16 days until Penn State football 2021 season opener

With 16 days to go until Penn State football returns, here’s a look at who is wearing No. 16 in Happy Valley.

We are 16 days away from Penn State football!

Yesterday, we talked about a current player in Mason Stahl. Today, we will learn a little bit more about the current number 16 for the Nittany Lions, Ji’Ayir Brown.

Brown was a three-star player who grew up in Trenton, New Jersey. He was the 11th ranked JUCO player in his recruiting class and the top one in the state of New Jersey, according to 247 Sports.

As mentioned, Brown spent his first two collegiate years playing at Lackawanna College in Scranton, Pennsylvania. His biggest offer came from Penn State, where he eventually committed to play in the class of 2020.

Brown started to make a name for himself last season. He played in nine games and was one of 21 players to make their collegiate debuts. Brown displays a lot of versatility for that Penn State secondary. He played corner his first two years until he was recruited to play safety at State College.

Brown knows what it’s like to be a part of a winning team. During his first two years at Lackawanna College, he lead them to the championship game as well as guided them to winning the El Toro Bowl with a perfect 11-0 record.

Of the nine games Brown played in last year, he was very productive against quite a few Big Ten teams, including Ohio State and Iowa.

He is currently projected to start at free safety this season. From being a star player at his junior college to earning a starting role for the Nittany Lions, JUCO players like Brown have such an awesome story to follow. He will be a key contributor to Penn State’s defense that looks to bounce back this season, starting in 16 days.

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