With the absence of two starting linebackers for the Outback Bowl, Penn State was going to have to work out some alternative plans for the position against the Arkansas Razorbacks. Fortunately, one player who may be expected to be a fixture at the position in 2022 is available for the bowl game.
Jonathan Sutherland, special teams captain who has played safety when asked to play defense, will be getting some time at linebacker in the Outback Bowl, judging by pregame observations from the Penn State beat in the press box in Tampa.
Based on warmups, first-team LBs look like Jonathan Sutherland-Jesse Luketa-Curtis Jacobs.
— Mike Gross (@MikeGrossLNP) January 1, 2022
Audrey Snyder of The Athletic managed to update her starting lineup sheet while seeing who was getting reps at a variety of positions in pregame warmups.
If you can follow the writing…. What PSU looked like in warmups. pic.twitter.com/QCIXOeczFS
— Audrey Snyder (@audsnyder4) January 1, 2022
Sutherland looks to be moving into the position previously held by Curtis Jacobs, who will apparently be moving form SAM to WILL linebacker for the Outback Bowl. Jesse Luketa, who has played both linebacker and on the defensive line for the Nittany Lions, looks to be situated in the middle of the linebackers.
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