Penn State defense deep at end and linebacker, and in the secondary

Unlike its offense, the Penn State defense is relatively experienced, with five seniors distributed among the line, linebackers, and secondary. And some of the younger players, such as linebacker Micah Parsons, who led the Nittany Lions in tackles as a freshman, are seeking to take a step up.

Here’s a detailed look at the Lions’ defense:

DEFENSIVE LINE

Defensive line coach Sean Spencer likes to rotate as many as 10 players in his front four, and the Nittany Lions appear to have at least that many deserving of playing time.

The defensive ends are quick and fly off the edge into an opponent’s backfield. Junior Yetur Gross-Matos was an All-Big Ten selection last season. Redshirt junior Shaka Toney (Imhotep Charter) worked hard in the offseason to earn a chance as an every-down lineman rather than merely a pass-rush specialist. Another redshirt junior, Sean Simmons, is healthy after playing in just eight games last season.

A pair of redshirt freshmen, Jayson Oweh and Nick Tarburton (Pennridge), are more experienced and impressed both in spring football and in training camp.

Fifth-year senior Robert Windsor is the lone returning starter at tackle, coming off career highs of 7 ½ sacks and 11 tackles for loss. PJ Mustipher played well as a freshman last year and has made “dramatic” improvement in the offseason, head coach James Franklin said. Redshirt junior Antonio Shelton, one of the strongest players on the team, appeared in all 13 games last season.

The line also gets back redshirt sophomores Fred Hansard, who missed the last seven games of 2018 with an undisclosed injury, and C.J. Thorpe, who played much of last season on the offensive line.

LINEBACKER

Micah Parsons, a five-star recruit from Harrisburg who never played linebacker before coming to Penn State, became the first freshman in program history to lead the team in tackles. And he started just one game, a total he will exceed in Week 2.

Graduate student Jan Johnson, No. 2 in tackles last season, will patrol the middle once again and senior Cam Brown is stationed at an outside spot. The depth at the position is the best in Franklin’s tenure, led by redshirt sophomore Ellis Brooks and sophomore Jesse Luketa, both of whom played in all 13 games last year.

A pair of true freshmen, Brandon Smith and Lance Dixon, will compete for playing time.

CORNERBACK

The veteran is fifth-year senior John Reid, a St. Joseph’s Prep product who came back last season from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee suffered in 2017 spring practice. Franklin said of Reid, “He is not only back to where he was before the injury, but I’d actually say he’s on a whole other level. I think he’s going to have a huge year for us.”

Junior Tariq Castro-Fields has played in 25 games the last two seasons, including three starts last year, and likely will line up opposite from Reid. Donovan Johnson saw action last year in the secondary and on special teams and will provide depth along with redshirt freshman Trent Gordon.

A host of freshmen will look to find a way to get on the field. Keaton Ellis, who went to State College High School across town, has received praise from Franklin in training camp.

SAFETY

While there were some questions about depth at this position entering spring practice, the unit begins the season with four solid contributors for two starting spots. Senior Garrett Taylor is the leader of the group and Jonathan Sutherland, named as a captain Saturday in honor of his special teams play, is a ferocious hitter.

Junior Lamont Wade could start and junior-college transfer Jaquan Brisker has been impressive in his first Penn State training camp. Others in the mix for playing time are speedy sophomore Drew Hartlaub and C.J. Holmes, a converted running back who transferred from Notre Dame.

KICKING GAME

Blake Gillikin handles the punting for the fourth consecutive season. He owns two program records -- career average yardage (43.3 per punt) and single-season average (43.95 per punt, 2018) -- although he wasn’t completely satisfied with his year, calling it “probably my most inconsistent” because of injuries before the start of the season.

This year, “I’ve been really healthy this offseason and been able to kind of progress into camp like I wanted to,” he said.

Sophomore Jake Pinegar had a decent debut as a true freshman, succeeding on 16 of 24 field goal attempts but just 5 of 11 on kicks of 40 yards or longer. Sophomore Rafael Checa hit 47 percent of his kickoffs for touchbacks but he is being pushed by redshirt sophomore transfer Jordan Stout, who was fourth in the nation last year at 84.5 percent touchbacks while kicking for Virginia Tech.

Redshirt sophomore KJ Hamler led the Lions in kickoff returns last season with a 26.1-yard average and also brought back 14 punts (6.9-yard average). Sophomores Ricky Slade and Journey Brown, and perhaps even 6-foot-3, 245-pound linebacker Micah Parsons, will be in the kickoff return mix. Reid and sophomore Mac Hippenhammer will help with punt returns.