Name: Jaquan Brisker
Number: 1
Position: Safety
Class: Senior
Height: 6′-1″
Weight: 203
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
High School: Gateway
Twitter: @JaquanBrisker
Overview
After a 2020 season that pitted Penn State against some adversity on the football field, Jaquan Brisker was one of a handful of upperclassmen who were faced with a difficult decision. Return for one more chance to play for Penn State and redeem themselves as a team after the 2020 season or take a shot at the NFL. After a call with some of his teammates, Brisker made the decision to stay put for one more season in blue and white, giving Penn State a veteran safety to rely on for the 2021 season.
There was a FaceTime call with players who had a decision to make about the NFL, Brisker said. Tariq Castro-Fields, Jahan Dotson, Brisker were on it. "We're gonna bring back the normal. We can't set the standard like we did last year. … We made our decision and we came back."
— Audrey Snyder (@audsnyder4) March 29, 2021
The return of Brisker for Penn State’s defense is a confidence boost for the defense. In 2020, despite Penn State’s struggles as a team reflected in the record, Brisker was a positive for the defense. Brisker earned All-American first-team honors from Pro Football Focus and he was designated an honorable mention All-American by Phil Steele, although Big Ten coaches (third-team All-Big Ten) and Big Ten media (honorable mention) had a lesser opinion to his accomplishments on the field last season. Perhaps that will serve as a bit of fuel to Brisker’s fire for his return in 2021.
Brisker started all nine games of the 2020 season, his first nine games started during his career at Penn State. He became known as a player that can break up passes in his direction (team-high six breakups) and he made other plays with three tackles for a loss and an interception.
Brisker is one of the handful of players on the Penn State roster to come originally from Lackawanna Community College, where he was a two-time letterman and a team captain. Brisker’s leadership skills have transferred to Penn State with him, as he is recognized as one of the true leaders of the Penn State defense.
When position coaches coaching the opposite of you, then you know something is being done correctly. For Brisker, admiration from Penn State tight ends coach Ty Howle speaks volumes about the leadership being displayed this spring.
Always great going against Tight End U everyday! Let’s keep working coach https://t.co/o5lgfdia09
— Quanny B. (@JaquanBrisker) April 11, 2021
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