Analysis | The Lackawanna pipeline produces highly productive Penn State football players | Penn State football news
[ad_1]
With five former players currently on James Franklin’s roster, Lackawanna College has become a serious talent hotbed for Penn State.
The players coming through Lackawanna weren’t just placeholders in the roster, however, as some have become high profile contributors. There could also be more in the near future if Tyrece Mills, the top junior safety team in 2022, gets involved with the Nittany Lions.
Names like Jaquan Brisker, Ji’Ayir Brown, and Anthony Whigan have either become big names already or could become big names in the near future.
Here’s a look at how former Lackawanna players played in Happy Valley.
Jaquan Brisker, security
Brisker was a staple in Penn State secondary school virtually the first day he stepped on campus. He appeared in 13 games as a junior in 2019, recording 32 tackles and two interceptions.
However, Brisker made a big leap in 2020.
After the season, he was selected as a first-team All-American by Pro Football Focus. It also received an All-American Honorable Mention on Phil Steele’s postseason list.
The native Pittsburgh player started all nine games and led the team with six pass breaks. He also collected 57 tackles and one interception.
Brisker made the decision to return to Happy Valley as a fifth-year senior in 2021, and he’s already announced the conference with a preseason all-big-ten pick for Steele’s first team.
Penn State Security Ji’Ayir Brown bends over to the camera as he plays for Lackawanna College.
Ji’Ayir Brown, security
Brown is one of the most intriguing members of the Penn State squad this season, and he happens to be from Lackawanna.
Safety was evident in all nine games for the Nittany Lions in 2020, but his influence wasn’t huge – as he racked up six tackles and a break with one pass.
However, he was a hot topic of discussion early in his senior year and is in the middle of a defensive battle this off-season.
It’s even harder to gauge where Brown will fit in this year after being a scratch from each of the spring practices open to the public.
The Lackawanna safety tandem between Brisker and Brown could become one of the deadliest in the Big Ten as Brown starred in his first two seasons with 75 tackles and eight interceptions.
Provided he’s healthy, the former junior college safety # 2 should make an important contribution to the top of the safety depths table.
Anthony Whigan, attacking lineman
Whigan has not seen much involvement in the Penn State crime.
He appeared in all nine games in 2020 but saw the field mostly in special teams.
Whigan is a top-tier height of 6-foot-4,319 pounds, and on the offensive line two starters from last season joined the NFL in Michal Menet and Will Fries.
The former No. 7 junior college contender overall could very well be a good fit to fill one of those holes in his redshirt senior season.
MORE SPORTS COVERAGE
Penn State could enter a serious transition as its top three spots on the grid …
[ad_2]
