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Penn State Football: Projecting Nittany Lions’ spring depth chart

By Lawrence Santa Maria

Sep 27, 2019; College Park, MD, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin leads his team onto the field prior to their game against the Maryland Terrapins at Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 27, 2019; College Park, MD, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin leads his team onto the field prior to their game against the Maryland Terrapins at Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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Brain Cobbs #15 of the Maryland Terrapins makes a catch against Tariq Castro-Fields #5 of the Penn State Nittany Lions (Photo by G Fiume/Maryland Terrapins/Getty Images) /

Secondary

Cornerback: Tariq Castro-Fields (SR) – Johnny Dixon (SO) – Marquise Wilson (SO)

Safety: Jaquan Brisker (JR) – Jonathan Sutherland (RS JR)

Safety: Ji’Ayir Brown (JR) – Jonathan – Enzo Jennings (FR) – Tyler Rudolph (RS FR)

Cornerback: Joey Porter Jr. (RS FR) – Keaton Ellis (SO) – Daequan Hardy (FR)

With cornerback Tariq Castro-Fields returning for his senior season, this secondary has the chance to be the best of the Franklin era.

Sophomore Johnny Dixon comes to Happy Valley via the transfer portal from South Carolina where he started last season and finished third in the SEC in completion percentage allowed when targeted. Dixon will push Porter Jr. and Fields for a starter role, but expect him to get a lot of time in the star position as the slot cornerback.

The safety position is one of the most intriguing position battles of this spring/summer but look for Ji’Ayir Brown to emerge as the starter opposite Brisker. Sutherland is a great special teams player and culture driver, however we have seen what his ceiling is and is not great in space which is what this defense needs.

Enzo Jennings is raw, but remains the potential x-factor in this secondary, if he can grow up fast he might have the best pure cover skills of all the safeties as he played a lot of cornerback in high school.

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