Penn State football: What's next for the safeties as Jaquan Brisker departs?
Life without Jaquan Brisker begins a game ahead of schedule for Penn State football.
The first-team All-Big Ten safety elected to opt out of the Nittany Lions’ Outback Bowl contest against Arkansas on Saturday as he prepares for the NFL Draft. It leaves Penn State without one of its stalwarts in the secondary, and offers an early glimpse of what that unit could look like in 2022.
“We’d always still love to have him, but I respect his decision,” safeties coach and interim defensive coordinator Anthony Poindexter said. “He’s got my full support, this coaching staff’s full support. I just want the best thing for him. He worked his tail off his whole life to get to this point. He had a coaching change his senior year, but decided to come back. He’s been great with me, helping me along the way this year. So, I’m so proud of him and happy for him.”
Brisker made 63 total tackles, broke up five passes and came away with two interceptions for Penn State in 2021.
He’ll be difficult to replace, but that task becomes easier after his safety partner Ji’Ayir Brown announced his intent to return for another season.
RELATED: Penn State roster tracker update: Where the Lions stand as 2021 winds to a close
A Lackawanna College product like Brisker, Brown emerged to become a key asset for the Nittany Lions in 2021. He led Penn State in takeaways, intercepting four passes and recovering a pair of fumbles as well.
“I think he watched what happened with Jaquan, and he sees the benefit of him coming back for another year,” Poindexter said. “I think he just thought it would be in his best interest to come back, and we in the program are very happy for that.”
Jonathan Sutherland will also return for one final go around, but it’s unclear whether he’ll bolster Poindexter’s safety room or line up primarily at linebacker, having done both in 2021.
Poindexter said new Penn State defensive coordinator Manny Diaz and the coaching staff will decide how to use Sutherland’s “unique” set of skills after the bowl game.
Top 10
- 1Breaking
Carson Beck
QB entering portal
- 2New
Notre Dame Flu
Irish battling flu, Penn State
- 3
Ohio State fans mistake
A brutal, costly error
- 4
Oregon accusation
Dirk Koetter claims Ducks tampered
- 5
Nick Saban
Shane Gillis details confrontation
Get the On3 Top 10 to your inbox every morning
By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.
“He can play close to the line of scrimmage, he can play back there with me,” Poindexter said. “We’ll find the best position to put him in to have success.”
True freshman Jaylen Reed and junior Keaton Ellis — who moved from corner to safety this season — are two more names to watch.
Both earned more playing time for Penn State down the stretch of the season, and Poindexter hinted that both could have roles to play on Saturday.
“I’ve been really pleased with his growth process and with his year here,” Poindexter said of Reed. “He’s a really smart kid when it comes to playing football. He loves playing football and he’s tough. I think he’s going to be a really good player coming down the pipeline.”
Poindexter was similarly complimentary of Ellis’s development for Penn State this season.
“I’m very comfortable with Keaton in the game,” he said. “He’s a unique talent — he’s got corner skill playing safety. He’s big. He can run, but he can also tackle. He’s been in this defense for a long time and he can communicate it, so I’m excited to watch him on Saturday.
