State of Penn State: The Defensive Backs

The Lions lose two NFL Draft picks yet might not lose a step in the secondary.

Pro Football Focus, the analytics firm whose players grades command plenty of attention, recently conducted an intriguing offseaon experiment. Asked the site, What would the 2023 NFL Draft look like were every college football player available?

A conceptual exercise, to be sure, but one that provoked discussion regarding Penn State's secondary. Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. likely will become the first Penn State defensive back selected in the first round of an NFL Draft. Yet Porter did not appear in PFF's all-eligible mock.

But cornerback Kalen King did. PFF projected the rising junior to the Jacksonville Jaguars with the 25th pick. Which demonstrates just how good Penn State's secondary has been, and how much better it might get.

In this installment of State of Penn State, we're exploring a secondary that once again could be the team's top position group in 2023.

Who's Here

Cornerbacks

• Sr. Johnny Dixon
• Soph. Kalen King
• Sr. Daequan Hardy
• Soph. Cam Miller
• Redshirt Fr. Kolin Dinkins

Safeties

• Sr. Keaton Ellis
• Jr. Jaylen Reed
• Redshirt Soph. Zakee Wheatley
• Soph. KJ Winston

Who's Gone

• Safety Ji'Ayir Brown
• Cornerback Joey Porter Jr.
• Cornerback Marquis Wilson (transfer)
• Cornerback Jeffrey Davis. Jr. (transfer)

Who's Arriving

• Cornerback Storm Duck (transfer from North Carolina)

The Situation

Penn State has had 10 defensive backs drafted since 2015, including second-round safety Jaquan Brisker last year. Porter, as noted, is a projected first-rounder. King might top him. This roster keeps rolling, as this secondary is overstuffed with talent.

The Lions led the country with 85 pass breakups last season, with King charting an eye-popping 18. He capped the season with a team-high third interception in the Rose Bowl. King could give the Lions back-to-back drafts with first-round secondary picks after going their entire history without one.

Opposite King, for now, are veterans Johnny Dixon and Daequan Hardy, though newcomer Storm Duck has eyes on that job. Duck was named second-team All-ACC at North Carolina last season after making three interception and 12 pass breakups. This cornerback rotation gives defensive coordinator Manny Diaz a world of options.

At safety, the Lions leaned so much on Ji'Ayir Brown that his absence will be noticeable early. Brown, the defensive MVP of the Rose Bowl, captained the defense almost effortlessly. Returning starter Keaton Ellis is a veteran who must take those controls. Reed likely will slide into Brown's starting role, but watch for Wheatley and KJ Winston, who played in a combined 25 games and will be more than rotation players.

The Questions

Will expectations be too high for a group that loses two NFL-caliber starters? Penn State's secondary was so disruptive last season, holding opponents to a 52.75 completion rate during the regular season and six teams (including Utah in the Rose Bowl) to under 50 percent.

Penn State's primary concern is replacing Brown, but its recent developmental history at the position suggests promise. After all, the Lions nurtured Brisker and Brown from Lackawanna College to the NFL. Who's next in that run?

By the Numbers

• 4: Games with double-digit pass breakups
• 9: Seasons in which Penn State recorded 80+ pass breakups (85 in 2022)
• 16: Turnovers in which Brown was involved at Penn State (10 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles, 3 recoveries)
• 30: King's national rank among college players in 2022, according to PFF
• 44.7: King's completion rate allowed during the regular season, according to Coaches by the Numbers

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AllPennState is the place for Penn State news, opinion and perspective on the SI.com network. Publisher Mark Wogenrich has covered Penn State for more than 20 years, tracking three coaching staffs, three Big Ten titles and a catalog of great stories. Follow him on Twitter @MarkWogenrich. And consider subscribing (button's on the home page) for more great content across the SI.com network.