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Penn State Football: position grades for the defensive backs

By Chris Snyder

STATE COLLEGE, PA - NOVEMBER 20: Jaquan Brisker #1 of the Penn State Nittany Lions warms up before the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Beaver Stadium on November 20, 2021 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA - NOVEMBER 20: Jaquan Brisker #1 of the Penn State Nittany Lions warms up before the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Beaver Stadium on November 20, 2021 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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Grading the performance of the Penn State Football defensive backs for the 2021 regular season

Through the first half of the 2021 season, Penn State Football had an outstanding defense from front to back.

Then came the injury to Nittany Lions defensive tackle PJ Mustipher. The impact of this injury reverberated through the front seven for the rest of the season.

Thankfully Penn State Football had one of their best defensive back units in recent memory to be the rock of the defense.

Here are the stats for Penn State Football’s defensive backs this season.

2021 Defensive Backs
Ji’ayir Brown – 67 tackles 1.0 TFL 5 PD 4 INT
Jaquan Brisker – 63 tackles 6.0 TFL 5 PD 2 INT
Joey Porter Jr. – 48 tackles 4 PD 1 INT
Tariq Castro-Fields – 32 tackles 6 PD
Jonathan Sutherland – 19 tackles 2.0 TFL 1 PD 1 INT
Kalen King – 16 tackles 1.0 TFL 4 PD
Daequan Hardy – 15 tackles 3.0 TFL 6 PD 2 INT
Johnny Dixon – 9 tackles 0.5 TFL 2 PD

This group ended up being a jack of all trades.

Both safeties were able to play close to the line of scrimmage to assist in the run support as Brown and Brisker finished third and fourth respectively on the team in total tackles. And they were the definition of “ballhawks” by finishing with six interceptions, ten passes defended, and one touchdown while roaming center field.

The corners were also a benefit in defending the run game. Both Castro-Fields and Porter Jr. played fast and strong and for the most part, were sure tacklers. They were also an asset in defending the pass with the group combining for three interceptions, 22 passes defended, and one touchdown.

If there was a negative on the season, it would have to be the play of Joey Porter Jr. in the last half of the season.

I’m the first to admit it, but I have absolutely no clue what it takes to play cornerback (or any other position) on a D1 college football team. But, for a guy to play so well to start the season and then for him to be a total liability in coverage is head-scratching.

I feel like in the last several games anytime an opposing quarterback heaved a pass in his general direction it was almost guaranteed to be PI on Porter Jr. But give credit to Daequan Hardy, Johnny Dixon, and Kalen King. They stepped their game up when called upon and helped to pick up some of the slack left from a struggling Porter Jr.

I have the utmost confidence Joey will be back and better than ever for next season.

Final grade for Penn State Football’s defensive backs: A

This was probably the easiest position grade outside of the wide receivers.

The defensive backs played their tails off and they bailed out the defense way too many times to count on the season.

It was a joy to watch this group play together and it will be even more fun to watch several of these guys play on Sundays too.

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