Penn State football redshirt senior Jonathan Sutherland will return for 2022 season
Penn State football will return another of its captains for the 2022 season. Redshirt senior Jonathan Sutherland announced he’ll be returning to the program via his personal Twitter account.
“The memories I have made with my teammates and throughout my time here will last a lifetime and I look forward to making more,” his statement read. “My work here isn’t done and I look forward to seeing everyone next season.”
Sutherland also used “#LBU” in his statement, intimating a potential full-time switch to linebacker. He spent most of his career at safety and played sparingly at the second level of the defense in 2021.
The senior is the second player to announce his return this week after safety Ji’Ayir Brown announced he would be back.
Sutherland has tallied 94 total tackles, two forced fumbles and an interception in his four years on the field as a Nittany Lion.
The potential move to linebacker could greatly help a Penn State defense that will be replacing two starters at the position. Both Ellis Brooks and Brandon Smith announced they’re skipping the Outback Bowl and entering the 2022 NFL Draft. Sutherland could potentially take up some of the snaps those two occupied last season.
Along with the two linebackers, Penn State is set to lose multiple other starters — safety Jaquan Brisker, defensive end Arnold Ebiketie, defensive tackle Derrick Tangelo and cornerback Tariq Castro-Fields will all exhaust their eligibility after this season.
The unit will also have a new play caller in 2022 after former defensive coordinator Brent Pry left to become the head coach at Virginia Tech.
He was replaced by former Miami head coach Manny Diaz.
