Absent Brent Pry, Penn State must replace major influence: Column

The statistics are never mentioned first with Brent Pry.

Instead, the architect of Penn State’s defense as coordinator for each of the past six seasons is often discussed in familial terms. Virginia Tech and its fans will soon learn as much of the proud father, husband, and coach with the southern drawl. 

Reported Tuesday morning by On3’s Matt Zenitz, Pry is expected to be formally named as the Hokies’ next head coach later in the day. 

The news will mark the first change to the staff of Penn State head coach James Franklin in the unofficial start to the offseason. And given Franklin’s previously stated affection for his longtime coaching partner, the loss will be felt deeply in the Nittany Lions’ program.

“Brent’s my guy,” Franklin said when Pry was linked with vacant head coaching jobs in December 2017. “Brent’s been a valued part of our staff since day one and for the last seven years. He’s one of my best friends and I love his family and his wife.”

On the field, the loss will also be felt, and the statistics are a big reason why.

Leading a Penn State defense entering the season coming off an up-and-down 2020 campaign, Pry and the Nittany Lions have shined. Finishing the regular season with the nation’s No. 7-ranked scoring defense, allowing just 16.8 points per game, the unit has been the only constant for the program.

Yards have come at a premium for opponents both on the ground and in the air, and Penn State’s fourth-ranked red zone defense has epitomized a clamping down style.

“We been a little bit of a bend but don’t break defense all year long,” Franklin said. “We’ve done a really good job stopping the run not only this year but historically.”

Dating back to the 2016 season, the Nittany Lions have finished in the top half of the nation’s best rushing defenses, including allowing just 118.0 yards per game in 2017 (14th), and only 95.0 ypg in 2019 (5th). 

More important, Penn State’s bottom-line defensive scoring numbers have been consistently good as well. Following Penn State’s breakout Rose Bowl berth in 2016, the group finished seventh nationally (16.5 ppg) in ’17.

That number was followed by a No. 23-ranked 20.5 ppg in 2018 and No. 8-ranked 16.0 ppg in 2019 before the struggles of 2020.

Now ranked seventh, Pry’s defenses have finished allowing 21.0 points per game or fewer in four of his six seasons.

With 16 days until the early signing period, the question for Franklin and Penn State is Pry’s influence on recruiting.

Judging from his 2017 comments, Franklin’s position has been one of communication with recruits and their families.

“I’ve been very open about staff change [with our recruits],” Franklin said then. “When guys committed to us months ago, I told them they need to be committing to Penn State; the university, our football program, and myself. I want to keep our staff together for as long as we possibly can. But there’s always going to be some of that in college football. And for me to say there isn’t would not be truthful.”

Tasked with choosing Pry’s successor, Franklin can hope to replicate the strength of the Nittany Lions’ defense. 

A group that endured the personnel losses of presumed starting defensive end Adisa Isaac and tackle Hakeem Beamon, plus a midseason loss of captain DT P.J. Mustipher, the energy and effectiveness at Penn State was something frequently credited to Pry’s influence.

“We’re just a brotherhood here,” fifth-year safety Jaquan Brisker said this month. “Coach Pry puts people together. You love playing for a guy like Coach Pry. He’s always honest with us. He always gives us energy. And he just lets us play fast.”

An integral component to Penn State’s program identity on and off the field the past six years, it’s an influence the Nittany Lions would be fortunate to find again.