Lion LBs Feature Depth, Experience

James Franklin listed the options of defensive coordinator Brent Pry in choosing linebackers this spring.

Having sustained the departures of veterans Brandon Bell and Nyeem Wartman-White, both injured for portions of the 2016 season, Franklin’s rundown was as follows:

Sam - Koa Farmer, Jarvis Miller and Brelin Faison-Walden

Mike - Jason Cabinda and Brandon Smith

Will - Cam Brown and Manny Bowen

These primary seven players available this spring were, according to Franklin at his pre-spring practice press conference Tuesday, the basis of what he said felt like “a pretty good two-deep” for the position.

At Sam, the Lions will feature plenty of speed as both Farmer and Miller have put on weight but have maintained much of the quickness that defined their career beginnings in Penn State’s secondary. According to strength and conditioning coordinator Dwight Galt, Miller’s move to linebacker from safety during bowl practices hasn’t mitigated his 4.4s speed while he’s bulked up to 225 pounds and has gotten “tougher.”

At Mike, Franklin extolled the experience Cabinda brings to the field, backed Wednesday with the announcement that the senior-to-be has been voted on by his teammates as a captain for the 2017 season. Coming off an injury shortened junior season, Cabinda still finished third on the team with 81 tackles and is expected to by a keystone to Penn State’s defensive effort in the fall.

The walk-on Smith, meanwhile, emerged last season during a rash of injuries to the position. He ultimately finished sixth on the team in tackles in 14 games with two starts, also tying for the team lead in interceptions with two.

Wrapping up his comments by similarly praising the experience of Manny Bowen, a starter in 12 of 13 games played last season with 68 tackles, 8.5 tackles for a loss and a pair of sacks, and Cam Brown, a true freshman forced into action due to the Lions’ plague of injuries, Franklin offered a vision of a group that brings both experience and talent to the position this spring.

“Cam, you guys are going to see Cam out at practice and he is as impressive-looking guy there is,” said Franklin. “He's legitimately 6-5. He's legitimately 225 pounds now and you're going to see him and he still looks skinny but he has muscles that I don't even know existed.

“I'm interested to see the step he takes this spring. He's an example, one of the guys I talked about that played enough; that that experience is going to be valuable to him, and I think you'll see a significant jump in his play on special teams and his play on defense this year.”

Even so, Franklin maintained that the group will still need to prove itself in the absence of its experienced veterans. Having earned much-needed experience for its younger players, however, will be an important caveat that leaves him feeling optimistic.

“We have a starting point but there's no doubt we're replacing a lot of experience, Nyeem and Brandon Bell, you know,” said Franklin. “I’ve also made the argument to you guys before that sometimes injuries are a blessing in disguise because it forces you to create more depth. Nyeem had the injury bug the last two years and even Brandon had some injuries. So the fact that we were able to get some other guys some rep, some legitimate reps and legitimate games, I think helps, I think helps with that.”

A remaining scholarship linebacker unmentioned in Franklin's initial comments, junior Jake Cooper is expected to be "in the mix" in preseason camp, having missed the majority of the 2016 season due to injury.