Blue White Illustrated

October 2022

Penn State Sports Magazine

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O C T O B E R 2 0 2 2 2 9 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M readiness to return to the starting lineup, they have done well. Moving into October, this unit still can be more impactful, but it was responsible for 3 of Penn State's 6 sacks against Au- burn and there's reason for optimism as the Big Ten season resumes. It's also worth noting that the line isn't yet at full strength, despite hav- ing Mustipher and Isaac back. We still haven't seen redshirt junior end Smith Vilbert or redshirt sophomore tackle Co- ziah Izzard. Both have been absent for un- disclosed off-field reasons. If they return in October, it will bolster the defensive line's depth. "I feel like as a unit, we still can con- tinue to grow and get better," defensive line coach John Scott Jr. said. "But I do feel like we're on track to be what we want to be and play the style of football that we want to play. It's been great having vets … who have been in the trenches and been in those battles, who helped lead some of the younger guys that are in different roles and that are coming in and contributing. "Those guys are kind of leading the charge for us, showing them the way, and showing them how. I think that's really helped our group. As we continue to prac- tice, we'll get even more comfortable with what we're doing. I think the group's best football is ahead." Linebacker The revelation here has been true freshman Abdul Carter. He was ejected from the Purdue game for a questionable targeting foul on his first play of the night. Since then, however, he's shown why many thought he would be a star in Year 1. Carter has tremendous instincts and is a sound tackler who can make game- changing plays at a moment's notice. I n o t h e r wo rd s, t h e 6 - fo o t -3, 233-pounder from La Salle College High in Philadelphia is representing the famed No. 11 jersey quite well. "We're not surprised, since we've been able to be around him and see his testing numbers when he arrived on campus and his approach in the weight room and with summer camp and so on," head coach James Franklin said. "He's freakishly fast, freakishly strong, and doesn't have the body of a normal high school linebacker coming in." We would also be remiss not to mention that the position change for super senior Jonathan Sutherland to strong-side line- backer has been a positive. He looks com- fortable at his new position and tackles well in the run game. Moving forward, we want to see third- year sophomore Curtis Jacobs break out like the game wrecker he is capable of be- ing, and we're curious how the rep share in the middle between third-year sopho- more Tyler Elsdon and redshirt freshman Kobe King will progress. Elsdon is the starter, but both have played well so far. That rotation may tighten up a bit mov- ing forward. All told, the linebackers have been bet- ter than expected. Even so, this is one position group at which Penn State can- not afford any injuries, even with Carter's quick emergence having helped the depth situation tremendously. Secondary Franklin has not been shy about saying that the defensive backs are his team's strength on this side of the ball. It's why Diaz has frequently unveiled a package called "Prowler" that puts seven of them onto the field at the same time. "Coming into the season, there were more question marks at linebacker than there were at DB," Franklin said. "That will change year to year based on getting your best players on the field, and these different personnel groupings also help with that. "You may be able to play a kid earlier in his career because he may not be able to do these two or three things, but he can do this. So, that's a factor in it as well." The cornerback corps is led by redshirt junior Joey Porter Jr., while super senior Ji'Ayir Brown is an impactful presence at safety. With those two veterans provid- ing leadership in what is all but certain to be the final collegiate season for both, many other players have stepped up and excelled in the roles they've been asked to fill. At the slot cornerback spot, redshirt junior Daequan Hardy continues to be an undersized player with oversized produc- tion on game day. Sophomore Kalen King has stepped into a starting cornerback role with no hiccups, and the emergence of juniors Marquis Wilson and Johnny Dixon has helped fill out the rotation for position coach Terry Smith, giving the Lions five quality players to keep quarter- backs on their toes. At safety, one of the top position battles has produced three contributors. Junior Keaton Ellis starts, but sophomore Jay- len Reed and redshirt freshman Zakee Wheatley played extensively in the sea- son's first four weeks. The key is that each of those players has his own strengths that complement the other players' skill sets, giving Diaz and safeties coach Anthony Poindexter ap- pealing options no matter what the game situation may be. The next step for this group is to turn pass breakups into in- terceptions by catching and securing the opportunities that come their way. The Lions showed at Auburn that they have an opportunistic streak, collecting a pair of interceptions. With the Big Ten season heating up, more of that would be most welcome. ■ Third-year sophomore linebacker Curtis Jacobs was the Nittany Lions' second-leading tackler through four games with 17 stops. PHOTO BY FRANK HYATT

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