Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1472993
A U G U S T 2 0 2 2 7 5 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M DEFENSIVE BACKS PERSONNEL POSITION COACH Terry Smith (cornerbacks): One of two Penn State lettermen on James Franklin's staff, Smith is the program's longest-tenured on-field assistant coach. The former receiver had a standout high school coaching career at Gateway near Pittsburgh. He then started in the college ranks at Temple before joining Franklin's first PSU staff back in 2014. He's been here ever since and now carries the title of associate head coach as well as corners coach and defensive recruiting coordinator. Anthony Poindexter (safeties): A College Football Hall of Famer thanks to his dominat- ing play at Virginia, Poindexter joined Penn State's staff following the 2020 season. He has proved to be a good fit and has turned the last line of Penn State's defense into an aggressive, swarming bunch. Poindexter has been coach- ing since 2003 when he joined his alma mater as a graduate assistant. Besides spending time with the Cavaliers, he's also coached at Con- necticut and Purdue. RETURNING SCHOLARSHIP PLAYERS CORNERBACK JOEY PORTER JR. R-Jr. | 6-2 | 196 • A third-team All-Big Ten pick in 2021, Porter started all 13 games, finishing with 51 tack- les, 1 interception and 4 pass breakups. • Was a third-team All-Big Ten pick in 2020 after finishing with 33 tackles, 1 sack and 4 pass breakups. DAEQUAN HARDY R-Jr. | 5-9 | 182 • Returned an interception for a touchdown at Michigan State last November. • Finished the season with 16 tackles (3 for loss) and 7 pass breakups. • Was a Pro Football Focus All-Big Ten selec- tion. • Played in all nine games during the 2020 season, making 10 tackles and adding 3 pass breakups and a quarterback hurry. • Saw action in two games during his fresh- man season in 2019. JOHNNY DIXON Jr. | 6-0 | 183 • Played in 12 games after transferring in from South Carolina, finishing with 10 tack- les and 2 pass breakups. • As a Gamecock, made 34 tackles with 5 pass breakups and a fumble recovery dur- ing his second season in the SEC. • Played as a true freshman in 2019, making his first career interception. KALEN KING So. | 5-11 | 186 • Burned his redshirt after playing in all 13 games, and starting one, during his first col- lege season in 2021. • Made 23 tackles and added 5 pass break- ups and a forced fumble. JEFFREY DAVIS JR. R-Fr. | 6-0 | 182 • Did not see any action during his freshman season. SAFETY JI'AYIR BROWN Sr.+ | 5-11 | 204 • Tied for the FBS lead in 2021 with 6 in- terceptions, one of which he returned 87 yards for a touchdown against Maryland. • Received third-team All-Big Ten honors after finishing with 73 tackles, 5 pass break- ups, and 2 fumble recoveries. • Spent two years at Lackawanna College, where he was the Northeast Football Con- ference's Defensive Player of the Year in 2019 and also an NJCAA All-American. KEATON ELLIS Jr. | 5-11 | 190 • Made one start and played in 11 games during the 2021 season, finishing with 18 tackles and a pass breakup. • As a sophomore, tallied 12 tackles and an interception in six games, five of which he started. • Saw action in all 13 games as a true fresh- man, making 18 tackles and forcing 3 fumbles along the way. JAYLEN REED So. | 6-0 | 209 • Burned his redshirt as a true freshman by playing in eight games during the 2021 season. • Netted 6 tackles and a quarterback hurry. • Was one of 10 true freshmen to play last season. ZAKEE WHEATLEY R-Fr. | 6-2 | 191 • Switched to cornerback from safety this offseason. • As a freshman, played in four games but ultimately redshirted. NEWCOMERS CORNERBACK CRISTIAN DRIVER Fr. | 5-11 | 185 • Had 56 tackles and 6 pass breakups as a se- nior at Liberty Christian (Texas) High. • Played wide receiver and defensive back in high school. CAM MILLER Fr. | 6-0 | 175 • Helped lead Trinity Christian (Fla.) Academy to a 10-4 record and Class 2A state title as a senior. SAFETY MEHKI FLOWERS Fr. | 6-0 | 185 • Notched 65 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks and 2 interceptions as a senior at Central Dauphin (Pa.) East High. TYRECE MILLS So. | 6-1 | 195 • Is the third Lackawanna College safety to sign with Penn State since 2018, joining current super senior Ji'Ayir Brown and the graduated Jaquan Brisker. KEVIN WINSTON JR. Fr. | 6-2 | 199 • Finished with 50 tackles, 10 pass breakups, 3 interceptions and a fumble recovery as a senior at DeMatha Catholic High in Hyatts- ville, Md. After playing in eight of Penn State's 13 games as a true freshman last fall, safety Jaylen Reed is vying for a spot in the starting lineup. PHOTO BY STEVE MANUEL