Penn State football’s secondary is going to look different during the 2024 season. After a year where the group finished second in the nation in total defense, the cornerbacks and safeties lost four, star players to the NFL and graduation.

With a few of the eventual losses opting out during the Peach Bowl, the young Nittany Lion secondary struggled, leading to questions about this year’s group. Despite the losses, James Franklin added cornerbacks Jalen Kimber from Florida and A.J. Harris from Georgia to the room for this year’s campaign.

With new defensive coordinator Tom Allen at the helm, let’s take a look at what Penn State’s full secondary might look like this season.

Cornerbacks

• Starters: Cam Miller and A.J. Harris
• Reserves: Jalen Kimber, Audavion Collins, Zion Tracy, Elliot Washington II

After making his first start during the Peach Bowl, Cam Miller is primed to take over one of the starting cornerback spots this season. Miller saw significant game action last year, totaling 24 total tackles, three sacks, and an interception.

Harris, a sophomore transfer from Georgia, appeared in seven games last year for the Bulldogs. Over the course of the 2023 season, Harris notched eight tackles before coming to Penn State in January.

Kimber, a redshirt senior who transferred in from Florida, has experience at the position, starting 11 games for the Gators last year with 23 tackles. Kimber also finished second on the team in pass breakups with five and is expected to be an experienced backup for the team this year.

The rest of the cornerback room is comprised of younger players who will get game opportunities this season. Sophomores Elliot Washington II and Zion Tracy both saw action last year with Washington appearing in 10 games and Tracy appearing in all 13. Tracy ended the year with 13 tackles, while Washington managed nine.

Redshirt sophomore Audavion Collins, another young player in the cornerback room, appeared in six games last year, posting three solo tackles.

Safety

• Starters: Jaylen Reed and KJ Winston
• Reserves: Zakee Wheatley, DaKaari Nelson, Lamont Payne Jr.

While the cornerback room is returning little experience this year, the safeties are welcoming back senior Jaylen Reed and junior KJ Winston.

Reed started all 13 games at safety last year, notching 46 tackles and two interceptions while earning All-Big Ten honorable mentions. Winston also started every game at safety and led the team in tackles with 60. While also earning All-Big Ten honorable mentions, Winston recovered two fumbles and had an interception and five pass breakups.

Redshirt junior Zakee Wheatley will likely lead the young backups this year in his fourth year with the Nittany Lions. Last year, Wheatley appeared in all 13 games, finishing with 24 tackles on the season. Rounding out the room are redshirt freshmen Dakaari Nelson and Lamont Payne Jr. Payne appeared in three games last year while Nelson appeared in one.