Tag: Jaquan Brisker

Inside the box score: The one key stat where Penn State actually beat Wisconsin

Inside the box score: Penn State had no business winning at Wisconsin if you just glanced briefly at the box score

Penn State celebrated a hard-fought victory on the road against Wisconsin, coming out with a 16-10 victory against the Badgers. After the game, head coach James Franklin said in a postgame interview on the field he suspected this game might drive fans of analytics a little crazy because the box score sure tells a different story outside of the final score.

Wisconsin out-gained Penn State 359-297. The Badgers had just shy of 30 first downs (29) while Penn State managed just 11 for the entire game (and had just one at halftime). And Wisconsin kept Penn State’s defense on the field for 42 minutes and 51 seconds.

But Penn State won the turnover battle, 3-0, and made the plays it needed when they needed them the most. So go ahead and scoff at the box score, because the final score is ultimately the only stat that matters.

Here are some key box score stats from the game.

Penn State Offense

Sean Clifford – 18/33, 257 yards and a touchdown

Sean Clifford didn’t look great in the first half. Granted, neither did the rest of the Penn State offense. However, he really started get a rhythm in the second half in a new and revamped offense under Mike Yurcich.

Noah Cain – 8 carries for 48 yards and a touchdown

Cain started to get more comfortable in the second half and after watching this offense today, they need to feed him the ball more.

Jahan Dotson – 5 receptions for 102 yards and a touchdown

As mentioned, Penn State’s offense didn’t really find their groove until the second half and Dotson was a big part of that. He was one of the only playmakers for their offense today, starting with a 49-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter.

NEXT: A look at Penn State’s defensive stats

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Penn State defense delivers vs. Wisconsin and sets tone for 2021

Penn State’s defense was challenged all game long, and they answered the call just about every single darn time against the Badgers.

Penn State’s defense turned in one of the gutsiest performances they have in a number of years. And it needed it.

Penn State opened the season in one of the toughest spots to start a season, on the road against Wisconsin with fans fired up to be back in the stands and jumping around in Camp Randall Stadium. Wisconsin’s defense has been one of the best defenses in the Big Ten in recent years, but Penn State’s defense was the one making the biggest plays in the season-opening 16-10 victory.

Penn State forced three turnovers, including a game-sealing interception by Ji’Ayir Brown in the closing moments. For a defense that gave up 365 yards and 29 first downs, it was all about bending and not breaking. Penn State’s defense bent, but they absolutely would not break.

Jaquan Brisker, Penn State’s All-America-caliber safety, fought through discomfort and injury concerns all game long, coming back on the field all four times he required some degree of medical attention either on the field or on the sideline, or both, And Brisker made some terrific plays in the fourth quarter, including a big pass breakup on a first down to setup a third and long that helped draw a punt by the Badgers.

Defensive end Arnold Ebekitie left the game at one point and headed to the locker room for additional treatment, but he returned to get right back into the mix in the trenches as well.

Despite being on the football field for over 20 minutes in the first half, Penn State’s defense came up big when it needed it the most. Two Wisconsin red zone trips in the first half netted zero points with a blocked field goal and Nick Tarburton pouncing on a botched handoff exchange by Wisconsin quarterback Graham Mertz.

For a game that was absolutely stellar by the defense, it was the timing of the lone Wisconsin touchdown drive that felt like a blow. Penn State’s defense forced a three-and-out on the first series of the second half and Jahan Dotson gave Penn State a 7-0 lead with a 49-yard reception from Sean Clifford on a busted play by the Badgers defense. But Wisconsin’s offense returned the favor with a 10-play drive spanning 75 yards for a game-tying score.

In the grand scheme of things, the timing of the touchdown drive doesn’t really matter. But having a shutdown defensive series netting zero points would have been good to see in that particular spot.

Penn state’s defense was on the field for nearly 43 minutes (42:51, officially). This isn’t a service academy we’re talking about. It was Wisconsin. Allowing just 10 points and coming up with as many red zone stops as they did gets this season starting on the right foot.

Now, a path to a 4-0 September lays in Happy Valley with the next three games at home, including a primetime showdown with Auburn in Week 3. This was one Penn State needed to set the right tone. That tone was set by the defense.

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2022 Chiefs NFL draft prospects: Group 1

College football is back, and so is our annual series covering potential #Chiefs draft prospects:

Week 1 of the 2021 college football season is here and so is a brand new season of our 2022 NFL draft prospects series. We’ve identified over 200 college prospects to keep an eye on ahead of the 2022 draft, all of whom might be potential fits with the Kansas City Chiefs. I’ll be releasing my thoughts on many of the prospects in random groups of four on Saturdays throughout the college football season.

The first group of prospects includes a defensive back that plays like a heat-seeking missile, a linebacker who excels as a blitzer, one of the top FCS prospects in the draft and a versatile offensive weapon.

Check them out down below:

Penn State S Jaquan Brisker compares Graham Mertz to a Wisconsin legend

Penn State S Jaquan Brisker compares Graham Mertz to a Wisconsin legend

Wisconsin QB Graham Mertz is ready for his second season at the helm of the Badger offense. After a sensational start to his redshirt-freshman campaign, the Kansas native struggled during the second half of the season for a variety of reasons.

Despite his late-season struggles, Wisconsin fans saw glimpses of what could be with the former four-star recruit.

Apparently, so did Penn State’s secondary. Penn State safety Jaquan Brisker was extremely impressed by Mertz’s ability to read a defense and control Wisconsin offensively. Brisker is entering his third year as a starter in the Nittany Lion secondary, and has seen quite a few Big Ten QB’s. Who did Mertz remind him of? A former Wisconsin legend:

Mertz looking anything like Russell Wilson on Saturday would likely mean a Badger win.

Penn State announces team captains for 2021 season

Penn State’s team captains for the 2021 college football season are heavy on senior leadership.

Penn State is looking to rely on veteran leadership on the roster in their attempt to correct the wrongs from the 2020 season. With a challenging 2021 football schedule on tap, beginning with a difficult road trip to Wisconsin in Week 1 as an underdog, Penn State hopes to get things off on the right foot,

The Nittany Lions named their team captains for the 2021 season on Monday, and upperclassman leadership was a consistent theme throughout. Safety Jaquan Brisker, defensive tackle PJ Mustipher, quarterback Sean Clifford, kicker and punter Jordan Stout, and safety Jonathan Sutherland were all named captains and are seniors on the team this season. Redshirt junior offensive lineman Rasheed Walker was also named a team captain for the 2021 Penn State Nittany Lions.

Clifford and Sutherland are now the first three-time captains in Penn State’s program history, a remarkable feat itself. Clifford will be the team’s starting quarterback for a third consecutive season. Sutherland should have opportunities on both defense and special teams this season. Sutherland became the first player in Penn State history to wear the No. 0 on his jersey in 2020 when the NCAA first allowed for the use of the uniform number to be worn by college football programs. 

Here is a look at this year’s team captains for the Nittany Lions:

ESPN names Jahan Dotson in top 100 players for 2021, overlooks Jaquan Brisker

What Penn State player is in ESPN’s Top 100 players in college football list, who got snubbed by ESPN’s voters?

With college football on the cusp of a new season, ESPN has released its list of the top 100 players in the country for the 2021 college football season. Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler tops the list with the No. 1 spot in this year’s top 100 players ranking from ESPN, but how many Penn State players managed to make the list?

One.

Penn State wide receiver Jahan Dotson just barely made the cut of ESPN’s top 100 players for the 2021 college football season. Dotson, who led the Big Ten in receiving yards and touchdowns last season, comes in at No. 95 in ESPN’s ranking. The top 100 players list is littered with players from around the Big Ten, including a number of opposing players Penn State will face this season, but Dotson was the only player worthy of making ESPN’s list according to ESPN’s panel of 20 voters.

Dotson absolutely deserves to be considered among the top 100 players in college football this season. After some highlights during an otherwise dismal Penn State season in 2020, Dotson should once again be ready to make some big plays in what could be a vastly improved Penn State offense.

The most notable absence from this list would have to be Penn State safety Jaquan Brisker. Brisker may even be Penn State’s best player, suggesting he is being overlooked by ESPN’s voters because of the position he plays. Only three players at the safety position were voted among the top 100 players by ESPN’s voters.

The other safeties to make ESPN’s top 100 list include Notre Dame‘s Kyle Hamilton (No. 7), Northwestern’s Brandon Joseph (No. 62), Auburn‘s Smoke Monday (No. 77).

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Which Penn State player made the AP preseason All-American team?

One of Penn State’s best players was named an AP All-American ahead of the 2021 college football season.

College football will be played this weekend, including the official Big Ten opener between Nebraska and Illinois. Now that the preseason rankings have been shared and explained, and the watch lists have been released, the preseason accolades continue to roll in for one of Penn State’s top players on the roster in 2021.

Penn State safety Jaquan Brisker was named to the Associated Press preseason All-America second team on Monday. Brisker is the only Nittany Lion player to appear on the AP preseason All-American roster.

Brisker has been rolling in preseason hype this summer as we approach the start of the 2021 season. Brisker was previously named on the watch list for the Bronco Nagurski Trophy, the Jim Thorpe Award, and the Chuck Bednarik Award.

2021 Penn State Nittany Lions Profile Card: Jaquan Brisker

Brisker’s decision to return to Penn State for his super senior season was a big lift to the Penn State secondary. The return of Tariq Castro-Fields at cornerback helps in a big way as well. Brisker has been rated one of the nation’s top 50 players overall by Pro Football Focus, which also included him on their preseason All-America team. Pro Football Focus rates Brisker one of the nation’s top five safeties returning this fall to play college football.

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Top 21 players for the Nittany Lions entering 2021

Penn State football returns soon. Who are the key players to watch for the Nittany Lions in 2021?

Penn State enters the 2021 college football season with a bit of a chip on their shoulders. Following a rare losing season played during a pandemic, James Franklin and the Nittany Lions are eager to prove they are better than their 2020 record would indicate. With a challenging schedule right out of the gate, Penn State will have plenty of opportunities to prove itself to the masses this fall.

And they will do so with enough talent on the roster to make some things happen. With experience at quarterback, one of the top wide receivers in the Big Ten, and one of the nation’s top defensive secondaries to rely on, there are a lot of good ingredients for a successful season in Happy Valley. Every position has a chance to play a key role in the fortunes of Penn State this season too.

Here is a look at 21 key players Penn State has on the roster in 2021, listed in no particular order.

The Big Ten’s top five safeties heading into 2021

A surprise #Buckeye makes this list of our top safeties in the Big Ten heading into 2021.

Ohio State football kicks off in less than a month, and we have been rolling through the best of the best of the Big Ten at each position. We have already completed our list of top five quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, offensive tackles, guards, centers, defensive ends, defensive tackles, inside linebackers, and outside linebackers.

I firmly believe that this Ohio State defense will be improved greatly, and I think that the defensive backs will be a huge part of that. This list may be shocking and a little different than others you’ll see, but hey, I’m always down for some hot takes. Let’s take a look at the top safeties in the Big Ten.

2021 Penn State depth chart projection: Safety

The status of the safety position at Penn State is pretty good. Projecting the depth chart in 2021…

The safety position together with the defensive backs assembled in Happy Valley is giving Penn State great confidence in the stability and performance of its defensive secondary. Like the defensive backs, Penn State received terrific offseason news with Jaquan Brisker announcing his decision to return for one more season in the blue and white, giving the Nittany Lions one of the best at his position, not just on the team but in the entire Big Ten and, arguably, the nation.

Brisker’s return was a significant one for the Nittany Lions. Having the luxury of having a talent with early NFL draft round projections gives Penn State a valuable asset in the defense. And like the defensive backs bringing back Tariq Castro-Fields, this allows Penn State to work the roster a little bit to address some other possible areas of concern with regard to depth and playmakers.

Penn State will be led with senior players at the safety position no matter who gets paired with Brisker, and the future of the position is already looking to be in solid shape.

So, with all of that in mind, here’s a look at how the safety position may pan out for the Nittany Lions this fall.