Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1525333
4 0 S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 4 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M 6 . C A R L N A SS I B | D E | 2 0 1 1 -1 5 Nassib's statistical contributions were mostly confined to a single year, but what an incredible year it was. In 2015, his final campaign after arriving at Penn State as a little-known walk-on out of Malvern (Pa.) Prep, he set the school single-season record with 15.5 sacks. Nassib had been earning praise from the coaching staff throughout the off- season for his steady behind-the-scenes development, but it's fair to say no one saw that coming. In addition to his sacks, he also forced 6 fumbles, the most by a Nittany Lion player since Michael Haynes forced 7 in 2002. Nassib won the Lombardi and Ted Hendricks awards, along with Lott IM- PACT Trophy and consensus All-America honors. He was later drafted in the third round by Cleveland and played seven sea- sons in the NFL. He's now an alumni- elected member of Penn State's board of trustees. 7. JAQ UA N B R I S K E R | S | 2 0 1 9 -2 1 Brisker arrived at Penn State as a three- star juco recruit out of Lackawanna Col- lege and left as an All-American. His best season was his senior campaign, during which he totaled 5.5 tackles for loss, 5 pass breakups and 2 interceptions, one of which ended a fourth-quarter Wiscon- sin drive that had reached Penn State's 8-yard line. After winning first-team All-America laurels from CBS Sports, On3 and Pro Football Focus, Brisker was chosen in the second round of the draft by Chicago. He's getting ready for his third season with the Bears. 8 . J I 'AY I R B R OW N | S | 2 0 2 0 -2 2 Brown came from the same Lackawan- na pipeline that produced Brisker, and he was just as effective as his predecessor. The Trenton, N.J., native intercepted 10 passes in his career, the 12th-highest total in school history, while also recovering 3 fumbles and forcing 3 more. His 6 inter- ceptions in 2021 were the most by a PSU player since Anthony Sciorrotto had 6 in 2006. Brown continues to be a ball hawk in the NFL. As a rookie safety with San Fran- cisco, he intercepted Kansas City's Pat- rick Mahomes in the Super Bowl this past February. 9. A B D U L C A RT E R | L B/ D E | 2 0 2 2- Carter is the only current player on this list, and if all goes as expected this year — his first season as a defensive end after spending his freshman and sophomore years primarily at linebacker — he's all but certain to move up. After making 16 tackles for loss and 11 sacks in his first two seasons, he's been hailed as a potential first-round NFL Draft pick next spring. 1 0 . AU ST I N J O H N S O N | DT | 2 0 1 2-1 5 Franklin inherited Johnson, a holdover from the Bill O'Brien coaching era. The Lions' new mentor was no doubt thrilled to have the 6-4, 297-pound defensive tackle plugging up holes at the line of scrimmage. Johnson started all 26 games for Penn State in 2014 and '15, totaling 15 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks the latter year while winning second-team All-Big Ten hon- ors. Taken by Tennessee in the second round of the 2016 draft, he's now pre- paring for his ninth NFL season, having signed a one-year pact with Buffalo in March. S P E C I A L T E A M S 1 . J O R DA N STO U T | P/ K | 2 0 1 9 -2 1 Stout was one of Penn State's first big success stories of the transfer portal era. He had started out at Virginia Tech but became a triple threat at PSU. As a red- shirt senior, he served as punter, place- kicker and kickoff specialist, winning second-team All-America honors. He's now the starting punter for the Baltimore Ravens. 2 . B L A K E G I L L I K I N | P | 2 0 1 6 -1 9 The punting game was a sore spot for Penn State in the first two years of Frank- lin's tenure, with the Lions averaging 36.9 yards in 2014 and 39.3 yards the following year. That's why the coaches prioritized Gillikin, and the five-star kicking pros- pect from Atlanta certainly delivered. He averaged 43.0 yards in his four seasons as the team's starting punter and is now with the Arizona Cardinals. 3 . JA K E P I N E GA R | K | 2 0 1 8 -2 2 Pinegar was a four-year starter who fin- ished his career as Penn State's second- leading all-time scorer with 337 points. His career field goal percentage (73.1) ranks seventh in school history, and he tops the PSU record book with 190 PATs. 4 . T Y L E R DAV I S | K | 2 0 1 5 -17 Davis was nearly automatic during his first two seasons, hitting 30 of 32 field goal attempts in 2015 and '16, and winning first-team All-Big Ten notice the latter season. He struggled as a se- nior, making just 9 of 17 attempts, but still finished his career as Penn State's sixth- leading all-time scorer with 261 points. 5 . C H R I S STO L L | L S | 2 0 17-2 2 There's a lot to be said for just being reliable. Stoll handled his underappreci- ated but crucial job with aplomb, winning the Patrick Mannelly Award, which goes to the nation's top long snapper, in 2022. An undrafted free agent last year, Stoll is getting set for his second season as the Seattle Seahawks' long snapper. ■ Jordan Stout excelled as a punter, placekicker and kickoff specialist after transferring from Virginia Tech to PSU in 2019. PHOTO BY STEVE MANUEL