Penn State Football 2018 Position Preview: Secondary

Penn State football has to replace all of the starters in the secondary for 2018. 

It is not often that a team has to replace four starters from one unit on a defense, but that’s exactly the predicament that Penn State football faces heading into the 2018 season. The secondary was loaded with seniors last season, meaning that both starting cornerbacks and both starting safeties are no longer around.

Christian Campbell and Grant Haley are gone at cornerback, and Marcus Allen and Troy Apke are no longer around to play safety.

Fortunately for the Nittany Lions, the situation isn’t as bad as it may initially sound. Everyone ready to step into a starting role this season also has plenty of playing experience. Not to mention the fact that a former starter will return from injury.

John Reid was a staple at cornerback for the Nittany Lions during his first two years with the program. He played in 13 games in 2015 and earned a spot on the Big Ten All-Freshman team. As a sophomore in 2016 he was an All-Big Ten honorable mention after starting all 14 games for the Nittany Lions.

A knee injury suffered during spring practice in 2017 forced Reid to miss the entire season last year. Now, fully recovered, he will return as a starting cornerback and a leader of the Penn State secondary.

Joining Reid as a starting cornerback will be Amani Oruwariye. The fifth-year senior was a second-team All-Big Ten selection last year after appearing in 11 games. He recorded 28 total tackles and led the Nittany Lions with four interceptions. Oruwariye showed off his talent and proved that he can be a starter in 2018.

Backing up the starting cornerbacks will be Tariq Castro-Fields, Jabari Butler, and redshirt freshman Donovan Johnson.

Sophomore Lamont Wade saw time in 12 games last season at cornerback, but has moved to safety for this season. He will enter camp in a position battle with Garrett Taylor for a starting spot. Wade recorded 31 total tackles last year, while Taylor had 12.

Regardless of which player wins the position battle, each should see significant time at the backend of the Penn State secondary.

As the other safety position, look for fifth-year senior Nick Scott to nab the starting job. The former running back made 33 total tackles in 13 games last season.

Behind Scott, Ayron Monroe and Jonathan Sutherland, and John Petrishen should be the main reserves.

There are obviously some big names missing this year, but Penn State’s secondary depth chart has plenty of experienced players to fill the holes.