Why did Penn State move DaKaari Nelson to linebacker? James Franklin and others explain
STATE COLLEGE — Penn State redshirt freshman defender DaKarri Nelson made a rare move this deep into preseason camp: He switched positions. The Alabama native started his Nittany Lion career at safety in 2023 after signing as a four-star. He also began spring practice and preseason camp there this year. But, in recent weeks, seeking more depth and realizing Nelson was probably becoming too big to stick around safety long-term and perhaps even short-term, 11th-year head coach James Franklin and first-year defensive coordinator Tom Allen made the decision to move Nelson closer to the line of scrimmage and play him at linebacker, as Blue-White Illustrated first reported on Sunday. The transition is in its infancy. But, it’s been so far, so good.
“I think with a lot of these guys, we recruit them and bring them here based on kind of what position they played in high school, but right away he was 220 pounds and fighting it,” Franklin said.
Nelson currently checks in at 6-foot-3, 217 pounds. Working at his new position on Tuesday, he looked fast enough to play it and also big enough to handle the rigors of playing in the box.
“Obviously, we need a little bit more depth at linebacker, and you’re looking at creative ways to solve problems,” Franklin continued. “We had a conversation with him. He was open to it. It’s really been good for him and us. He’s playing physical right now, showing up a lot in practice, making plays. I think he’s excited about it.
“He’s never done it before. You’re kind of unsure. But I think it’s genetics, we’re kind of telling them [a position switch could happen one day]. And then an opportunity presented itself, and he’s moved there. So far, so good. He’s done some really nice things.”
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Penn State outside linebackers coach Justin Lustig on Nelson: ‘I think this is a really good, move. For him and for us, and we’re excited about.’
First-year Penn State special teams coordinator Justin Lustig also has a role in coaching the outside linebackers. There’s no guarantee that Nelson will play on defense immediately. But, he’s going to play special teams, at the very least. Lustig likes what he is seeing out of the second-year Nittany Lion in both roles.
“I give him a lot of credit,” Lustig said. “I think, in this day and age, for guys to move positions this late in camp, usually like fight that. He embraced it from day one. He’s gotten better and better, and he’s playing his best ball that I’ve seen since I’ve been here in the last nine months. So I’m excited about him. I think he’s going to play a factor on special teams as well. He’s a big, strong kid that can run and is physical, so always a place on the field for those type of guys.
“He was one of our bigger safeties, right? And with that came, maybe was he a susceptible a little bit in real big open spaces, right? We tightened the spaces down, put him in at linebacker, and now that’s not an issue anymore. So I think this is a really good, move. For him and for us, and we’re excited about.”
