Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1464375
3 0 M A Y 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 "We're excited to see him grow in his role every day. And the more he's around, the more that makes our corners better [in pass coverage]. Great players affect other guys that they play with, and I think Adisa has got a chance to be that guy." Penn State's ends aren't the only out- standing issue Diaz and defensive line coach John Scott Jr. have needed to try to resolve on the defensive front this spring. While the return of super senior defensive tackle PJ Mustipher will be significant in the fall, he is currently still recuperating from the knee injury that cut short his senior season last October. With Mustipher spending spring practices in sweats standing next to Diaz, Penn State has been taking a long look at redshirt freshman Jordan van den Berg, redshirt sophomore Coziah Izzard, red- shirt junior Dvon Ellies, sophomore Fa- torma Mulbah and redshirt sophomore Cole Brevard. Back, too, after a one-year absence for unspecified off-field issues, is redshirt junior Hakeem Beamon. An expected starter ahead of the 2021 season, Beamon has been characterized as a work-in- progress who is worth the investment. "He's been a talented guy since the time we recruited him," Franklin said. "We've got to keep developing him both on and off the field and put him in the best position to be successful for us. He's grown up. I'm a big fan of his. But he's still got some work to do in a lot of areas." Linebackers Nearly everything has changed at line- backer this spring, top to bottom. Diaz has stepped in as position coach after eight seasons in which Pry filled the role. And the players he's charged with molding represent a whirlwind of movement. After manning Penn State's defensive nerve center for the past two seasons, Brooks is off to the NFL. In his stead, a spring battle to take over the Mike line- backer spot has pitted redshirt sopho- more Tyler Elsdon against redshirt freshman Kobe King. Through the first half of the spring practice sessions, Diaz was pleased both with the nature of the competition and the competitors themselves. "You have guys that are capable," he said. "Middle linebacker is different be- cause you're the guy that has got to make all the calls. Everyone has got to turn to you. You've got to get everybody lined up." Diaz said he's been pleased with how Elsdon has grown more comfort- able playing defense and leading oth- ers. King, meanwhile, is younger and less experienced but has been "getting better every day." The battle is likely to continue well into the summer and preseason camp. "I've been encouraged from what I've seen since we started spring practice," Diaz said. Sophomore Curtis Jacobs, the most experienced returning player in the po- sition group, has also undertaken a big evolution this offseason, moving from the Sam to the Will position. Diaz and Franklin are both enthusiastic about the move, and about how Jacobs is accli- mating to the role. "I think he's at home at Will. I think he's made for the spot. It fits his ath- leticism," Diaz said. "He's an intelligent guy, understands what's going on, can cover, can rush and can run. So, to me, when you're looking for what you want a Will linebacker to be, he kind of ticks all those boxes." With Jacobs changing positions, su- After ranking sixth on the team with 61 tackles last year, including seven tackles for loss and three sacks, sophomore Curtis Jacobs is moving from the Sam to the Will outside linebacker position. PHOTO BY RYAN SNYDER