Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1524108
W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M 1 0 8 A U G U S T 2 0 2 4 TOP FIVE PLAYERS 1. Jaquan Brisker | S After two seasons at Lackawanna College, Brisker transferred to Penn State and found immediate success. He was a Pro Football Focus third-team All- American in 2019, and he performed even better during the truncated 2020 campaign, totaling a team-high 6 pass breakups to go with 57 tackles and an interception and repeating as a PFF All-American. Brisker opted to return in 2021 and turned in one of the best seasons ever by a Penn State safety, totaling 64 tackles including 5.5 for loss, breaking up 5 passes and intercepting 2 more. On3 and others anointed Brisker a first-team All-American. He was a highly successful defender for the Lions and now plays for the Chicago Bears after they selected him in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft. 2. Joey Porter Jr. | CB After redshirting as a true freshman, Porter quickly became one of the Big Ten's most feared cornerbacks. He was a unanimous third-team All-Big Ten choice in 2020 after recording 33 tackles, 4 pass breakups and a sack. Porter again earned third-team honors in 2021 after making 51 stops while also recording an interception, forced fumble and 4 pass break- ups. But he saved his best season for last. In 2022, Porter was named a second-team All-American by an assortment of media outlets and was a unanimous first-team All-Big Ten selec- tion after totaling 11 pass breakups. The 6 breakups he had against Purdue that September were the second-most in any FBS game that year. Porter now plays for the Pitts- burgh Steelers after going No. 32 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. 3. Adisa Isaac | DE Isaac faced plenty of difficulties during his career, but he never gave up, and his perseverance paid off in a big way. The Brooklyn, N.Y., native played in 20 games during his first two years and was productive in a backup role. He was poised for a breakthrough in 2021, but an Achilles injury ended his season before it even began. Isaac returned to action in 2022 and earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors despite not being 100 percent healthy. He made 28 stops that year and led the Lions with 11 tackles for loss in addition to 4 sacks. Isaac could have then left for the NFL but returned to Penn State instead. Named a captain before the season, he shined in 2023, racking up 37 tackles, including 16 for loss and 7.5 sacks. The effort earned him first-team All-Big Ten honors from the league's coaches, and Penn State's staff picked him as the MVP of the defense. 4. Caedan Wallace | OT Some might find Wallace's inclusion on this list surprising given how much flak he took from fans during his lengthy tenure in State College. But hear us out. Despite some inconsistency, Wallace started 40 games over five seasons, the most of anyone in the class. A lack of depth at right tackle was a factor, but his durability and level of play should not be underestimated. Wallace was also capable of playing inside and out. He had his best season in 2023, when he started all 13 games at right tackle and allowed just one sack in 359 pass-blocking snaps. The New England Patriots took him in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft. 5. Brenton Strange | TE Even if Strange's numbers aren't as gaudy as some of his tight end peers at Penn State, he was a reliable blocker and pass catcher who often acted as a safety valve for quarterback Sean Clifford and twice won All-Big Ten notice. Strange caught at least 1 touchdown pass in every season, but his best single-game performance didn't feature a score. It was a 6-catch, 80-yard day in Penn State's 41-12 win over Auburn in 2022. Strange left after that season and was a second-round pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2023 draft. After redshirting as a true freshman, Joey Porter Jr. started at cornerback the next three seasons, winning All-Big Ten honors each year. PHOTO BY STEVE MANUEL