Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/929717
F A S T F O R W A R D >> A N E A R L Y L O O K HUB-Robeson Center • On-Campus SouthwestChili chicken sandwich NEW! ©2018 McAlister's Franchisor SPV LLC player, he's a very good tackler, so there are qualities of Ellis that remind me of Jason, which obviously is a positive." Farmer is set to return to his post at Sam. The converted safety continues to grow into the spot as he prepares for his fifth and final year. Miller began his soph- omore season as Farmer's primary backup but played in only two of the final seven games. Another former safety, he has room to grow before handling a heav- ier load as a junior. As Miller saw his play- ing time decrease, Brown received additional reps at Sam. He was also sec- ond-string at Will, so he's familiar with both spots. That offers Pry some addi- tional flexibility, as the rangy Brown might have the highest ceiling of all the returnees and figures to be a starter at one of the linebacker spots. DEFENSIVE BACK KEY RETURNEES CB: D.J. Brown, Jabari Butler, Tariq Castro-Fields, Donovan Johnson, Zech McPhearson, Amani Oruwariye, John Reid, Lamont Wade; Saf.: Ayron Monroe, John Petrishen, Nick Scott, Jonathan Sutherland, Garrett Tay- lor KEY LOSSES CB: Christian Campbell, Grant Haley; Saf.: Marcus Allen, Troy Apke NEWCOMERS CB: Trent Gordon, Jordan Miner; Saf.: Isaiah Humphries OUTLOOK Graduation has impacted the secondary in a more profound way than at any other position group on the team, but the cupboards are anything but bare. While all four primary starters are gone, Penn State returns eight defensive backs with game experience. There's also a red- shirt freshman joining the mix about whom coaches and teammates haven't stopped raving. That much-buzzed-about player is Sutherland, a former four-star recruit and Canada native who wreaked havoc on the first-team offense during practice, earning the honor as Scout Team Defen- sive Player of the Year. With Allen off to the NFL, Sutherland might be able to give Penn State the physical presence it needs. During the season, DaeSean Hamilton called him "a mini Marcus" because "he loves to hit." Allen himself was impressed, saying, "He hits like a train. He's very ma- ture for his age, as well." While Sutherland made a great first im- pression during his redshirt year, he won't simply be handed the reins at free safety. Scott, a special teams captain and former running back, was Allen's primary backup in 2017 and steadily settled into the spot, playing his best football late in the season. Monroe also saw more action at strong safety after healing from a mid- season injury and will factor into the ro- tation after he recovers from off-season surgery. Taylor could play a role as well after contributing mostly on special teams as a redshirt sophomore. At cornerback, while both starters have departed, two others with starting experi- ence return. Oruwariye led the team in in-