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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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TAMPA, FLORIDA – JANUARY 01: Raheim Sanders #5 of the Arkansas Razorbacks runs for a 3-yard first down on a 4th and 2 in the first quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions in the 2022 Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium on January 01, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA – JANUARY 01: Raheim Sanders #5 of the Arkansas Razorbacks runs for a 3-yard first down on a 4th and 2 in the first quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions in the 2022 Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium on January 01, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /

Safety

Replacing Jaquan Brisker, who is one of the best safeties in Penn State Football history, is a nearly impossible task.

The competition to be his replacement is between Keaton Ellis and Jaylen Reed, and while I think that both of them can do a good job, it’s tough to think either of them can replicate what Brisker was able to do (very few can).

Redshirt freshman Zakee Wheatley also had an excellent spring session and will help to provide some reliable depth to the unit.

The Nittany Lions will benefit from getting Ji’Ayir Brown back, as he led the nation in interceptions a year ago and will be one of the best defensive backs in the Big Ten in 2022, but overall, it’s hard to imagine Penn State’s safeties being quite as good as they were a year ago.

Although they will still be a solid unit, expect the safety position to regress slightly in the upcoming season.

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