Penn State 'sleeper' candidates come in all different sizes

Penn State’s preseason list of top players is long. It must include wide receiver Jahan Dotson, who led the Big Ten in receiving yards a year ago.

Then there is the list of most important players, and that’s where quarterback Sean Clifford comes in.

Best young players? Another long list. Wideout Parker Washington and Curtis Jacobs should be near the top.

And there is the one list of Penn State players that is always debatable: sleepers.

Who are the relatively unknown Lions who will make a significant impact? A year ago at this time, who knew about offensive tackle Caedan Wallace, running back Keyvone Lee and safety Jaquan Brisker?

New year, new sleeper list.

John Lovett — A veteran running back who has proven himself at Baylor, the 6-foot, 209-pound Lovett ran for almost 1,700 yards and totaled 16 touchdowns from 2017-19 with the Bears. The transfer is part of a crowded room that also includes Noah Cain, Lee, Caziah Holmes and Devyn Ford. But Lovett, a former New Jersey prep standout, can become a key part of the running game should he gain the trust of James Franklin and offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich.

Keaton Ellis and Ji’Ayir Brown — The Lions need help at the safety spot, so let’s lump these defensive backs together. Brown, a former JUCO, played the position in a reserve role in 2020 and put together a solid offseason. Penn State’s depth at corner prompted Ellis’ move from corner to safety. The 5-11, 190-pound third-year player from State College made five starts at cornerback a year ago.

Curtis Jacobs — If the goal is to get more athletic at linebacker, Jacobs is an ideal candidate to pair with former five-star Brandon Smith at the outside spots. The 6-1, 230-pound Jacobs, a four-star recruit from Penn State’s McDonogh pipeline in Maryland, played wideout in high school. Penn State brought Jacobs along slowly during his freshman year of 2020, but the plan was always to get him on the field early.

Johnny Dixon — Franklin and defensive coordinator Brent Pry consistently have stressed the need for versatility on defense since the head coach arrived prior to the 2014 season. The 6-foot, 186-pound Dixon, like fellow defensive back Keaton Ellis, can play multiple positions. The transfer from South Carolina played corner with the Gamecocks, but Pry said back in spring that Dixon could also be a factor at safety and at Penn State’s nickel position.

Hakeem Beamon and Derrick Tangelo — When the Lions open their season Sept. 4 at Wisconsin, veteran PJ Mustipher, if healthy, will start at one of the defensive tackle spots. But the other starting spot is open, and Penn State must find a few other tackles it can trust to play in a rotation. The athletic Beamon (6-3, 256), a third-year player, is a contender to see time. So is Tangelo (6-2, 308), a Duke transfer who made 27 starts in 45 games with the Blue Devils. Tangelo collected 114 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 4 1/2 sacks, five forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries during his time with Duke.

Eric Wilson — With All-Big Ten guard Mike Miranda’s expected move to center, the Lions will have two openings at the guard spots. Juice Scruggs (6-3, 307), a reserve guard last season, is arguably the leading contender to claim one of the spots, and Penn State offensive line coach Phil Trautwein also will consider Anthony Whigan (6-4, 316). Consider Wilson, a Harvard transfer who was a standout in the Ivy League, a wild card. He hasn’t played since the 2019 season, but the 6-4, 307-pound Wilson can climb the depth chart with a strong showing in August.

Smith Vilbert — A third-year player with impressive size (6-6, 263), it would be a surprise if the defensive end is not a big part of Lions’ rotation. Pry made it clear how excited he was about Vilbert’s potential at the start of camp. And this guy has the size Penn State needs to play the position.

Juice Scruggs — The veteran guard is fully recovered from a back injury that slowed his development a few years back. He was a top reserve at the guard spot last season, and Scruggs could be one of the Lions’ most improved players this season.