Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1467458
4 0 J U N E / J U L 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 Jaquan Brisker ROUND: Second (48th over- all pick) TEAM: Chicago Bears DETAILS: Brisker could have left after the 2020 season but elected to return for one more year in Happy Valley. It appears to have been a wise move. The 6-1, 200-pound Brisker was always an outstanding tackler, but his coverage grade from PFF rose from a solid 77.8 in 2020 to an elite 89.5 mark in 2021. Appearing in 34 games during his three seasons at Penn State, he concluded his career with 151 total tackles, 14 pass breakups, 10 tackles for loss and 5 inter- ceptions. F R A N K L I N SAYS : " T h e Chicago Bears just drafted a tre- mendous athlete and leader in Jaquan Brisker who will make an immediate impact." CARR'S ANALYSIS: It's tough to gauge what kind of situ- ation Brisker is entering with the Bears. They have a completely new staff, with head coach Matt Eberflus taking over after serving as the Indianapolis Colts' defensive coordina- tor for the past five seasons. Brisker is not perfect at everything, but he is good at most things. He's a quality slot defender, he's as physical as you would want, and he has the range to play in deep coverage. He really excels when playing in the box, but that doesn't mean it's the only thing he can do. Brandon Smith ROUND: Fourth (120th overall pick) TEAM: Carolina Panthers DETAILS: There's been a robust debate among Penn State fans about whether Smith made the right call by leaving early to pursue his NFL ambi- tions. But the former On3 Consensus five-star prospect was convinced that it was the right move, and he was rewarded with a spot in the Panthers' draft class. In his three collegiate seasons, Smith made 132 tackles (19 for loss) and had 4 sacks and an interception. During his senior year, in which he won third-team All-Big Ten honors, Smith had 81 tack- les, 5 pass breakups and a forced fumble. FRANKLIN SAYS: "Brandon has all the tools to be a successful NFL line- backer. He showed tremendous growth during his time here at Penn State." CARR'S ANALYSIS: It's unclear where the 6-3, 241-pound Smith will line up for the Panthers. Will they give him a "redshirt" season to learn Mike linebacker and let him settle into calling the defense? It would be a big gamble on a player who does not play with physi- cality or instincts. But if they're right about Smith and the light finally turns on, they will be getting one of the most physically talented players in the 2022 NFL Draft. Jordan Stout ROUND: Fourth (130th overall pick) TEAM: Baltimore Ravens DETAILS: No Penn State punter had been taken in the NFL Draft since John Bruno in 1987. The last PSU kicker to be selected was David Kimball in 2004. Stout, who punted and kicked at PSU, ended that drought on the draft's third day. Stout spent two years at Vir- ginia Tech before joining the Lions in 2019. He eventually became the Penn State record holder for single-season and ca- reer punting average. He was the Big Ten Punter of the Year and a Ray Guy Award finalist during his final season in 2021. FRANKLIN SAYS: "Jordan's ability to eliminate returns, both in the kickoff and punt game, will bode well for him in the NFL." CARR'S ANALYSIS: If Bal- timore thinks Stout is a good fit, I'd buy that idea at full price. Head coach John Harbaugh is a special teams expert, and the Ravens are a well-run, analyti- cally driven organization. Tariq Castro-Fields ROUND: Sixth (220th overall pick) TEAM: San Francisco 49ers DETAILS: San Francisco appears deep at cornerback, but in the modern NFL, you can never have enough com- petition at this position group. Castro-Fields played in 52 games dur- ing his tenure at Penn State and started 30. He racked up 138 tackles (10 for loss), 3 interceptions and 25 pass breakups. A three-time All-Big Ten selection, the 6-0, 194-pound Castro-Fields played as a freshman for the Lions and made an impact throughout his career as one of the team's top cover corners. FRANKLIN SAYS: "I'm confident Tariq will make a seamless transition into the NFL and bring with him a vet- eran presence few rookies possess." CARR'S ANALYSIS: San Francisco has changed its defensive system to a Cover 4 scheme that isolates corner- backs against deep routes. In some Safety Jaquan Brisker is the ninth Penn State player to be drafted by Chicago and the first since the Bears chose defensive back Adrian Amos in 2015. PHOTO BY STEVE MANUEL