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Penn State linebacker Curtis Jacobs makes his 2023 intentions known

Fitz headshot croppedby:Sean Fitz•01/10/23•

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Linebacker Curtis Jacobs (Credit: Daniel Althouse/Blue White Illustrated)

Penn State linebacker Curtis Jacobs earned All-Big Ten honorable mention honors for his play in the 2022 season, and the junior hopes to improve on that showing in 2023. Jacobs announced on Tuesday that he will be returning to the Nittany Lions for his fourth season. 

“I’m back,” he wrote in a statement on social media. ”I will return to Penn State for the 2023 season.”

The 6-foot-1, 227-pound Jacobs finished third on the team in tackles in 2022 with 52. He added 7.5 tackles for loss and four sacks to go with a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and an interception. Jacobs took that interception back for a touchdown against Michigan in October. He missed the Maryland game with an injury in November. Jacobs had a pair of sacks in Penn State’s win over Utah in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 2.

Jacobs is a two-year starter for Penn State

Jacobs has played in 33 games for the Nittany Lions and started 23 of them. He moved from the Sam linebacker position to the Will spot before the 2022 season, but found himself back at his old space midway through the year due to the emergence of freshman linebacker Abdul Carter. The move paid off, as Jacobs and the rest of the defense were dominant down the stretch. 

His top showing came against a run-heavy Minnesota squad in the White Out. He finished with a career-high 14 tackles and two tackles for loss in the 45-17 win. Jacobs had a key sack early in the win over Auburn that killed a Tigers’ drive inside the red zone. 

“With Curtis, you talk about an experienced linebacker who has played a ton of football for us. He’s athletic, a playmaker for us. He’s playing with more and more confidence and toughness each week,” head coach James Franklin said last month. “So having a veteran guy like that back is really big. We’re in a situation now where our depth at linebacker is pretty good.”

Nittany Lions’ linebacker situation clearer heading into 2023

Jacobs’ return gives the Nittany Lions a boost at the second level of the defense in addition to stability at the position. Penn State is slated to return Carter at the other outside spot and the Nittany Lions saw progress from middle linebackers Tyler Elsdon and Kobe King throughout the season. While sixth-year senior Jonathan Sutherland will move on, his backup, former walk-on Dom Deluca, showed promise at Sam as well. The Nittany Lions will also have two linebackers coming off of redshirt seasons in Tyrece Mills and Keon Wylie and sophomore Jamari Buddin played a reserve role this year. Penn State will also add a pair of early enrollees in Ta’Mere Robinson and Tony Rojas for the spring semester. 

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