Breaking down Penn State Football’s safety room with Ji’Ayir Brown back

Is a three-time captain up to the challenge? 

Jonathan Sutherland

Sutherland is a three-time team captain for Penn State Football, and was awarded the number zero in 2020, a tradition Penn State Football started, making him the first player to ever wear the number in program history.

It was awarded to a special teams player who is a “tough, dependable, disciplined, physical leader who inspires teammates with his accountability and production.”

The Canada native has sparingly seen reps at safety in his tenure with the Nittany Lions, playing mostly on special teams, however, when he is in at safety, he is seen more so as a linebacker/safety hybrid playing near the line of scrimmage.

Sutherland appeared in six games this past season making 19 tackles and had one interception which came in the waning minutes of the Rutgers game in the home finale.

At this point in his career, Sutherland is a tremendous locker room leader, special teams player, and good depth/role player at safety, but is not a solid option to start alongside Brown.

If Sutherland is starting at safety come Labor Day Weekend that is a sign that Penn State Football was unsuccessful in finding a legitimate counterpart to Brown.