The departures of cornerbacks A.J. Wallace and Knowledge Timmons aren’t huge blows to a Penn State secondary that returns four players with significant playing experience.
Sophomore Stephon Morris, a 5-foot-8 Washington D.C. native, recorded 30 tackles last season and had one pick, which he returned 70 yards but doesn’t plan on doing anything by himself. In fact, following April’s spring game he said the strength of the defensive backs unit, which returns corner D’Anton Lynn, safeties Drew Astorino and Nick Sukay, and adds Chaz Powell who played receiver before making the switch to defense this spring, is its cohesiveness.
“If one play hurts one of us, that hurts everyone,” Morris said after the Blue-White game. “And the difference between corner classes from last year and this year is that I think this year we have a very good bond.”
Powell and Lynn will likely split time opposite Morris, and when defensive coordinator Tom Bradley runs nickel packages, they’ll both be on the field.
Last season Lynn recorded 35 tackles, but didn’t secure a pick. Powell is in the process of making the transition to corner from wide receiver, where he reeled in 28 catches and three touchdowns last season.
Following spring practice, Lynn said Powell’s transition to defense was a simple one given his athleticism.
“He’ll come over, he’ll ask us questions and we try to help him out as much as we can,” Lynn said. “But he’s just a natural athlete. He just has great instincts on the defensive side of the ball.”
At safety, Drew Astorino’s health is the biggest question mark.
Astorino had shoulder surgery in January, which kept him out of spring practice. In April he said he would be ready for the start of camp and there has been nothing to indicate otherwise.
The redshirt junior from Edinboro led the secondary and was fourth on the team with 62 tackles last season.
With Astorino at hero, junior Nick Sukay will return as the free safety after hauling in two picks and notching 41 tackles last season.
Andrew Dailey and Derrick Thomas could also see time this season in the defensive backfield.