2 0 1 7 S E A S O N P R E V I E W
KEY PERSONNEL
CB: D.J. Brown,
Christian Campbell*, Tariq Castro-
Fields, Grant Haley*, Donovan Johnson,
T.J. Johnson, Zech McPhearson, Amani
Oruwariye, John Reid*, Lamont Wade;
Saf.: Marcus Allen*, Troy Apke*, Ayron
Monroe, John Petrishen, Nick Scott,
Jonathan Sutherland
LOSSES CB: Jordan Smith; Saf.: Malik
Golden*
RISING STAR This selection doesn't get
any more obvious. Wade was a :ve-star
recruit, the top-ranked prospect in
Pennsylvania and an early enrollee who
paced the team in interceptions during
spring practice. There is every reason to
believe that he is the true freshman
best-positioned to make an impact on
the 2017 roster. With quick-twitch burst
and strength that's beyond his years,
Wade will be looking to do his part to
help alleviate an unfortunate develop-
ment from this past spring. Which
brings us to...
BIGGEST LOSS This loss isn't due to
graduation like many of the others; it's
due to a setback su as a do-it all cor-
nerback, Reid will be a very di=cult
player to replace. While there's a strong
likelihood that he won't return to action
until 2018, Penn State still hasn't o=-
cially commented on the injury, which
means that we can't rule out a late-sea-
son comeback. There's no doubting ei-
ther way that PSU will need some of the
underclassmen to step into the :ve-CB
rotation right away.
NUMBERS GAME With a total of only
20 interceptions the past two seasons,
the Lions have ranked in the bottom half
of the Big Ten in picks gained. Only 60
percent of those interceptions have
come from defensive backs.
OUTLOOK The loss of Reid was devas-
tating, but depth does exist to so>en the
blow. While there was a lot of hype
around Wade this past spring, the up-
perclassmen still have this position
in good hands. Haley returns as
one of the most experienced
players on the entire team and
the player who forever will
live in PSU lore as the
one who picked up a
blocked kick against
Ohio State in 2016 and
sprinted almost 60
yards before
;ipping in for
the winning
touchdown.
Campbell and
Oruwariye are also
back, and although they've yet
to make plays like Haley does
on a per-game basis – who
does? – they both have
highlights in their own
right, coupled with a few
years of experience. At
safety, Allen is the spark plug of the en-
tire defense and will be looking to cash
in on his decision to return for his senior
season. Aside from Allen at the free
safety spot, playing time is up for grabs.
Considering defensive coordinator Brent
Pry's personnel patterns in the past, it's
likely that a few of the key players men-
tioned above will get some playing time
before anyone gets paired as a full-timer
alongside Allen.
PHIL'S TAKE Before Reid's knee was in-
jured during spring practice, I felt that
Penn State's secondary could be the
biggest strength of the defense. With
Reid most likely out for the season,
Campbell will join Haley in the starting
lineup at cornerback. Even though it has
been deprived of a key playmaker, Penn
State still looks to have a wealth of tal-
ent here. Wade had a spectacular spring
practice session and will split time with
Campbell at the :eld CB spot. Johnson
was maybe the biggest surprise of
spring practice, and Oruwariye and
McPhearson will add depth, as will in-
coming freshmen Castro-Fields, John-
son and Brown. Castro-Fields and
Johnson were four-star CB
prospects. Allen is an All-Big Ten
candidate at free safety and will
be backed up by Scott and
Taylor. At the strong safety
spot, Apke will battle Monroe
and Scott. Monroe might
be the surprise starter
here coming o< an im-
pressive performance in
the Blue-White Game.
Even without Reid, the
secondary could still prove
to be the defense's No. 1
strength. But for that pos-
sibility to become a reality
in 2017, the secondary will
have to produce more
turnovers. For the second
consecutive year, the de-
fensive backs :nished with
only six interceptions last
season.
■
DEFENSIVE BACKS
CORNERBACK
NO NAME HT WT YEAR
15
Grant Haley 5-9 183 Sr./Sr.
21
Amani Oruwariye 6-1 211 Sr./Jr.
27
T.J. Johnson 6-2 188 So./Fr.
14
Zech McPhearson 5-11 180 So./Fr.
FREE
SAFETY
2
Marcus Allen 6-2 206 Sr./Sr.
24 Nick Scott 5-11 200 Sr./Jr.
17
Garrett Taylor 6-0 200 Jr./So.
STRONG SAFETY
28
Troy Apke 6-1 212 Sr./Sr.
23
Ayron Monroe 5-11 212 Jr./So.
24 Nick Scott 5-11 200 Sr./Jr.
16 John Petrishen 6-0 207 Jr./So.
CORNERBACK
1 Christian Campbell 6-1 191 Sr./Sr.
38
Lamont Wade 5-9 193 Fr./Fr.
27 T.J. Johnson 6-2 188 So./Fr.
14 Zech McPhearson 5-11 180 So./Fr.
S P O T L I G H T B Y T I M O W E N
* Starting experience in 2016
MARCUS
ALLEN
Steve Manuel
OR
OR
OR
