshman sea- son with six tackles and a quarterback hurry. Among Penn State's second-year players, he is the obvious choice to make a move this spring into a bigger role. Harrison Wallace III The big question for Wallace this spring is how much the arrival of transfer wide- out Mitchell Tinsley changes his trajec- tory. Without Tinsley, the need for a break- out performance from Penn State's re- turning receivers would be obvious. Ju- nior KeAndre Lambert-Smith has shown flashes, and both redshirt sophomores Malick Meiga and Jaden Dottin garnered praise last year, but the reality for the Nit- tany Lions following Jahan Dotson's exit is that junior Parker Washington is the only sure thing returning. Tinsley changes that equation, giving the Lions something akin to a second sure thing. So, if receivers coach Taylor Stubble- field is comfortable with Washington, Tinsley and, say, Lambert-Smith or Meiga as the primary rotation, the ur- gency for Wallace to come along dimin- ishes somewhat. But things will get interesting if Wal- NAT E BAU E R | NBAUER@BLUEWHITEONLINE.COM Three To Watch Jaylen Reed saw action in eight games as a true freshman safety, finishing the 2021 season with six tackles. THOMAS FRANK CARR