Penn State assistant Anthony Poindexter talks Lions' young safeties, his top three, and more

Penn State co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Anthony Poindexter is one of a few members of James Franklin’s staff who has bypassed promotions elsewhere over the years to stick in State College. The College Football Hall of Fame member is in his fourth season with the Nittany Lions. Since taking over in 2021, he has sent Ji’Ayir Brown and Jaquan Brisker to the NFL as draft picks. He aims to swell that list moving forward with a current top three of KJ Winston Jr., Jaylen Reed, and Zakee Wheatley that rivals any trio of first-team safeties across college football. All were productive in the Lions’ Week 1 win over West Virginia.

“The biggest part was the aggression and intensity they played with,” Poindexter said. “They were locked in and played off each other well. All three have played a lot of football here and know what they mean to this team and this defense and the success we will have if they play the way we know they can play.”

Franklin believes his program has one of the best safety rooms in the country. Asked about that comment, Poindexter was appreciative but also realizes much work remains for his players and this team to go where it wants to go.

“It’s nice to say, but we have to play the games,” Poindexter said. “It’s a credit to the kid and how they work. All three of these kids have been in our program for three-plus years. They work, they practice hard, they practice the right way, and it’s the focus they come with every day.”

Does Penn State have enough depth at safety?

Some of Poindexter’s Thursday Q&A with reporters focused on what he has beyond the top three. They are terrific. But, Penn State has just four other scholarship safeties besides them after DaKaari Nelson was moved to linebacker to try and help solve a numbers issue there during camp. On one hand, seven players might seem like enough, but none of the depth is proven. And, the Lions play a lot with three safeties, and cannot change their game plan is Reed, Winston Jr., or Wheatley end up unavailable for any reason.

By all accounts, first-year safety Dejuan Lane is the No. 4 option in the room despite being on campus for just a few months. He made his collegiate debut at West Virginia on special teams with some defense work mixed in. The Maryland native is 6-foot-2, 211 pounds.

“Obviously you can see he got the measurables, he got the speed, and through the summer time he was starting to come on,” Poindexter said. “During fall camp, you really saw it. I put him in the mold of how we brought along J-Reed and KJ as true freshmen playing. And, quite frankly, we need him.

“We don’t have a ton of proven depth in that room right now. He’s mature enough to know what he’s doing. He has a long way to go. But if he keeps watching those older guys, they’ll speed up his process, and he has all the physical tools to be a really good player here.”

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Poindexter was not asked to discuss redshirt senior Tyrece Mills’ development. But, he did provide a status report on redshirt freshman Lamont Payne Jr., and freshman Vaboue Toure.

“Vaboue, he’s coming along every day,” Poindexter said. “Younger player who’s just trying to learn how to be a college football player. He is coming along. He is very intelligent. Now, for him, it’s playing at a college-level speed every play. Not that he doesn’t have the ability to do it. But, he isn’t in high school anymore. It’s kind of the same thing with Payne. There’s a certain kind of urgency you need at this level. We’re the last line of defense. People should feel safe around us. And you have to play with a certain urgency and mindset.

“You’re going to get beat. But you have to know I’m full throttle and urgent in everything they do. And, they’re learning that. It’s a process of playing safety. And, Payne moving corner to safety, a lot of people think that’s an easy jump. It’s not. There is a lot more on your plate. Both of them are progressing. Hopefully, as this year goes on, we get them closer and closer to being ready to play in the game.”

More from Anthony Poindexter

Here are some other highlights from the Penn State assistant’s chat with the media.

On what corners Jalen Kimber and AJ Harris bring to the defense:

“Kimber, he just brings that experience, that veteran leadership,” Poindexter said. “He’s not a very talkative guy, but he plays with a confidence of, ‘I’ve been in big games, this isn’t too big for me.’ He’s not a panicky kid. He’s calm and collected at corner. AJ brings that pit bull. Very tough and competitive. He wants to be the best. I knew once they got locked in, they would be good players for us, and I’m definitely happy we got both of them.”

On Zakee Wheatley’s progress:

“At the end of the season, a year ago, I didn’t think he had the season or production that he wanted to have,” Poindexter said. “We had a long talk at the end of the year and addressed a few things he could get better at. Instead of moping, he went out, and you could tell during winter workouts and spring ball, he had a different mindset. He’s a very talented kid. He tweaked a few things and just, you can see the fruits of his labor.”

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On the Penn State defense’s performance in Week 1

“I think you have to give credit to the kids for buying in,” Poindexter said. “In college football, change happens every year, and our kids didn’t bat an eye. Coach Manny had an opportunity to go be a head coach and the kids were excited for him. “With Coach Allen coming in being a former head coach and longtime defensive coordinator, they’re different people, but our kids bought into the message, how Coach Allen does things, and our kids just like to play football.

“They like to play hard-nosed football. Our kids work, respect coaching, and want to get better every day. If you have talented players who don’t mesh, you don’t get the results. Our kids have bought into how we do business here and we’re working as one. It’s game one, so we still have a lot of things to improve on, but as long as they have the right mindset, we should be OK.”