Penn State defense assured big shakeup ahead of 2022 season: Analysis
Decisions are still to be made within Penn State’s roster.
Seniors coming back for a bonus COVID year of eligibility. Underclassmen choosing to begin professional careers.
For a Penn State defense among the best in the Big Ten this season, however, news Tuesday demonstrated that one bet is safe ahead of the Nittany Lions’ 2022 campaign.
Things will be different next year.
At the top, that news began with reports and an eventual announcement that defensive coordinator Brent Pry has been named Virginia Tech’s next head coach. Following an eight-year tenure at Penn State, six as the Nittany Lions’ DC, and another three years serving on James Franklin’s staff at Vanderbilt, Pry’s departure marks the end of a highly successful run in the program.
What followed Pry’s news is what will truly give Penn State’s defense the biggest differing look next season, however.
On top of special teams recognition for All-Big Ten performers Jordan Stout and Jahan Dotson, the Nittany Lions sent 10 defensive contributors to all-conference teams Tuesday. Two went for first-team nods by both the coaches and media, and another eight secured second-team, third-team, or honorable mention picks for their performances this season.
And of those players, only one is a sophomore.
Leading the way, safety Jaquan Brisker exhausted his eligibility by coming back for a third season with the Nittany Lions, his fifth at the collegiate level. An invaluable piece of the Penn State defense, the captain finished the regular season with 64 tackles, 6.0 TFL, two interceptions, and five pass breakups.
Right with him among players who cannot possibly return, corner Tariq Castro-Fields finished his Penn State career with an honorable mention pick both by conference coaches and the media. Along with Brisker’s second-most game reps on the defense (786 of 927 snaps according to PFF), TCF’s 708 game snaps are sixth on the defense.
Beyond those two All-Big Ten defenders, however, questions abound about the futures of Penn State’s eight other selections. Only linebacker Curtis Jacobs, who finished the regular season as an honorable mention pick from the media, is assured a return following his sophomore season in which he finished seventh on the defense with 51 tackles, 6.0 TFL, and a pair of sacks.
Defensive selections who have seen game action in four years of college ball, but have not taken advantage of the NCCA’s COVID bonus year, include first-team defensive end Arnold Ebiketie, second-team Mike linebacker Ellis Brooks, and safety Ji’Ayir Brown, a third-team coaches choice. Each has been on a college roster for five years, playing four.
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While Ebiketie has signaled his participation in the Senior Bowl after the season, the path for Brooks and Brown has not been indicated.
“As far as me coming back, (I’m not) really worried too much about that,” said Brown following Penn State’s 30-27 loss at Michigan State on Saturday evening. “I still have some conversations to be had. I’m not too sure on that.”
True senior defensive tackle P.J. Mustipher, a second-team pick by the conference coaches, is one of two fourth-year Penn State participant with a decision to make, alongside third-team defensive lineman Jesse Luketa. Luketa has also indicated his participation in the Senior Bowl, but Mustipher is as yet unclear of his choice.
Saying in a conference call last week that he’d already had his season-ending meeting with Franklin, including talking about his future, Mustipher said he hadn’t yet made a final decision and would do so “within the next couple of weeks” after speaking to his family.
Rounding out Penn State’s all-conference defensive selections, true junior linebacker Brandon Smith, a third-team pick, and redshirt sophomore corner Joey Porter Jr., also a third-team coaches pick, could potentially test the waters off NFL careers after this season.
Though not selected to any of the all-conference teams, the exhausted eligibility of DT Derrick Tangelo makes each of Penn State’s top 10 rep-getting defenders possibilities for departures following the 2021 season.
