STATE COLLEGE − Penn State football cornerbacks guru Terry Smith attempted to be cautious in his evaluations Saturday, only a couple of workouts into the preseason.
His best cornerback room ever at Penn State?
He smiled. He wouldn’t bite on that, in part, because he’ll be breaking in new, untested starters. He lost his top three 2023 performers to the NFL.
But his deepest cornerback room?
He did agree there. He had to, in a sense.
“I’ve never gone into a year where … all six guys could possibly start,” he said during Media Day interviews in Holuba Hall.
Penn State cornerbacks coach Terry Smith talks with CB Elliot Washington II (16) during football media day at Beaver Stadium on Sunday, August 6, 2023, in State College.
“On paper we’re really good, but paper don’t play games,” he said, then paused. “There’s a saying in the room that we all believe we can eat …”
Penn State owned one of the top cornerback groups in the Big Ten and beyond two years ago with Joey Porter, Kalen King and vets Daequan Hardy and transfer Johnny Dixon. Porter was a second-round NFL Draft pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers and King earned preseason All-America predictions.
Last year, they were strong again even with King struggling as opponents often ignored his side of the field.
But now?
Smith and the Lions added two huge transfer pickups in former national recruit A.J. Harris from Georgia and senior Jalen Kimber from Florida. Young backups Cam Miller, Audavion Collins, Zion Tracy and Elliot Washington II all seem to be trending upwards in various means.
It’s too early in camp to predict who will start come the Aug. 31 opener at West Virginia — or who’s even in the lead for now, Smith said.
No matter, cornerback should be a strength for one of the nation’s top defenses in 2023 that hopes to build even stronger under new leader Tom…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/building-penn-state-football-position-235356315.html
Author : York Daily Record
Publish date : 2024-08-03 23:53:56
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