Penn State’s James Franklin expects a veteran reserve safety to take a big step forward this spring

Safety will be a team strength for Penn State in 2024.

The presence of returning starters Kevin Winston and Jaylen Reed is a major reason why.

The 6-2, 206-pound Winston, a third-year junior, led the Nittany Lions in tackles a year ago with 61 and he added five pass breakups.

Reed, a fourth-year senior, totaled 46 stops, four tackles for loss and two interceptions.

James Franklin is also eager to see what reserve safety Zakee Wheatley can do in 2024.

The 6-2, 196-pound Wheatley should help offset the loss of veteran Keaton Ellis.

“Zakee Wheatley is a guy that we’re expecting to take a big step,” Franklin said on Tuesday.

“Zakee’s had, by far, his best offseason. Not even close. That also allows us to maybe use Reed in the nickel position, that we’re going to call the ‘Lion’ position.”

Wheatley, a redshirt junior, should play significant snaps in assistant coach Anthony Poindexter’s rotation.

Franklin is also excited to see what King Mack can do in his second year.

“Mack, we’re expecting to take a significant step,” Franklin said of the 5-10, 187-pounder, who is one of the fastest players on the team.

“(Lamont) Payne has had as good of an offseason as maybe anybody in our program.

“DaKaari Nelson is a big, strong athletic guy that ended up redshirting last year. There are a number of guys that we can talk about and mention.”

Payne and Nelson are both redshirt freshmen and it should be noted the 6-3 Nelson is listed at 223 pounds.

But at safety, the reasons for optimism start with Winston and Reed.

“Winston and Reed, those two guys have played a ton of football for us,” Franklin said.

“They’re both experienced guys, they’re both playmakers, they’re both big and strong enough to be physical in the run game.”