Jonathan Sutherland’s return to Penn State adds depth, experience to defense

The Penn State roster for 2022 is slowly coming into shape with transfers, early entrants to the NFL Draft and other veterans electing to take advantage of extra eligibility all making announcements ahead of the Outback Bowl matchup with No. 22 Arkansas on Jan. 1.

On Thursday, Nittany Lions redshirt senior safety Jonathan Sutherland became the latest player to make his decision public: Sutherland will return to State College for a sixth season in 2022.

Immediately, Sutherland provides a boost in terms of intangibles. Sutherland, along with fellow sixth-year returnee Sean Clifford, became the first three-time team captain in Penn State history last summer.

Sutherland, a former four-star safety recruit who has mostly stood out on special teams, is a well-respected leader and could become a four-time team captain for 2022.

And that sort of leadership has value, especially as the defensive unit goes through a transition with new defensive coordinator Manny Diaz taking the reins from the departed Brent Pry earlier this month.

As for his on-field role, it will be interesting to see how it changes for Sutherland in his sixth season. He should once again be a key player on special teams, where he has carved out a niche at Penn State, but his broader role could change. He has 11 tackles and one interception this season.

Sutherland is listed as a safety on the roster, but he signed his message on social media with “#LBU,” which is a reference to Penn State’s “Linebacker U” moniker. During the offseason, Sutherland cross-trained at both safety and the Sam linebacker spot, which is the outside linebacker spot that plays out in space and is more involved with coverage. Sutherland physically fits that position at 5-foot-11, 201 pounds.

Sutherland even started at the Sam spot against Rutgers last month when sophomore Curtis Jacobs missed the game because of the flu. With starters Brandon Smith and Ellis Brooks off to the NFL, the linebacker spot will undergo some changes this offseason, and Sutherland could be part of the future plans at the spot.

In the Outback Bowl, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Jacobs in place of Smith at the Will spot, senior Jesse Luketa in Brooks’ spot in the middle at the Mike and Sutherland at the Sam.

As for safety, starter Ji’Ayir Brown is returning, which means Penn State needs to replace only Gateway product Jaquan Brisker — no easy task — at the position. Junior Keaton Ellis and freshman Jaylen Reed are candidates, and there are at least three potential safeties in the incoming freshman class in four-stars Mehki Flowers, Cristian Driver and Kevin Winston Jr.

Sutherland’s presence might be needed more at linebacker, where redshirt freshman Tyler Elsdon, freshmen Kobe King and Jamari Buddin and incoming freshmen Abdul Carter, a four-star, and Keon Wylie, a three-star, could compete for time.

With his experience at multiple positions, Sutherland could be a versatile depth piece for Penn State next season. And with a new defensive coordinator and a good amount of young talent set to join the roster on that side of the ball, that could prove valuable for Penn State.