Penn State football S Jaquan Brisker set to skip Outback Bowl vs. Arkansas
Penn State football will be without one of its best players in Saturday’s Outback Bowl against Arkansas. Senior safety Jaquan Brisker announced he won’t be playing in the game to focus on preparing for the 2022 NFL Draft.
Brisker, who was one of the leaders of the defense, made the announcement via his personal Twitter account.
“Ever since I was a kid, I dreamt of playing on a big stage and that dream became reality,” Brisker’s statement read. “...I’ve been waiting for this all my life and can’t wait to see what the future holds.”
The loss of Brisker brings the total number of Nittany Lion defenders skipping the bowl game to three, with linebackers Brandon Smith and Ellis Brooks already announcing their decisions.
Fellow senior safety Ji’Ayir Brown announced he’ll be returning next season and is expected to play in the bowl game. He’ll line up in the game alongside the likes of Jaylen Reed and Keaton Ellis, who should be set to assume larger roles at safety with Brisker’s departure.
Brisker is one of several key players who won’t be back next season now that he’s exhausted his eligibility. Multiple starters, including Brisker, defensive end Arnold Ebiketie, defensive tackle Derrick Tangelo and cornerback Tariq Castro-Fields are set to move on, along with the aforementioned linebackers who are leaving early for the NFL.
The defense will have a new look Saturday with Brisker, Brooks and Smith’s absences announced thus far and co-defensive coordinator Anthony Poindexter calling plays. He’ll make those decisions after former defensive coordinator Brent Pry left to become the head coach at Virginia Tech and Manny Diaz was hired as his replacement.
This story was originally published December 27, 2021 at 2:22 PM.
