Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/541265
pull them aside and tell them what they needed to do to be successful. "I'm definitely taking on a leadership role, because when I leave, this is going to be their secondary, and they're going to have to step up. They've done a great job so far." Williams isn't gone just yet. He's got one more year of college football remain- ing, and he's determined to savor it. "I just want to have a lot more fun," he said. "I want to cherish every moment – prac- tice, weight room, film room. I just want to cherish all the opportunities I've got with my teammates. My confidence is very high." ■ P R E V I E W tionally bright, especially with Oruwariye and Worley coming off red- shirt years and two potential early-im- pact cornerbacks arriving this summer in Reid and Taylor. Losing Davis was unexpected – he was dismissed in May for a violation of team rules – but the Nittany Lions are still plenty deep at these spots. The Lions are also looking good at free safety. With the rangy, hard-hit- ting Allen having already shown that he's a playmaker, Penn State could be in good shape at this position for the next three years. His backup – Apke – is a sophomore, too. Elsewhere, the Li- ons' considerable depth at cornerback has given them the opportunity to move Lucas to strong safety. A 6-foot- 0, 199-pound senior, he's got the size and speed to be an impact player here, just as he was at his former position. And by all accounts, he's embraced the change. "We talked immediately after the bowl game, and he told me he wanted to do it," Shoop said. "I feel like that's his best position at the next level. He'll fill a lot of the same roles that Adrian did. ... His football IQ is really high, as well. He's more vocal than Adrian was. I feel like he and Marcus give us a chance to be an up- per-level Big Ten team at that position." Statistically, Penn State fielded one of the nation's better pass defenses last year, allowing only 178.2 yards per game to rank ninth among Football Bowl Subdivision teams. It did so even though the line had less success getting to the quarterback than in years past. The Nittany Lions finished sixth in the Big Ten with 31 sacks last season. If the new defensive ends are able to apply some heat, an already-strong second- ary will get a boost and Penn State will have a chance to do the one thing it didn't do with regularity last year: in- tercept passes. The Lions are looking to create more turnovers in 2015, and they certainly appear to have the personnel to accomplish that goal. – M.H. PHIL'S TAKE In my mind, this is the No. 1 strength of Penn State's defense going into the season. Allen and Lucas are excellent safeties. Williams, Haley, Camp- bell, Oruwariye and Worley give Penn State quality depth and ath- leticism at the two cornerback po- sitions. This quite possibly is the most athletic secondary I've ever seen at Penn State. Now it needs to produce turnovers. Steve Manuel JORDAN LUCAS