Former Penn State safety Jaquan Brisker, who was named an All-American safety on the junior college and Power 5 levels after a decorated career at Gateway, started a new journey Friday night when he was drafted in the second round (48th overall) by the Chicago Bears.

Brisker is the fifth Gateway graduate drafted into the NFL since Pitt defensive tackle Bob Buczkowski was a first-round choice of then-Los Angeles Raiders in 1986. Brisker joins Gateway grads Buczkowski, Montae Nicholson (2017), Justin King (2008) and Terry Smith (1992) on that elite list. Smith, former Gateway head coach and now an assistant at Penn State where he is also defensive recruiting coordinator, was instrumental in getting Brisker to enroll at Penn State.

Before Penn State, however, Brisker got his feet squarely under him and academics in order at Lackawanna Community College in northeast Pennsylvania.

Through coaching contacts, Gateway coach and athletic director Don Holl helped Brisker find a home at Lackawanna, where he put together a highlight tape that Holl labeled “ridiculous.”

Brisker’s hard work helped land him in the NFL, but he might have inherited a bit of athletic ability from his maternal grandfather, John Brisker, who played for the Seattle SuperSonics in the NBA after spending four seasons (from 1969-1972) in the ABA with the Pittsburgh Pipers and Condors.

At Lackawanna in 2018, Brisker was a first-team NJCAA All-America and Northeast Football Conference Defensive Player of the Year. That year, 17 of his team-high 64 tackles resulted in a loss of yardage, including nine sacks from the safety position. The year before, he was a disrupter as a freshman, collecting four interceptions and six TFLs.

At Penn State, he started 21 games in three seasons, recording 153 tackles (86 solo), 9.5 TFLs, five interceptions, 14 pass breakups and a fumble recovery. Last season, he became the third Penn State defensive back since 2000 to record at least 5.5 TFLs in a season.

Three outlets named him a first-team All-American; seven others placed his name on the second team.

None of this surprises Holl, who was a first-year coach during Brisker’s senior year.

“He jumped off the tape as a guy who can do things on both sides of the ball and special teams,” Holl said.

Holl told his staff, “This is a focal-point guy we’re going to involve in everything — slot, backfield, screen guy.”

“Safety, he could play on top of the defense or come down and play slot corner, in the box and play outside backer against flex bone teams like McKeesport. Big, strong, athletic, all the things you need to be a multiple, versatile guy.

“You talk to Terry and James Franklin, he was an ideal guy for them, leader, student of the game, did everything right as far as being in class and being where he’s supposed to be.”

The moment @JaquanBrisker became a Bear was pretty hype ???? @ChicagoBears

pic.twitter.com/UgnvseFUDT

— Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) April 30, 2022

CONGRATS @JaquanBrisker on your selection by the @ChicagoBears in the 2022 NFL Draft!!! I could not be prouder!!! pic.twitter.com/1UWH1HpD36

— Don Holl (@CoachDonHoll1) April 30, 2022

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