Who are Penn State Football’s key players to pick up an Outback Bowl win over Arkansas?

EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 27: Parker Washington #3 and Jahan Dotson #5 of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrate after Dotson scored a touchdown against the Michigan State Spartans during the second quarter at Spartan Stadium on November 27, 2021 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images) /

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Curtis Jacobs #23 of the Penn State Nittany Lions (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

Penn State Football linebacker – Curtis Jacobs

Curtis Jacobs is the lone remaining starter at linebacker with Ellis Brooks and Brandon Smith opting out, and Jacobs has been excellent in his first season as a starter.

Jacobs had 26 tackles in his final four games of the regular season, after a relatively slow start to the season statistically. As he has gotten more and more experience and reps, his game has improved.

Playing the strong side linebacker position, he also did a solid job in pass coverage most of the year, but there is a chance that acting defensive coordinator Anthony Poindexter could move him into the box to play the weak side in the absence of Brooks and Smith. If that is the case, expect Jonathan Sutherland to take Jacobs’ place on the strong side like he did against Rutgers.

He has been a sure tackler more often than not, and Curtis Jacobs will need to continue that against a great group of Arkansas running backs.

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