Could Penn State football look to portal to replace Lance Dixon?

Curtis Jacobs 

The loss of Dixon opens the door for freshman Curtis Jacobs, who was a highly touted four star recruit of his own, to see more playing time next season.

Jacobs came to Happy Valley as the 36th ranked high school player in the country according to 247 sports, and was Penn State football’s highest ranked recruit in their 2020 class.

In his true freshman season, the Maryland native appeared in seven games, making nine total tackles, a half a tackle for loss and one pass breakup.

Listed at six-foot-one and 226 pounds, the youngster is the prototype size of an outside linebacker in a 4-3 base defense and should see his role grow with Dixon not around to take away reps from him. He is a great athlete and it is probably safe to assume that a more normal offseason this time around will do him wonders as he piles muscle mass onto his frame.

Jacobs is similar to former Penn State Football linebacker Brandon Bell who starred for the Penn State football defense from 2013-’16, however Jacobs may be a better athlete then Bell was even

If Penn State Football does move Brandon Smith over to middle linebacker, expect Jacobs to start at that outside linebacker position where Smith starred last season. Jacobs, Smith and Ellis Brooks would be a very formidable trio for the NIttany Lions, at least on paper.