Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1495456
3 0 A P R I L 2 0 2 3 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M ries have been part of Johnson's career story, so his first step is to stay healthy. If he compiles receiving numbers like he did last season for a full complement of games, he'll be one of the top pass- catching tight ends in the country. Consistency as a run blocker is an- other key. Johnson took a step forward at the end of the season, but much of that work involved blocking on screens against cornerbacks and safeties. He'll need to improve his work in the trenches against players his size to be an all- around threat. Johnson did show flashes of block- ing potential in Penn State's Rose Bowl victory over Utah, but for most of the season he was underwhelming as an in- line tight end. Offensive Wild Card Mega Barnwell TE | Fr. | 6-6 | 269 What he's shown: While Barnwell has gargantuan size that makes him lit- erally stand out from the pack as a tight end, his speed and movement skills could be better. But as an offensive tackle? Having a player who's athletic enough to play tight end is one of the best ways to steal an elite tackle prospect in recruiting or the NFL Draft. There are far too many variables to say it's a slam dunk that Barnwell would be a star at tackle, but his athletic profile fits the mold per- fectly. What he needs to work on: This question is hard to answer because it hasn't yet been firmly established where Barnwell will play at Penn State. He's classified as a tight end this spring, but it remains to be seen whether that's his permanent position. Defense Zakee Wheatley S | R-So. | 6-2 | 194 What he's shown: Even though he was always destined to become a safety, Wheatley bears a strong resem- blance to All-America cornerback Joey Porter Jr., who is now preparing for the NFL Draft. While Wheatley doesn't have the same length as Porter, he's a long, fluid defender who can match up with players in single coverage from the field spot. What gives Wheatley a path to su- perstardom is his size. He's listed at 194 pounds but has the frame to grow. He may never be a 215-pounder, but he has more than enough frame to see action in the boundary and be a complete, all- around player by the end of his career. And we haven't even mentioned the ball skills, which are what put him on this list in the first place. What he needs to work on: Besides bulking up (if that's the decision that he and the staff make), Wheatley must fo- cus on his play in the box. He spent most of last season in deep coverage or the slot and didn't receive many reps com- ing downhill in run support. Rounding out his game will be the next step. If he shows more box instincts, Wheatley could be a three-level defender who can make plays anywhere on the field. He already looks like an early favorite to fill the "prowler" role on third down. Kevin Winston Jr. S | So. | 6-2 | 204 What he's shown: Winston doesn't have the elite speed or tools that his counterparts on this list have, but his positional skills and instincts push him into the conversation. He's a 204-pound safety who moves well for his size. Also, he showed last season that his weight isn't just a number; he hits hard and has displayed the early signs of being an en- forcer in the secondary. What he needs to work on: Vision, anticipation and reaction time only get you so far. It will be essential for Win- ston to maximize his speed and match his teammates in coverage. The good news for Winston is that he's already playing in the boundary, which offers more opportunities to make plays in the run game. His path to standout status is apparent, but he needs a com- plete profile to be a superstar. Tony Rojas LB | Fr. | 6-2 | 214 What he's shown: Speed is a short- cut to superstardom, and few line- backers boast the sideline-to-sideline range that Rojas will soon bring to Penn State's defense. He can chase plays from the back side of the formation or beat blockers to the point of attack. Add in his pass-rushing skills from his time as a high school defensive end, and Ro- jas could be another multidimensional threat for coordinator Manny Diaz. What he'll need to work on: Rojas' speed could make him a strong pass de- fender who can play like a safety in un- derneath coverage, but his skills in that area are unknown. Unlike Abdul Carter, who enjoyed a breakout season as a true freshman last fall, Rojas never played in space at Fairfax (Va.) High. He needs to develop coverage instincts at Penn State. Dani Dennis-Sutton DE | So. | 6-5 | 262 What he's shown: Dennis-Sutton was an On3 five-star defensive end recruit in the 2022 class and has elite Safety Zakee Wheatley was a ball hawk for the Nittany Lions as a redshirt freshman last fall, finishing with 2 interceptions and a forced fumble. PHOTO BY DANIEL ALTHOUSE