Penn State Football: Examining Nittany Lions’ biggest strengths, weaknesses in 2022

A strength for Penn State Football – pass coverage

Overall, Penn State Football’s pass coverage should be just as good as last season, led by a trio of veterans in the secondary.

Ji’Ayir Brown, who led the Big Ten in interceptions last season, returns, as well as Joey Porter Jr, who was an all-Big Ten cornerback last season, according to the coaches from across the conference. Daequan Hardy, who was excellent at the nickel/star position last season, is also back for the Nittany Lions in 2022.

A young and highly touted Kalen King will step into the starting lineup at cornerback, so the Nittany Lions should not miss a beat there, and may even be better if King’s potential comes to fruition.

Replacing Jaquan Brisker at safety will likely be either Keaton Ellis or Jaylen Reed, and while they may not be first team all-conference type talent like Brisker (very few players are), they are still more than capable of getting the job done in coverage.

At linebacker, Curtis Jacobs did a good job in coverage as a first-time starter in 2021, and Jonathan Sutherland will be more than comfortable in pass coverage as a former safety, so the second level should do a good job in that regard as well.

Last year’s team featured one of the best secondaries in Penn State Football history, which helped them to be excellent in coverage, and this season should be no different.