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DB Ayron Monroe tasked with important scout team role

Before any claims are made, let it be clarified. He’s not at the current talent level of Jabrill Peppers.

“If he was as good as Jabrill Peppers right now, he probably wouldn’t be on scout team,” said Penn State head coach James Franklin.

Redshirt freshman safety Ayron Monroe is practicing again, and this week it’s at the same hybrid linebacker position that Heisman hopeful Peppers stars at for Michigan. Mimicking the blitz packages and man coverage responsibilities of the Wolverine junior, Monroe is testing Penn State’s first-team offense this week at practice.

Prior to the week of preparation, the Nittany Lion coaching staff selects its practice-squad athletes to rehearse the other team’s playbook from the perspective of a given opposing player. Often they’ll wear the same jersey number.

This week Monroe was chosen to act as Peppers due to his mix of burst and athleticism, said his position coach Tim Banks.

“He’s super athletic. I mean he really is,” Banks said about Monroe. “Tremendous balance. Very, very explosive, so he kind of fits that mold. He obviously has not done it in a game setting yet, but we definitely still like him and his skill set in terms of how fast he can get from 0-60 and the tremendous ball skills that he can bring to the table. We think his future is extremely bright here.”

After signing with Penn State in the Class of 2015 out of St John’s College High in Maryland, Monroe redshirted last year and has yet to see game action this year.

Therefore, although it's on the scout team, this is one of his more important roles thus far of his young career.

"It’s hard to replicate a guy who is one of the more dynamic players in college football right now, but Ayron is a good athlete and we’re excited to get him back in the rotation here hopefully soon," Franklin added. "He’s done a nice job."


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