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Penn State veteran Jonathan Sutherland poised for permanent LB move

nate-mug-10.12.14by:Nate Bauer•12/31/21•

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Penn State senior defender Jonathan Sutherland is poised to make a move to Sam linebacker next season.

Penn State strength coach Dwight Galt didn’t hesitate in making his choices picking the top five “freak” athletes on the team in August.

Running through the usual suspects – Jaquan Brisker, Brandon Smith taking Nos. 1 and 2 – Galt landed at a curious choice for No. 3.

At 205 pounds, fifth-year senior safety Jonathan Sutherland got the nod for his 4.48 40-yard dash combined with a 36-inch vertical, 9-foot-9-inch broad jump, 335-pound clean, 370-pound bench press, and 550-pound squat. 

“I probably would go with Jon Sutherland. He’s a warrior” Galt said. “Those are phenomenal numbers. That is really good. (His) best index is 724. He’s hit over 700 on his index six test periods. So he’s been very consistent, he’s done a great job. Those are excellent numbers.”

Next season, he’ll have an opportunity to test them at Penn State’s Sam linebacker position.

Already given a test-run in Penn State’s preseason practices ahead of the 2021 campaign, Sutherland’s place remained largely as a backup to Brisker. But in announcing his return for a sixth season with the program, an odds-on pick to become the program’s first-ever four-time team captain, the move is going to be made permanent. 

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“He’s already done that this year. He’s already played that position,” Franklin said Wednesday. “I think that was part of him coming back. He’s going to come back next year and use his extra year.

“I think he realizes as well as we do, although he’s got some safety skills and DB skills, he plays his best the closer he is to the football. I think that’s his long-term future.”

Sutherland’s performance this season reflects as much. 

Consistently earning top marks for his run defense and tackling according to PFF (though grading out with his lowest overall mark of 58.1 in his injury-altered 2021 campaign), Sutherland finished with 19 tackles, 2.0 TFL, an interception, and a pass breakup in the stat sheet.

And given the departures of both Ellis Brooks and Brandon Smith out of the linebacker unit for 2022, as well as in the immediate future of Saturday’s Outback Bowl game with No. 23 Arkansas, Sutherland was presented with an opportunity to make an impact on Penn State’s defense next season.

“It made sense for him to come back, fill one of those roles, be able to put a whole season of tape together of showing probably what his role and identity will be at the next level,” Franklin said. “He’s been a great special teams player for us. But, yeah, playing what we call the field backer, the Sam linebacker, I think that’s his future. He’ll play that on Saturday.”

Sutherland’s appearance against Arkansas will mark his 46th career game played as a Nittany Lion. 

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