Entering the 2021 season, the situation at the linebacker situation for Penn State appeared to be pretty much settled. But on Friday night, head coach James Franklin pretty much made it clear he knows exactly who will be starting for Penn State at a couple of linebacker spots in 2021.
Jesse Luketa and Ellis Brooks were both players Franklin recognized as starters for the Penn State defense. But asked if there was an update on the two competing for a starting spot at middle linebacker, Franklin responded by saying he and his staff view both as starters on the Penn State defense,
“We view both of them as starters for us,” Franklin said in his post-practice press conference on Friday evening. “They will both be starters for us at the linebacker position, whether it’s mike linebacker or one of the outside linebacker positions.”
It doesn’t come as much a surprise that both are viewed as starters for Penn State. In 2020, both Luketa and Brooks started games for the Penn State defense all season long following the decision of Micah Parsons to opt out of the 2020 season. Luketa was the player who filled the void left by Parsons, and he emerged as a leader of the defense as a result rather quickly. Brandon Smith joined Luketa and Brooks on top of the depth chart at the linebacker positions. All three are expected to be the starting trio for the Nittany Lions again in the fall.
Luketa is a player that could play some different roles for the defense though, which Franklin alluded to. Franklin said there may be some discussions with Luketa about playing some different positions that would allow for some flexibility on the defense and allow Luketa to improve his potential NFL draft stock moving forward. What exactly that role may end up being remains to be seen.
Franklin has stated he believes in the linebacking trio he has ready to go in 2021, suggesting lettermen of the program will be incredibly proud of what Luketa, Brooks and Smith end up displaying for Linebacker U.
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