Penn State Football Early Position Preview 2017: Secondary
By Shane Lunnen
The Penn State secondary looks to build off a solid 2016 season
Two of the most memorable plays of the 2016 Penn State season were made by players in the Nittany Lion backfield, and that experience is returning this year to a unit that will look to continue being a strength of Penn State’s defense.
The cornerback positions should be locked in for the upcoming season.
Senior Grant Haley will occupy one spot. Last year, Haley did not record any tackles until the Minnesota game, as he was injured in the first half of the Pitt game and missed the next two. He finished the year with 39 tackles and five passes defended. He will be remembered for his blocked field goal scoop and score against Ohio State and coming up with the fourth-down stop of Wisconsin to seal the Big Ten championship.
Junior John Reid will be back as well and teaming with Haley for the second consecutive season. Reid started all 14 games last year and played well. He had 36 tackles, five of which went for a loss. He also had one interception and a team-high 19 passes defensed. The combination of Reid and Haley should continue to create match-up problems for opposing receivers.
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Despite having the solid tandem of Reid and Haley, the coaches are not afraid to rotate the corners, and they shouldn’t be.
Senior Christian Campbell has starting experience and will definitely be in the rotation, along with redshirt junior Amani Oruwariye.
The question on many fans’ minds is: where does true freshman corner Lamont Wade fit into the equation? The four-star prospect enrolled early and was a top get for James Franklin in the 2017 recruiting class. He may be too talented to keep off the field.
Things are a little less settled at the safety position with the graduation of Malik Golden. One familiar face that will be back though is senior Marcus Allen. His most memorable moment was the field goal block against Ohio State that Haley returned for the game winning touchdown. But his 22-tackle monster performance against Minnesota should also be remembered. He led the Nittany Lions last year in tackles with 110 and looks to add to that mark this season.
There are three players to watch when it comes to filling the vacant safety position.
Senior Troy Apke started the Minnesota game when Golden was hurt and appeared in 10 games total. He finished the season with 28 tackles and an interception. He probably has a slight edge based on experience, but don’t count out converted running back Nick Scott or redshirt sophomore Ayron Monroe, the latter of which the coaching staff seems pretty high on. No matter who starts, there will also be a regular rotation at the safety position.
Next: Penn State Football Season Rewind: Nittany Lions Roll Past Michigan State to Win Big Ten East
James Franklin and company has recruiting well at the secondary position the last couple seasons and it’s certainly stacked with talent. It should be a strength for this season and beyond.
2017 Early Position Previews