10 Burning Questions Penn State Football must answer as camp begins

9. What Can We Expect at Linebacker?

Last season, Penn State Football defensive coordinator Brent Pry’s defense certainly missed having the speed of All-American and first round draft pick Micah Parsons at linebacker.

Often times, the linebackers seemingly had their feet stuck in the mud. So, what can we expect from the linebacker group this season? Brandon Smith will more than likely move over to the weak side after spending last season on the strong side. Will this move help the defense by keeping his speed in the box and not allowing the offense to take him out of the play? Ellis Brooks returns at the middle linebacker position. Will playing alongside Smith put him in a better position to be successful? Curtis Jacobs will likely start on the strong side, how will he fare in his first season in a starting role?

The depth at linebacker could provide some issues, as many of those guys have not seen many meaningful in-game snaps at this point. The exception being Jesse Luketa, but again, how much time will he spend in a true linebacker role? Charlie Katshir will be in the mix, along with Tyler Elsdon and Kobe King, both of which carry freshman eligibility. Will those young guys be ready?