It’s never too early to talk about Penn State football’s upcoming season, folks.

After a strange and disappointing 2020 campaign, the Nittany Lions are ready to bounce back with a vengeance, specifically on the defensive side of the ball. Defensive coordinator Brent Pry is ready to return for his eighth season in Happy Valley and boasts a good amount of returning talent at several positions.

The Nittany Lions’ defense allowed 27.7 points per game along with 328.8 yards, but the group clearly still boasts plenty of talent.

With that in mind, here’s our way-too-early projection for what Penn State football’s defense might look like in 2021.

Penn State Athletics confirmed that each player will stay at their current eligibility level next season due to the extra year granted by the NCAA.

Defensive End

Starters/Rotations: Adisa Isaac, Smith Vilbert, Arnold Ebiketie
Backups/Reserves: Nick Tarburton, Bryce Mostella, Amin Vanover

Penn State’s edge rushers have been one of the defense’s most solidified position groups over the past few seasons, but there’s now plenty of questions to answer entering 2021.

With Shaka Toney, Jayson Oweh, and Shane Simmons all gone, it’s officially time for Adisa Issac and Smith Vilbert to step up. Several coaches and players have talked about the pair highly over the past few seasons, and they’ll now get a chance to lead this group this fall.

Isaac has already played two seasons in the blue and white and has produced in a rotational role. The Brooklyn native appeared in all nine games in 2020 and finished with 13 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and two quarterback hurries.

As for Vilbert, he’s been in Happy Valley for just as long as Isaac but doesn’t have nearly the same amount of playing experience. He appeared in four games in 2020 and finished with just a tackle and a quarterback hurry, but the New Jersey native has had high expectations since he arrived at Penn State in 2019.

With all of this lack of experience, Arnold Ebiketie’s move to Happy Valley will play a huge role for the Nittany Lions in 2021. A reliable starter during his Temple career, the December grad transfer made 42 total tackles, four sacks, and forced three fumbles over the course of just six games in 2020.

Nick Tarburton hasn’t put up gaudy stats through his Penn State career, but the redshirt sophomore can provide a bit of a veteran presence for the group, while freshmen such as Bryce Mostella and Amin Vanover could be important for depth.

Defensive Tackle

Starters/Rotations: PJ Mustipher, Hakeem Beamon, Fred Hansard
Backups/Reserves: Dvon Ellies, Derrick Tangelo, Coziah Izzard, Aeneas Hawkins, Joseph Darkwa, Cole Brevard, Fatorma Mulbah

Unlike the ends, several of Penn State’s hogmollies up front have been here for a while.

PJ Mustipher is the unquestioned leader of this group. The junior was a constant in an otherwise inconsistent 2020 for the Nittany Lions, as he made 35 total tackles, a sack, and even deflected a pass.

With Antonio Shelton off to Florida, Hakeem Beamon and Fred Hansard will likely earn plenty of time alongside the veteran Mustipher. The latter of the pair is a redshirt junior and offers plenty of experience to the room, as he now enters his fifth season in Happy Valley.

While Hansard offers experience, Beamon’s athletic ability could make him of use often in 2021. The 6’3″, 298-pound redshirt freshman appeared in eight of Penn State’s nine games in 2020 and made seven total tackles. Beamon was a four-star prospect coming out of Virginia and has been on the fast-track to add value for this defense since he arrived in 2018.

Derrick Tangelo could also prove some immediate value for the Nittany Lions. The former Duke defensive tackle announced his decision to transfer to Happy Valley in December, and he logged 40 tackles and two sacks with the Blue Devils last season.

Outside of that core, Dvon Ellis and Coziah Izzard are likely the next men up. The pair were listed behind Mustipher and Beamon on the depth chart for much of this past season, but with Judge Culpepper off to Toledo, they’ll now move up a spot.

Ellies is a redshirt freshman while Izzard is just a freshman. Barring any injuries, expect them to act more as depth pieces behind the likes of Mustipher, Hansard, and Beamon.

Linebacker

Starters: Jesse Luketa, Ellis Brooks, Brandon Smith
Backups/Reserves: Curtis Jacobs, Charlie Katshir, Max Chizmar, Zuriah Fisher, Tyler Elsdon

After entering the 2020 season with inexperience across the board, there’s no doubt who will start at all three of Penn State’s linebacker positions this fall.

The trio of Luketa, Brooks, and Smith all got experience as starters last season in a year that won’t even count against their eligibility, and all played fairly well. Luketa led the team with 59 total tackles, but Brooks was close behind with 57 of his own. Smith, meanwhile, had 37 tackles and two sacks in his sophomore campaign.

With Brooks in the middle and Luketa and Smith manning the outside, Brent Pry’s group will have a nice amount of experience and talent at each spot.

As for who will rotate in or start in case of injuries, Curtis Jacobs should be the first name that comes to mind. With Lance Dixon in the transfer portal, Jacobs now becomes Penn State’s most experienced and talented backup.

As a true freshman in 2020, the former four-star recruit made nine total tackles and even deflected a pass. He recorded four tackles in Penn State’s late-season victory over Michigan State.

Charlie Katshir and Max Chizmar have also both been in Happy Valley for multiple seasons and will provide some key depth for the group.

Cornerback

Starters/Rotations: Tariq Castro-Fields, Joey Porter Jr., Keaton Ellis
Backups/Reserves: Marquis Wilson, Johnny Dixon, Donovan Johnson, Daequan Hardy, Joseph Johnson III

Tariq Castro-Fields’ decision to return for his extra year of eligibility with the Nittany Lions will be extremely helpful for this group. While he missed a good amount of time last season due to injury, young players such as Ellis, Porter, and Wilson all got a ton of experience.

With a healthy Castro-Fields and a bunch of young, experienced talent waiting in the wings, this group could have a solid 2021.

It’s hard not to think that Penn State’s coaching staff wasn’t extremely satisfied with Porter’s redshirt freshman season. He was called upon as a starter and immediately stepped up, as he made 34 total tackles, broke up four passes, and even had a sack.

Along with the likely starter porter, Ellis and Wilson will rotate in a ton throughout 2021. As a sophomore in 2020, Ellis made five starts and hauled in his first-career interception against Illinois. Wilson started in just two games, but he made do with every opportunity he got by making 12 total tackles and shutting down several receivers he faced on a consistent basis.

While those four will likely see the field often, Donovan Johnson is a name that shouldn’t be forgotten. The former four-star recruit out of Detroit arrived in Happy Valley in 2017, but his career has been hampered by injuries thus far.

Johnson played well as a redshirt freshman in 2018, but he missed the majority of the 2019 season and didn’t play at all in 2020. If he can stay healthy, he could make a difference for Penn State this fall.

Safety

Starters/Rotations: Jaquan Brisker, Jonathan Sutherland, Ji’Ayir Brown
Backups/Reserves: Tyler Rudolph, Enzo Jennings

Jaquan Brisker will be the man for this group. After putting up an impressive 57 total tackles in 2020 along with an interception, Brisker announced he’ll return to Penn State for his extra year of eligibility.

The former Lackawanna Community College star burst onto the scene for the Nittany Lions in 2019 and really came into his own this past season, so expectations are high for the 6’1″, 212-pound safety.

Outside of Brisker, the veteran Sutherland will be key for the Nittany Lions on special teams and will likely rotate in at safety often. Brown will also likely play a bigger role in 2021 after seeing much more time as a junior in 2020. He made six total tackles after appearing in all nine games last fall and added a pass breakup.

Rudolph and Jennings are two younger players who can add some value on special teams or in a rotational capacity. Rudolph appeared in three games as a redshirt freshman in 2020, while Jennings played in just the Illinois game as a true freshman.