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Penn State defense has a job open for the first time in three years

Headshot 5x7 reduced qualityby:Thomas Frank Carr•01/20/24•

ThomasFrankCarr

Curtis Jacobs Daequan Hardy Penn State Football On3
Nov 4, 2023; College Park, Maryland, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions cornerback Daequan Hardy (25) and linebacker Curtis Jacobs (23) stand swarth teammates before the game against the Maryland Terrapins at SECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Over the last three seasons, one position has been a consistent and solid producer for the Penn State defense. While just one player didn't operate it alone, the team had excellent slot defense from its dual-role defenders, Curtis Jacobs and Daequan Hardy.  Now both Jacobs and Hardy are off to the NFL, and for the first time in three years, the field defender position is open for competition. But with the exit of Penn State's tandem, the team is losing 897 slot snaps from 2021 to 2023. Here's where those two players impacted the Penn State defense.