Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1472993
A U G U S T 2 0 2 2 7 3 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M DEFENSIVE BACKS 2021 vs. 2022: Stock Up Or Down? Even though Penn State lost two starters, both of whom were selected in the NFL Draft in April, this year's secondary looks as though it could be as good as last year's, and maybe even better. That's a bold pronouncement, because last year's secondary was quite good. The Nittany Lions allowed just 199.8 yards per game through the air to rank third in the Big Ten, and the 11 touchdown passes they surrendered tied them with Northwestern for the league's second-lowest total. Two starters return from that unit: redshirt junior cornerback Joey Porter Jr. and super senior field safety Ji'Ayir Brown. Both started all 13 games last season, the only Penn State defensive players to do so. There's no reason to think they won't be even more effective this year. Porter is already being hailed as a potential first-round draft pick in 2023, while Brown is coming off a 2021 season in which he intercepted 6 passes to tie for the FBS lead. The Lions already appear to have a potential star lined up to take over for Tariq Castro-Fields at cornerback. Indeed, sophomore Kalen King al- ready has taken over if you count the Outback Bowl, in which he got the starting nod after Castro-Fields opted to sit out in advance of the draft, in which he ultimately was taken in the sixth round by San Francisco. Of more concern is the safety spot, where Penn State must replace All- American Jaquan Brisker. But there, too, the Lions have some strong candi- dates in junior Keaton Ellis, sophomore Jaylen Reed and redshirt freshman Zakee Wheatley. X-Factor Will the Nittany Lions be able to generate takeaways the way they did in 2021? They finished with 14 interceptions a year ago, ranking third in the Big Ten behind Iowa, which amassed an incredible 25 picks, and Wisconsin, which had 16. It was a pair of fourth-quarter interceptions, by Brisker and Brown, that clinched last year's season-opening win for Penn State, and Brown's pick-six at Maryland slammed the door shut on the Terps' come- back bid. But turnovers have a fluky quality, and there often isn't any carryover from one season to the next. For instance, in 2020, a season in which Penn State was one of only four Big Ten teams to play nine games, it finished 11th in the league with 4 interceptions. Given that unpredictability, PSU could have a very good secondary this year and still see its interception total decline. Freshman Outlook By all accounts, Wheatley came on strong in spring practice and figures to be a contender for significant playing time once preseason camp begins. The 6-2, 191-pounder from Crofton, Md., led the defense in takeaways during the offseason drills. His success in that area stemmed not just from his athleticism but from his attitude. "When I'm on defense and the ball is in the air, I just turn into a receiver," he said. "I don't really think much about defense, offense. That ball is mine." — Matt Herb Scholarship Players (15) NO. PLAYER CL. HT. WT. CORNERBACK 25 Daequan Hardy R-Jr. 5-9 182 9 Joey Porter Jr. R-Jr. 6-2 196 3 Johnny Dixon Jr. 6-0 183 8 Marquis Wilson* Jr. 5-11 184 4 Kalen King So. 5-11 186 24 Jeffrey Davis Jr. R-Fr. 6-0 182 13 Cristian Driver Fr. 5-11 185 5 Cam Miller Fr. 6-0 175 SAFETY 16 Ji'Ayir Brown Sr.+ 5-11 204 2 Keaton Ellis Jr. 5-11 190 14 Tyrece Mills So. 6-1 195 7 Jaylen Reed So. 6-0 209 6 Zakee Wheatley R-Fr. 6-2 191 10 Mehki Flowers Fr. 6-0 179 21 Kevin Winston Jr. Fr. 6-2 199 * Listed as "athlete" on PSU's official roster after playing cornerback and wide receiver during 2021 season Quick Facts Position coaches: Terry Smith (cornerbacks, ninth season); Anthony Poindexter (safeties, second season) Returning starters: CB Joey Porter Jr. (21 career starts), S Ji'Ayir Brown (13) Departing starters: CB Tariq Castro-Fields (30), S Jaquan Brisker (21) Projected new starters: CB Kalen King, S Jaylen Reed Top reserves: CB Daequan Hardy, CB Johnny Dixon, S Keaton Ellis, S Zakee Wheatley Newcomers: CB Cristian Driver, S Mehki Flowers, S Tyrece Mills, S Kevin Winston Jr. Moved in: None Moved out: S Jonathan Sutherland Lindy's preseason football magazine tabbed redshirt junior cornerback Joey Porter Jr. as a preseason first-team All-Big Ten selection this year. PHOTO BY STEVE MANUEL