Tag: jonathan sutherland

Penn State gets another key senior to return in 2022

Penn State special teams captain Jonathan Sutherland announces his plans for 2022

Penn State’s defense may be set to lose some key players in 2022, but one player the Nittany Lions can rely on in the new year will be Jonathan Sutherland. Sutherland announced he will be taking advantage of the extra year of eligibility granted to all student-athletes impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic’s wrath on the sports calendar in 2020.

“My time here at Penn State has developed and strengthened me mentally, emotionally and physically as a man and as a student-athlete,” Sutherland said in his statement posted on his Twitter account on Thursday. “With that being said, after careful thought and consideration with my loved ones and coaches, I will be using my extra year of eligibility to return for my 6th year at Penn State.”

Sutherland was the first player in Penn State history to wear the No. 0 and is a special teams captain. Sutherland also plays on defense and could have an increased role on the defensive side of the football in 2022.

Sutherland is a three-time captain for the program, which means Penn State will have a couple of veteran captains returning in 2022 with Sutherland and quarterback Sean Clifford. Clifford also previously confirmed his intent to return for one more season at Penn State, using his sixth year of eligibility.

Sutherland could potentially see more time at the linebacker position for Penn State in the Outback Bowl against Arkansas. Penn State will be without starting linebackers, and the team’s top two tackle leaders, Brandon Smith and Ellis Brooks. Both linebackers have opted out of the bowl season to begin focusing on their NFL future.

Penn State’s defense will also benefit from the return of Ji’Ayir Brown. Brown, who led Penn State in interceptions in 2021, recently announced he will also be returning for another season in Happy Valley.

Penn State faces Arkansas in the 2022 Outback Bowl in Tampa on Jan. 1, 2022.

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Who will play linebacker for Penn State in the Outback Bowl vs Arkansas?

Here are a few options on how Penn State could plug the starting linebacker holes vs. Arkansas in the Outback Bowl

Penn State’s nickname of Linebacker-U will be put to the test in the Outback Bowl after its top two linebackers have opted out of the bowl season to begin preparing for the 2022 NFL draft cycle. Days after Brandon Smith announced his decision to pass on the bowl game and declare for the NFL draft, Ellis Brooks has joined him in making the transition to the pros. And with both players choosing to not play in the Outback Bowl, Penn State is now in need of plugging two starting linebacker holes without a ton of experience or roster flexibility to work with.

Penn State has fielded its defense with three linebackers with Smith playing the WILL, Brooks lining up in the middle and Curtis Jacobs manning the SAM linebacker position. Finding a replacement for Smith appeared to be pretty straightforward before the news of Brooks opting out broke because Charlie Katshir could just be moved up a spot on the depth chart to fill the gap for the bowl game. And that may end up still being the solution Penn State goes with.

But what happens in the middle? This is where things can get a little dicey. Jesse Luketa has been moved around the defense this season and could be the best option to fill in at the vacant linebacker spot, although he has been having success at defensive end this season, and James Franklin and defensive coordinator Anthony Poindexter may want to keep Luketa on the edge if they can. But if Luketa is playing on the line of scrimmage, then Penn State doesn’t have a lot of experienced options remaining at its disposal.

Kobe King would be making a huge leap up the depth chart to be a starter in the bowl game against Arkansas, as would Tyler Elsdon or Jamari Buddin. Jonathan Sutherland could be used to fill in at the position, or he could move to the SAM position and Jacobs slide over to cover the middle of the defense.

Or Luketa could be used primarily as a linebacker and Nick Tarburton could be used more on the edge against the Razorbacks. Of course, this could all change if we learn that anyone on Penn State’s defensive line will follow Smith and Brooks in their decisions to opt out to focus on the NFL. The name to watch here would be Arnold Ebiketie, who is coming off an incredible season after transferring from Temple that has seen him continue to improve his own draft stock along the way.

No matter how Penn State shakes it, replacing its top two tacklers for the bowl game with 181 combined tackles between Brooks and Smith is not easy to do. If Luketa is not an option, Penn State is looking to fill the two spots with players that may have a combined total of 23 tackles this season between the four possibilities mentioned (Katshir, Elsdon, Buddin, and King).

On the other side of the football, Penn State head coach James Franklin has not commented on the status of wide receiver Jahan Dotson, Penn State’s top pro prospect on the board for the 2022 NFL draft if he declares now. Penn State also has some other players to keep an eye on with the defense in safety Jaquan Brisker and cornerback Tariq Castro-Fields. Both are heading off to the next level after returning to Penn State in 2021, but whether or not they play in the final game of their college careers remains to be confirmed.

Penn State faces Arkansas in the Outback Bowl on Saturday, January 1, 2022 at 12:00 p.m. We’ll see who is left to take the field for either team.

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Here are all 32 football players being recognized on Penn State’s senior day

Sean Clifford, Jahan Dotson, Jaquan Brisker, Journey Brown among those being honored at Penn State’s senior day

Penn State will play its final game in Beaver Stadium for the 2021 season on Saturday afternoon against Rutgers. And with this being the final home game of the season, it is the final opportunity for 32 players to step foot on the field inside Beaver Stadium for a game. Penn State will recognize 32 players for senior day festivities prior to kicking off against Rutgers on Saturday.

Of course, this is a slightly different type of senior day. Of the 32 players being recognized on Saturday afternoon, three players will be going through the senior day ceremony for a second time. Jaquan Brisker, Tariq Castro-Fields, and Ben Wilson were all recognized in Penn State’s senior day ceremony last season, but the NCAA allowed all players to take advantage of an extra year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the entire sports world. So those three players opted for one more season in Happy Valley.

Of note, Penn State will recognize Sean Clifford, who could still potentially return for another season in 2022 (also a result of the NCAA’s decision on extra years of eligibility for all). Clifford isn’t the only player who can take advantage of that option, but there remains plenty of discussion on whether or not Clifford will return for another season.

Clifford’s top receiving target, Jahan Dotson, will also be recognized. Although Dotson could return for another season as well, there is no suggestion he will do so. Dotson is expected to be one of the top wide receiver prospects in the 2022 NFL draft, and some believe he could be a first-round pick.

Penn State will also recognize Journey Brown. Brown was forced to medically retire prior to the 2020 season after learning of a health concern that made continuing playing football a risky endeavor.

Here is the full list of players Penn State will honor during the senior day, as provided by Penn State’s athletics department;

  • Jaquan Brisker
  • Ellis Brooks
  • Journey Brown
  • Tariq Castro-Fields
  • Rafael Checa
  • Max Chizmar
  • Sean Clifford
  • Jahan Dotson
  • Arnold Ebiketie
  • Winston Eubanks
  • Henry Fessler
  • Fred Hansard
  • Drew Hartlaub
  • Vlad Hilling
  • Des Holmes
  • Bradley King
  • Will Knutsson
  • Kaleb Konigus
  • John Lovett
  • Jesse Luketa
  • Jordan Miner
  • Mike Miranda
  • PJ Mustipher
  • Jordan Stout
  • Cam Sullivan-Brown
  • Johnathan Sutherland
  • Derrick Tangelo
  • Dan Vasey
  • Justin Weller
  • Anthony Whigan
  • Ben Wilson
  • Eric Wilson

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Penn State football: Injury report roundup

Let’s get all caught up on the Penn State injury situation during the bye week

Penn State has the week off, but we have seen a whirlwind of events transpire these past few days, especially on the injury side of the Nittany Lions. Penn State has been lucky enough to have a very limited injury report this season. However, that wasn’t the case last weekend against Iowa.

James Franklin on Iowa fans booing injuries: You don’t run a tempo offense

Penn State head coach James Franklin took exception with Iowa fans booing his injured players

Penn State took some lumps in their loss to the Iowa Hawkeyes on Saturday. Not only did their perfect record take a beating with a 23-20 loss, but the Nittany Lions lost some key players to injuries throughout the game including starting quarterback Sean Clifford and leading defensive lineman PJ Mustipher. Clifford returned to the sidelines in street clothes in the second half and Mustipher later returned on crutches.

But Penn State also lost a number of other players including safety Jonathan Sutherland and running backs John Lovett and Devyn Ford, On many occasions, other key players were down on the field and came off the field for smaller stretches of game time.

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And Iowa fans were not happy to see it. Believing Penn State players were staying on the ground to disrupt any potential momentum by the Hawkeyes offense, Iowa fans regularly booed the injuries. The boos became louder as the game went on, coincidentally as Iowa was having the momentum swing more and more in its favor on its way to a come-from-behind victory.

Penn State head coach James Franklin took exception to the boos and reacted to it in his postgame comments on Saturday.

“I do have a little bit of a hard time with our players getting hurt, and the fans and the coaches and the staff booing our players,” Franklin said (according to Lions 247). “They don’t run a tempo offense. It was not part of our plan. Obviously, we didn’t want Cliff, PJ, Lovett, Ford, and Sutherland, guys that play significant football for us to get injured.”

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Franklin took particular aim at Iowa’s fans and reminded them that teams that fake injuries usually do so against teams that run up-tempo offenses. Iowa’s offense is far from that.

“But to all the Iowa people out there, that was not part of our plan,” Franklin said. “It would not be. You don’t run a tempo offense.”

Franklin has always been one to take things with his players to heart. When his players succeed, he celebrates with them. When they hurt, he hurts with them, and for them. So when his players are legitimately injured, he goes to bat for them, as he did in his postgame comments about Iowa’s fans.

“If one of those kids would have been significantly hurt, and you’re booing them, I’ve got a hard time with that, but I’ve got my own issues to deal with.”

Franklin’s comments may come off as nothing more than sour grapes to some, but he does have a valid point. These are college athletes and Penn State doesn’t have a history of having players fake injuries the way some other programs may. And there was never any video evidence to suggest Penn State players were suddenly being instructed to fall to the ground and pretend to be injured (if there is, feel free to share).

As for Franklin’s own issues to figure out, he has a bye week to figure out how to get his team ready for a rebound against Illinois in two weeks. Some players may not be available as a result of an injury during the Iowa game, which should help prove to Iowa fans that maybe those weren’t fake injuries.

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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:

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.

2021 Penn State depth chart projection: Defensive backs

Tariq Castro-Fields gives Penn State an experienced defensive back as a starter, but how does the rest of the DB depth look in 2021?

One strength Penn State should be able to rely on in the 2021 season will be in the defensive secondary. With key returning players in the backfield and a wealth of talent and potential in younger players on the roster, the stability of the secondary is one of Penn State’s best things going for it in the 2021 college football season.

The Big Ten is ripe with wide receiver talent with players like Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson at Ohio State and Ty Fryfogle of Indiana and Ronnie Bell at Michigan. Penn State will face all of them in Big Ten East play.

Penn State may have one of the best safeties in the Big Ten in Jaquan Brisker, but the defensive backs are also in terrific shape with the return of Tariq Castro-Fields, the continued growth of players like Joey Porter Jr., and the arrival of freshman Kalen King. But how exactly will Penn State line up the defensive backs against an assortment of incredibly talented wide receivers in the Big Ten this season?

Here’s how the depth chart at defensive back may look for the Nittany Lions this fall.

Penn State announces 2021 spring football awards

Freshman Kalen King and veterans Sean Clifford and Tariq Castro-Fields were among the spring winners for Penn State football practices.

Penn State brought their spring football practices to a close on Friday evening in Beaver Stadium in front of a limited number of fans. Before James Franklin and his staff get too deep into their next stages of the offseason schedule, Penn State coaches handed out their post-spring awards to players who stood out this spring.

Freshman Kalen King certainly left a big impact on the coaching staff with an impressive spring, and veteran leaders like Sean Clifford and Tariq Castro-Fields have continued to display their leadership skills on and off the practice field.

Here is a look at the Penn State spring football award winners, as announced by the program on Monday.

 

Jonathan Sutherland says Penn State defense seeing results of “ball disruption” this spring

Penn State’s Jonathan Sutherland explained how the defense has been working to force more turnovers in the fall.

You would have to go back a long time to find the last season where Penn State had as bad a turnover margin as they compiled in 2020. The Nittany Lions are putting in work this spring to make sure that won’t happen again. Jonathan Sutherland, who could be preparing to tie down a starting job in the Penn State secondary out of the spring, explained how the defense is focusing on creating more turnovers this spring.

During a video conference with the media on Wednesday, Sutherland mentioned players like Tariq Castro-Fields as a player that has been making the ball pop this spring.

Forcing turnovers has been a theme for the defense all spring. As Sutherland explained, the team is working through “ball disruption” drills each spring practice. and according to Sutherland, that exercise seems to be paying off.

Penn State forced nine turnovers last season as a team, putting them around the middle of the Big Ten in turnovers gained. But the Nittany Lions had a dreadful team turnover margin of -8, their worst in over a decade. While the defense can’t be blamed for the offense coughing up the football, being able to get the ball right back in the hands of Sean Clifford and the Penn State offense can certainly come in handy.

Penn State did a much better job in forcing turnovers in 2019. The Nittany Lions forced 22 turnovers, with 12 fumble recoveries and 10 interceptions.

Sutherland also took a moment to reflect on last season and share what he took away from the experience, highlighting the ability of the team to come together through various forms of adversity.

Sutherland says Penn State will continue to build off the foundation of their combined experiences from 2020.

Jonathan Sutherland said that their mentality is not changing that they want to go 1-0 every week, a mantra instilled in the program by head coach James Franklin.

Penn State wraps up spring practices this Saturday in Beaver Stadium.

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2021 Penn State Nittany Lions Profile Card: Jonathan Sutherland

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