Penn State Football: Linebackers working by committee

For the last few years, Penn State football mainly used three-to-four starters at the linebacker spot. Now, it’s shifted to a group effort in 2018.

After seeing so many three-down linebackers graduate over the previous two seasons, Penn State football has seen a shift in its production. The linebacking group had to find depth and youth in order to replace those lost. It’s done so with only one senior player and a host of underclassmen.

Starting at the top of the list, redshirt junior Jan Johnson has become the mainstay at middle linebacker. The walk-on linebacker gives many that ‘Linebacker U’ feel. He wasn’t highly-recruited or sought after, but he’s been productive and hard-nosed. In fact, he leads the team in tackles with 29 total. In fact a local news station has already noted his strong, recounting his story a few weeks back. (link courtesy of WTAJ TV). VBR Co-Expert Barry Leonard even gave him the defensive MVP Award for the first five games.

On the outsides, third-year player Cam Brown and senior Koa Farmer are solidifying the team with some experience. The duo has combined for 41 stops on the season. Farmer showed up in the biggest game of the season against Ohio State recording a career-high eight total tackles. The former safety has freakish speed and continues to be a hassle for opposing teams.

On the other side, Brown has had a nose for the football this season, recording 24 tackles. The rangy speedster shot some gaps and has brought down four ballcarriers for loss already this season. In the two players’ careers they’ve recorded 180 total tackles and figure to be key veterans as the season progresses.

In big games, expect those three to get most of the reps. With that said, the defense will continue to see multiple rotations. This is where the youngsters factor in with Micah Parsons, Ellis Brooks and Jesse Luketa. Parsons and Luketa are true freshmen that are already making an impact, while Brooks is a redshirt freshman that has also gotten on the field.

The trio has seen time throughout the year with Parsons receiving the most time. He has become basically a starter and made plays with 23 tackles in his snaps, while Brooks has followed with 11 and Luketa with four, also who plays on special teams.

Although the defense has failed to stop opposing run games at times this season, it showed significant progress since the start of the second half against Illinois. Penn State football carried that momentum into the Ohio State game, allowing only 119 yards on 37 carries.

The growth of the linebackers is what has helped that situation. It’s become a unit over the course of the first five games. With the amount of depth it’s created, I wouldn’t doubt a much better defense after the bye week.