Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1488968
2 8 J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 3 G R E G P I C K E L | G R E G. P I C K E L @ O N 3 . C O M E very Penn State football senior class dating back to the first one that was celebrated more than a century ago (though probably with less fanfare than today) is remembered for something. It would be easy to assert that the Nittany Lions' 2022 senior class is simply going to be looked back upon as a group that spent a lot of time at Penn State. It was able to take advantage of the free year of eligibility that the NCAA offered all athletes because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and longevity is abso- lutely part of this group's story. But, so, too, is perseverance. Some members of this class were leaders during a moment of great uncer- tainty in 2020. Others later stepped into those roles. All of Penn State's depart- ing players have left everything they had on the field for the Lions, even if the results have not always been what they or their fans wanted. "I knew this was going to happen, this day was going to come, my Senior Day was going to come," senior safety Ji'Ayir Brown said before the Michi- gan State game, which concluded Penn State's regular season on Nov. 26. "I just wanted to make sure every time I went out on that field, every time I practiced, every time I did anything, that I gave my all and I can leave here with no regrets. Right now, I can tell you that I'm leaving here with no regrets." Brown is one of three players who epitomize the ways in which this senior class is likely to be remembered at Penn State. He's been a tenacious defensive player throughout his tenure with the Nittany Lions, having fought through difficulties to emerge as a major con- tributor. A standout player at Trenton (N.J.) Central High, Brown took a junior college detour before reaching the FBS level. He spent two seasons at Lackawanna College in Scranton prior to earning a scholarship at Penn State. Impact Players Ji'Ayir Brown, Sean Clifford, PJ Mustipher and their fellow seniors have created a legacy that will resonate well beyond the end of the 2022 season Safety Ji'Ayir Brown was named Penn State's most valu- able player at the team banquet in December. He fin- ished the regular season ranked first on the team in total tackles (66) and interceptions (3). PHOTO BY DANIEL ALTHOUSE