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Penn State Football: will the Nittany Lions get better or get worse at each position on defense?

By Nick Kreiser

STATE COLLEGE, PA - OCTOBER 02: Joey Porter Jr. #9 of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates after a play against the Indiana Hoosiers during the second half at Beaver Stadium on October 2, 2021 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA - OCTOBER 02: Joey Porter Jr. #9 of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates after a play against the Indiana Hoosiers during the second half at Beaver Stadium on October 2, 2021 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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Nov 6, 2021; College Park, Maryland, USA; Maryland Terrapins quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa (3) throws as Penn State Nittany Lions linebacker Curtis Jacobs (23) applies pressure during the first half at Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 6, 2021; College Park, Maryland, USA; Maryland Terrapins quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa (3) throws as Penn State Nittany Lions linebacker Curtis Jacobs (23) applies pressure during the first half at Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /

Linebacker

Penn State Football loses two of its three starting linebackers from a year ago, one of which led the team with 100 tackles (Ellis Brooks), and the other that became a fourth-round draft pick (Brandon Smith); so the Nittany Lions face an uphill battle as they try to replace them.

Curtis Jacobs – who could be looking at a breakout season – can be better than both Brooks and Smith, so weak side linebacker is not at all a concern. However, it’s the middle and strong side linebacker positions where some question marks arise.

The middle linebacker spot figures to come down to Kobe King and Tyler Elsdon, both of which are young and inexperienced. Each one has a bright future, but it is unlikely that either of them will be able to match Brooks’ level of production at the MIKE – at least not this early in their career.

Jonathan Sutherland makes the transition from safety to strong side linebacker, and is not expected to have the same type of impact at that spot as Curtis Jacobs did a year ago.

Depth on the second level was an issue last season, and that seems to be the case again this year. Charlie Katshir – who has struggled to stay healthy throughout his career – will be one of the backups, as well as an inexperienced Jamari Buddin, and also a true freshman in Abdul Carter.

All signs point towards the linebacking corps taking a step back in 2022, and probably being the weakness of this Penn State Football defense.

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