Gateway graduate JaQuan Brisker making impact in Penn State secondary

While Penn State football’s season opener against Indiana on Oct. 24 didn’t go as planned, the Nittany Lions players, including Gateway graduate JaQuan Brisker, were happy to be back on the field competing.

The Big Ten announced in August it was cancelling its 2020 football schedule because of covid-19 concerns. That didn’t sit well with a number of people involved with football in the conference.

Brisker, at the time, shared his reaction with KDKA-TV.

“Just to hear the season was canceled was like, ‘whoa,’” he said.

“I can’t believe the Big Ten or the presidents and commissioners would cancel the season, especially my senior year. Coaches made sure we were safe, they made sure we got tested, and then with the helmets, we had facemasks. So we had like a visor with extra protection. We’re always six feet apart during any drill, so I was never worried about getting covid-19.”

The Big Ten then reversed course about a month later announcing it would in fact allow teams to compete with numerous safety protocols in place. A couple of days after that announcement, the 2020 schedules were revealed.

That was all good news for Brisker and the rest of the Nittany Lions who began immediate preparations for the opener with the Hoosiers.

Brisker, in his second season with Penn State after transferring from Lackawanna Community College, earned a starting job in the defensive backfield for the Nittany Lions.

He forms a 1-2 punch at safety with fellow WPIAL alum, Clairton graduate Lamont Wade.

“We do have a lot of depth,” Brisker said in a preseason conference call. “I feel this is the most depth that has been here at Penn State at the safety position. I think anyone of us could start. I feel like the sky’s the limit.”

Brisker made three tackles in the 36-35 loss to Indiana, including his first career tackle for a loss in the overtime session.

He was at the heart of the deciding two-point conversion run by Hoosiers quarterback Michael Penix.

Brisker closed in quickly on Penix as he made his move to the end zone and attempted to knock Penix out of bounds as he stretched the football toward the pylon.

The close play was reviewed by replay officials who deemed the conversion try successful by the slimmest of margins, and Indiana owned the one-point victory.

Penn State hoped to rebound Saturday as it hosted highly-ranked rival Ohio State at Beaver Stadium. The nationally television contest concluded past the deadline for this week’s edition.

The Nittany Lions will host Maryland this Saturday as their eight-game Big Ten schedule rolls on.

Brisker built his resume last year in his first season at Happy Valley.

He played in all 13 games and made 32 tackles (15 solo) and added a pair of interceptions (Iowa, Michigan State) which tied for the team lead.

Brisker’s interception in the fourth quarter against Iowa helped Penn State top the Hawkeyes, 17-12, and improve to 6-0. The Nittany Lions secured bowl eligibility for the 50th time in program history and went on to post an 11-2 overall record and a 53-39 victory over Memphis in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic.

For his efforts during the 2019 season, Brisker was selected to the Pro Football Focus All-Big Ten Third Team.

“Last year, I would say, it helped me get my feet wet,” Brisker said.

“Stepping on the field, knowing what it’s like to be out there, it helped me know what is going to happen this year. I feel like this year, studying more film, taking better angles to the ball and things like that will help me be a better player.”

Brisker laid the foundation for his opportunity at Penn State as a two-time letterman at Lackawanna.

Serving as team captain for the 2018 season, he helped the Falcons finish 11-0 and cap the season with a win in the El Toro Bowl.

Lackawanna finished with a No. 6 national ranking, and Brisker was selected to the National Junior College Athletic Association All-America first team. He also was named the Northeast Football Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2018.

“There is a lot of excitement in our program for JaQuan,” Penn State coach James Franklin said.

“He looks unbelievable. He’s developed so much. I think we all know, typically, you see a dramatic change of those junior college players in Year 2. We see that with him, his confidence, his understanding of a scheme, his athleticism, his speed, how explosive he is. He’s an impressive looking guy.”