Three redshirt freshmen to watch for Penn State football in 2018

Now that the 2017 Penn State football season has come to a conclusion, here is a look at three redshirt freshmen to watch in 2018

Penn State football fans can now begin to look ahead to 2018. Following a successful 2017 campaign that saw the Nittany Lions go 11-2, win the Fiesta Bowl, and finish No. 8 in the AP Poll is sadly now in the rearview.

When looking ahead to 2018, many fans may wonder about new faces that could be big contributors next season. With the early signing period for the 2018 recruiting class over, we take a look back at the 2017 recruiting class, and three players from that group that were redshirted that Penn State football fans should keep an eye on in 2018.

Here are three redshirt freshmen to watch for the Nittany Lions in 2018.

Wide receiver KJ Hamler

KJ Hamler was one of the of the late additions to Penn State’s 2017 recruiting class, he was also one of the most talented. The four-star wide receiver chose the Nittany Lions over Oregon, Michigan, Michigan State, and Wisconsin, among others.

During his senior year of high school at IMG Academy in Florida, the Michigan native tore his ACL. If not for the injury, he would have played this past fall. Hamler is the team’s fastest wide receiver and will bring a speed dynamic to the wide receivers next season that the Nittany Lions did not have in 2017.

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Look for KJ Hamler to be Penn State’s starting H receiver in 2018, replacing DaeSean Hamilton. Like Hamilton, Hamler can play both inside and out for the Nittany Lions. However, unlike Hamilton, Hamler has elite speed and athleticism that will make him a nightmare for opposing secondaries to try and cover.

Do not be surprised to see Hamler play a big role in the kick and punt return games as well.

Safety Jonathan Sutherland

In June of 2017 four-star safety Jonathan Sutherland committed to Penn State. The Canada native was an underrated pull by the Nittany Lion coaching staff but has the potential to be a great one.

This past fall Sutherland spent his time as one of Penn State’s best practice squad players. Due to his ferocious hits and ability to lay the wood Sutherland was nicknamed ‘choo choo’ by now former Nittany Lion safety Marcus Allen.

With Allen and Troy Apke both graduating and moving on, the depth chart is wide open at safety for Penn State. This will create a great opportunity for Sutherland to earn playing time, if not a starting job, next fall.

Penn State will need help at safety in 2018 and Jonathan Sutherland will have the opportunity to provide said help. Sutherland will see plenty of snaps at safety in 2018 and may even earn a starting role.

Linebacker Ellis Brooks

In 2018 Penn State will be in desperate need of help at linebacker, and Virginia native Ellis Brooks is more than capable of helping out. The Nittany Lion coaching staff worked hard to land Brooks after Dylan Rivers flipped to Virginia Tech, and it paid off.

While injuries kept Brooks off the practice field as a true freshman, he made great strides off the field. Teammates have raved about his football IQ, work in the film room, and ability to quarterback a defense. All three of traits are vital for a MIKE linebacker.

Ellis Brooks is also already physically ready to go checking in at 6’1, 235 pounds. While he still needs to work on his speed, Brooks already has the uncoachable aspects of playing linebacker down.

Barring injuries setting him back further, Ellis Brooks should see time at MIKE linebacker in 2018. The only question is if he will win the starting job or not, and right now he might be the clubhouse leader to do just that.

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KJ Hamler, Jonathan Sutherland, and Ellis Brooks are three redshirt freshmen to keep an eye on. All three will play for the Nittany Lions in 2018 and will have the opportunity to earn a starting role.

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