Chicago Bears select Penn State safety Jaquan Brisker in 2022 NFL Draft

Penn State Nittany Lions safety Jaquan Brisker has completed the gauntlet after successfully navigating his college career from Lackawanna County Community College to the NFL. The Chicago Bears drafted Brisker with the No. 48 overall pick in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

The 6-foot-1, 199-pound safety played three seasons for the Nittany Lions. He recorded a career-high 63 total tackles and 38 solo tackles in his final season in 2021, including six tackles for loss. He also had five interceptions with two in his senior year. After the season, ProFootballFocus awarded Brisker with a 91.6 overall grade (first among Big Ten safeties), a 92.2 coverage grade (first), and 14 forced incompletions (first).

He impressed at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine, posting a 4.49-second 40-yard dash. His performance solidified Brisker as a first-to-second-round prospect for the draft.

Brisker initially played for Lackawanna County C.C. after coming out of high school with just one D-I offer from Toledo. He earned JUCO All-American first-team honors then committed to Penn State as the No. 15 JUCO prospect in the nation, according to the On3 Consensus.

The former Penn State star comes from a family of great athletes. Brisker’s grandfather, John Brisker, was a two-time NBA All-Star for the Seattle Supersonics.

What NFL draft analysts are saying about Jaquan Brisker

NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein broke down what the former JUCO star can bring to the NFL in his recent scout of the safety’s draft profile.

The prospect analyst credits Brisker for his versatility and instincts that he says he believes make the Penn State standout a long-time NFL starter.

“Athletic safety prospect whose versatility and toughness will endear him to coaches during the evaluation process.,” Zierlein wrote. “Brisker continued to pick up elements of the defensive scheme and his play has steadily transformed from hesitant in 2019 to downright instinctive in 2021. He has the versatility to become a moving chess piece in a variety of coverages. (Brisker) has the size and talent to match up with both “Y” and “F” tight ends. He played with a banged-up shoulder in 2021 so his 2020 tape is a clearer indicator of his run support acumen. Brisker is an ascending talent with the NFL traits to become a long-time starter as a Day 2 draft pick.