How loaded is Penn State's safety room in 2024? Post-spring questions

Penn State’s defensive room should be one of the best in the country for the second year in a row.

The Lions will miss standouts Chop Robinson and Adisa Isaac, but the program returns blue-chip talents Dani-Dennis-Sutton and Abdul Carter, the latter switching positions after earning first-team All-Big Ten honors as a linebacker in 2023.

Linebackers? Veteran Kobe King will be the team leader and second-year Lion Tony Rojas is ready to become an impact player on the outside.

But let’s talk about another position group as we continue PennLive’s post-spring questions for Penn State?

How good is this security?

Better than good.

Returning starters Kevin Winston Jr. and Jaylen Reed are expected to contend for All-Big Ten honors and Winston, a third-year player, is already receiving first-round buzz for the 2025 NFL Draft.

Winston, 6-2, 206 pounds, Penn State’s leading tackler a year ago, is its fifth-ranked returning safety, according to Pro Football Focus.

Winston assumed a starting role in 2023, forcing vet Keaton Ellis off the bench. He was one of the team’s best players at the end of the season.

Winston finished with 61 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, five assists and one interception.

Reed, 6-0 and 205 pounds, had 46 tackles, four tackles for loss, one sack and two interceptions.

Penn State safety Jaylen Reed settles on Michigan State receiver Christian Fitzpatrick during the first quarter on November 11, 2023. Joe Hermitt | [email protected]

And while it’s true that promising young safety King Mack entered the transfer portal after the spring, PSU’s defensive coaches were excited about the development of fourth-year safety Zakee Wheatley this offseason.

New defensive coordinator Tom Allen will use numerous five-DB sets and expect to see three safeties on the field at a time.

“You try to maximize your roster,” Allen said during spring training when asked if he uses different defensive looks, depending on the field and distance.

“You try to do a great job of… bringing the staff together and just doing a great job of being as disruptive as possible.” »

Reed quickly turned to coaching Allen.

“He tells you why are you doing this, why are you blitzing a certain way, why are you covering this guy a certain way,” Reed said of Allen.

Keep an eye on Winston and Reed, two terrific playmakers, in 2024. In James Franklin’s 11 years at Penn State, he’s never had a better duo at the position.