Who replaces Jaquan Brisker? Breaking down Penn State’s safety depth chart
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Depth chart breakdown
Where does Penn State football stand heading into the 2022 season? Read our series analyzing each position.
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Penn State first-year defensive coordinator Manny Diaz will be tasked with a difficult challenge at the back end of his defense in 2022. The Nittany Lions will have to replace former safety Jaquan Brisker, who exhausted his eligibility and was taken in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Brisker was one of the best safeties in the country and a consistent force for Penn State in the back of its defense.
Fortunately for Diaz, Brisker’s starting mate was arguably just as good and will return for one final season in college. That and a breakout spring for a young converted cornerback should have Penn State in position to once again have an elite safety duo this season.
Projected starters: Senior Ji’Ayir Brown and redshirt freshman Zakee Wheatley
Brown is locked in as a starter after proving last season he was one of the best safeties in the country alongside Brisker, but the position next to him could be up for grabs. The benefit of having Brown is that the leadership aspects of the position will be taken care of already, allowing whoever replaces Brisker to take on less of that responsibility this season.
There are several options to replace Brisker, but Wheatley’s breakout spring should put him in good position to start alongside Brown. While Wheatley will draw more intrigue because of his youth and upside, it’s the veteran who should make the most impact this season.
Brown is one of the most versatile safeties in the country and established that in a major way alongside Brisker last season. He’s excellent in coverage and has shown the ability to be a major asset whether he’s playing as a deep safety or stepping up and playing man coverage.
The senior was tied for first in the country in 2021 with six interceptions, showing the type of elite ball skills that allow him to be a game changer in the secondary. He relies on his instincts and high football IQ when he drops into zone, watching the play unfold and seeing where the quarterback is passing before the ball even comes out. When asked to play man, he’s physical and can stay with receivers at a proficient level for a safety, even if he isn’t elite in that regard.
Brown has the size at 5-foot-11, 208 pounds to be an asset in the running game to a greater degree this season. Brisker was mostly charged with stepping into the box when necessary, but Brown will likely be asked to do more of that this season.
Wheatley has been a revelation for Penn State this spring and should be in position to start sooner rather than later. While he doesn’t have the experience of other options like Keaton Ellis and Jaylen Reed, he has plenty of upside. The 6-foot-2, 189-pound redshirt freshman moved from cornerback to safety this offseason and quickly caught the attention of his teammates and coaches.
He’s excellent in coverage, where his cornerback skills have translated to the back end, and was the team’s leader in takeaways during spring practice. He — like Brown — relies on his instincts and football IQ to chase passes and bring them in. Wheatley has excellent ball skills and the size to go up and battle with any opposing receiver. He’s physical and aggressive in the running game and should continue to develop from a strength standpoint to get even better in those situations.
Wheatley has a chance to be a breakout star for Penn State’s defense this season.
Key backups: Junior Keaton Ellis and sophomore Jaylen Reed
Wheatley taking a starting spot means Penn State will have a relatively experienced pair of backups at safety this season. Ellis has played both cornerback and safety but presents a veteran option with the type of versatility that’s necessary in modern college football. Reed is a more singular player at the moment, but is still young enough to develop into a versatile weapon in the back end for Diaz down the road.
Ellis is the more veteran of the backups with his versatility coming in handy when it comes to seeing the field. He can drop down into the nickel role behind Daequan Hardy at corner if necessary, or just be the backup to Brown and Wheatley.
The former State College Little Lion has the ability to cover in man to man situations, but it remains to be seen how he’ll operate in the deep middle of the field if he’s asked to be the last line of defense. He should be a good tackler given his 5-foot-11, 193-pound frame but will need to continue adding strength to be more of a threat in the box.
Reed is a much different player than the other safeties on the roster. He’s a more traditional run support thumper who can lower his shoulder and make opponents pay across the middle of the field. That being said, he’s not just a big hitter. Reed has shown the ability to play in coverage and read the quarterback’s eyes to make plays on the ball when he needs to.
There’s a legitimate chance he’s the starter opposite Brown to begin the year, and he should play plenty of snaps regardless because he and Wheatley both have the talent to make an impact.
Freshman to watch: Kevin Winston Jr.
Penn State’s strong depth at safety means Winston is unlikely to make an impact in his first year on campus — but he could if the team needed him to.
Winston has excellent size already at 6-foot-2, 199 pounds and has the frame to get even stronger as he works in the Nittany Lions’ strength and conditioning program. He’s a good athlete who can play in man coverage — and from the looks of his athleticism he can do so in the slot or on the outside.
The freshman can make impact plays as a big hitter while showing the football IQ and reaction skills to handle zone coverage at a high level. Winston’s upside is sky high and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him force his way onto the field as a true freshman.
This story was originally published July 18, 2022 at 9:39 AM.
