Tag: Tyler Elsdon

2023 Penn State football snapshot profile: No. 43 Tyler Elsdon

A snapshot look at Tyler Elsdon, who hopes to keep his starting linebacker job in 2023 for the Penn State defense.

Going into the 2023 football season, Nittany Lions Wire will be looking at each scholarship player listed on the Penn State roster. Over the preseason, each profile will cover where the player is from, how recruiting websites rated them coming out of high school, and what role they will play for James Franklin this season.

Next up is a player who started every game for Penn State in 2022 but looks to be competing to keep the starting job in 2023, linebacker [autotag]Tyler Elsdon[/autotag]. Elsdon may end up continuing to be a starter for the Nittany Lions in the middle of the defense thanks to his experience already on the field in such a role, but he will have to hold off a rising contender for the job this fall. here is a snapshot look at Tyler Elsdon heading into the 2023 season.

James Franklin shared positive injury news for key players who missed spring

Penn State head coach James Franklin shared a status update for a few notable players ahead of fall camp.

After being without a few notable players for spring football practices due to various injury issues, Penn State head coach [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] had a much more positive outlook for those missing pieces as he looked ahead to the start of fall practices.

Franklin was asked about the expected availability of tight ends [autotag]Theo Johnson[/autotag] and [autotag]Tyler Warren[/autotag], defensive tackle [autotag]Coziah Izzard[/autotag], and linebacker [autotag]Tyler Elsdon[/autotag] when meeting with the media on Thursday. And the head coach seems to think all systems will be go for them for the start of the season.

“All those guys are back fully doing workouts and should be should be ready for camp,” Franklin reportedly said to reporters.

Franklin didn’t disclose any information regarding the specifics of the injury issues those players had that held them out of spring practices, but his words on Thursday are encouraging for a team expected to utilize each of those players as key players on offense or defense this fall.

Johnson and Warren in particular should be the key players at tight end this season after losing Brenton Strange. The absence of Johnson and Warren during the spring helped get some younger players some extra reps.

Izzard is a player that could easily be thrown into the defensive line rotation even if he is not starting this fall. Elsdon is a player competing for a starting job at middle linebacker with Kobe King.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=10]

Penn State spring football: Linebacker preview

Penn State’s linebacker depth in 2023 could be the best it’s been in years.

There is potential that this will be one of the most exciting linebacker groups that Penn State has had in a while.

The group is headlined by true sophomore [autotag]Abdul Carter[/autotag] who really opened eyes last season. Coming in wearing the coveted number 11 jersey as a true freshman meant the spotlight would be on him all year. He more than delivered and has a promising collegiate career in front of him.

Another interesting nugget is there are no seniors in the linebacking corps for 2023-24. The most experienced players are two redshirt juniors. This is a good sign for the future as this group will be able to continue playing with each other for multiple years going forward.

There will be depth chart battles this spring to keep an eye on. The main one to watch is between [autotag]Kobe King[/autotag] and [autotag]Tyler Elsdon[/autotag] for the starting middle linebacker position. Elsdon won the battle last spring and summer, but the snap counts last season were pretty similar.

Abdul Carter

Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports

Measurables: 6’3″ / 233 lbs.

Year: Sophomore

Expected Role: Starting Weakside Linebacker

There is a real buzz around Abdul Carter about what he can do this season. Coming into Penn State, Carter was a four-star recruit in the 2022 class. He was excellent in his freshman season recording 56 total tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. His PFF grade was 76.2 ranking him 122nd out of 789 linebackers last season.

With another offseason in the college weight room and more time to get familiar with the defensive scheme, the sky is the limit for Carter. He could be the highlight of what’s expected to be a very good defense.

NEXT: Kobe King a rising redshirt sophomore

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4

Previewing the Penn State linebackers in 2023

Let’s take an early look at what Penn State has going for it at the linebacker position in 2023.

Penn State and linebackers are two things that go hand in hand. Penn State has produced All-Americans, College Hall of Famers, and NFL Hall of Famers and the players on the 2023 roster have a chance at any of those accomplishments.

Players such as [autotag]Abdul Carter[/autotag] a prominent big-name linebacker for the team as we advance after a breakout freshman campaign but there is more to know. Between veterans of the team and incoming transfers and recruiting classes, teams constantly change any more.

Getting to know the playmakers on your Nittany Lions defense doesn’t have to be mandatory but it should be encouraged. We have taken care of that as the transfer window has closed for now and we head toward another national signing day for the team.

2022 Penn State football: Nittany Lions’ linebacker preview

Penn State position overview: Linebacker roster overview for 2022

Penn State is prepping for a season in which the program hopes to redeem itself on the national stage. After back-to-back seasons of mediocre results, Penn State is aiming to bounce back and prove themselves worthy of being in the Big Ten championship hunt, if not a little bit more.

Penn State kicks off the 2022 season with a Thursday night primetime matchup at Purdue on September 1. When that season begins, the Nittany Lions will begin to answer whether or not the linebacker depth is truly a concern for the upcoming year. After losing a pair of starters from last year’s team, Penn State has some big spots to fill at the program’s signature position.

Here is a look at what Penn State has on the roster at the linebacker position going into the 2022 season.

Penn State football snapshot profile: No. 43 Tyler Elsdon

A snapshot profile of Penn State linebacker Tyler Elsdon, a possible starter at a key position in 2022.

Going into the 2022 football season, Nittany Lions Wire will be looking at each scholarship player listed on the Penn State roster.

Over the preseason, each profile will cover where the player is from, how recruiting websites rated them coming out of high school, and what role they will play for [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] this season.

Penn State faces some legitimate questions with the linebacker position heading into the 2022 season after losing two starters to the NFL. One player competing for a starting role in the middle of the group is [autotag]Tyler Elsdon[/autotag] as he enters his third year with the program.

Here’s a snapshot profile of what could be one of Penn State’s starters on defense in 2022.

Manny Diaz settling in at Penn State, finding leaders on defense

Manny Diaz is getting more comfortable with the Penn State defense this spring.

Some thought that [autotag]Manny Diaz[/autotag] would be an interesting pairing with head coach [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] but it seems he is fitting in perfectly so far.

247 Sports recently did an interview with the new Penn State defensive coordinator where he talked about how he is fitting in with his new team and also what he is expecting out of his defense. In the interview, he specifically discusses how the middle linebacker competition is going as well as a new emerging leader on the defense.

When discussing the middle linebacker battle between [autotag]Tyler Elsdon[/autotag] and [autotag]Kobe King[/autotag] he mentions how Elsdon continues to “grow (and) feel more comfortable…” and that as he continues to play he sees him becoming a better fit.  

With King, Diaz seemed very excited when talking about him saying “I think Kobe King is getting better every day, and really, I anticipate this being a battle…”. It seems that no matter who earns the job though that the defense should be in good hands. 

This position battle should have a clearer picture after the Blue and White Game this month.

When discussing the leaders on defense Manny Diaz mentioned several players but he was most eager to discuss [autotag]Ji’Ayir Brown[/autotag]. He gave a glowing review of what he has seen in his short time in State College saying of Brown as a leader that he is “not just vocally (a leader), but he certainly is a great vocal leader. If you want a guy that you’re honored to coach, it’s this guy. He just does everything the way you want him to do. If you had 11 of him, you wouldn’t need a coach”.

It appears that despite losing three notable starters to the NFL this year that the Penn State defense should still be firing on all cylinders this coming season. The Blue and White Game will be the most telling of it all at this point and that will also serve as everyone’s first exposure to what Manny Diaz can do with this roster. 

[mm-video type=video id=01fzjtf02kr6n9jn9w13 playlist_id=01ey902ehrs6e9bvhw player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fzjtf02kr6n9jn9w13/01fzjtf02kr6n9jn9w13-ec699aaeb2c7180c135f5a971d458096.jpg]

[listicle id=18076]

Follow Nittany Lions Wire on Twitter and like us on Facebook for continuing Penn State coverage and discussion.

Let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

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.

[vertical-gallery id=11464]

[listicle id=11417]

[lawrence-related id=11583,11492,11487,11434,11424,11241,11136,10941,10862]

Follow Nittany Lions Wire on Twitter and like us on Facebook for continuing Penn State coverage and discussion.