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Penn State Football: Ayron Monroe moves in at starting safety

By Collin Wieder

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 02: Safety Ayron Monroe #23 of the Penn State Nittany Lions attempts to tackle defensive back Adoree' Jackson #2 of the USC Trojans during the 2017 Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 2, 2017 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 02: Safety Ayron Monroe #23 of the Penn State Nittany Lions attempts to tackle defensive back Adoree' Jackson #2 of the USC Trojans during the 2017 Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 2, 2017 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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Ayron Monroe begins a youth movement at safety. After losing two seniors at the safety spot, penn state football boasts a junior at one spot this year.

Penn State football moves toward a revitalized safety group in 2018. Marcus Allen and Troy Apke left via the NFL Draft. Now, it’s time for the junior Ayron Monroe and senior Nick Scott to pick up the slack.

That shouldn’t be too hard to do. Monroe and Scott play with a hard-hitting edge. Despite only being a sophomore last year, he saw solid time in 11 games, piling up 18 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. Between his first two years of college ball, he saw action in 21 games. Throughout that time, he put up 30 total tackles.

Similar to his departed safety teammates, his biggest attribute comes from his hard-hitting ability. Whether it’s acting as another linebacker down low in run support or separating the ball from the receiver, he can deliver a shot. He didn’t get to see the field much with stud safeties in front of him. However, he joins a consistent, productive brotherhood over the last few years. Malik Golden, Allen and Apke are all on NFL rosters, so the system and players are set up to succeed.

If he can continue to play with the same reckless abandon at the line of scrimmage, there’s no reason to think it can’t work. In addition, Penn State boasts a strong defensive line which should help ease his transition. It can force quarterbacks into poor decisions allowing the defense to jump on the ball and make plays. Monroe would benefit from such play. This might be his first season in the Nittany Lions secondary, but he’s got all the tools to make it work

At 5-foot-11, 202-pound he has the prototypical body of a college safety. His 4.45, 40-yard dash time out of high school bodes well for the college game and he already proved he can get to the ball in a hurry.

He underwent surgery for an injury in January but all signs point to him returning to the field in time for 2018.

Must Read: Penn State Football: Defensive line returns bevy of players

He’s moved his way up the depth chart and should have a major impact this season.

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