For me this was a much harder selection than choosing OG/OL Chasz Wright [6-7, 328] on offense. That's why instead of just selecting one player I've chosen two. The two players I've selected as the biggest surprises of spring practice on defense are senior strongside DE Carl Nassib [6-6, 270] and redshirt freshman CB Daquan Worley [5-10, 183].
I think I'm probably correct when I admit that one of my two selections for the biggest surprise of spring practice is Worley will catch most Lions Den members by surprise. Not only did Worley catch the attention of James Franklin who stated '[Worley] has done some good things this spring", but Franklin also emphasized the fact that Penn State needed to find a fourth cornerback [CB] in spring practice with senior Jordan Lucas [6-0, 199] moving from his boundary CB position the last two years to the free safety position in spring practice.
Worley now appears to be the backup boundary CB behind senior Trevor Williams [6-1, 201] coming out of the Blue White Game tomorrow afternoon. What has really impressed both Terry Smith and Bob Stoops with his play this spring has been his toughness and hard hitting ability. Worley physically may be the smallest member of Penn State's secondary on its spring practice 2-deep depth chart [5-10, 183], but Lucas and several other members of Penn State's defense have all commented that Worley might be the hardest hitter in Penn State's secondary.
Worley has solid 4.5 40-yard speed and reportedly is 100-percent healed from his ACL injury that took place in late October [2013] during his senior year at Coatesville [Pa.] High School. If that is indeed the case I expect Worley to have a big impact on Penn State's punt and kickoff coverage teams on special teams this fall.
Nassib, I'll admit it, surprised me with his performance this spring. At 6-6, 270 Nassib has not only added about 20 pounds to his frame and physically appears ready to take over the strongside DE position, he has also gained the respect of teammates like senior All Big Ten DT Anthony Zettel.
Despite losing two starters from a year ago, Zettel is growing more confident with potential replacements -Garrett Sickels.
"I think both of them have a lot to offer to help the d-line," Zettel said. "Carl is really unorthodox, a lengthy guy, but he's also a big guy. He weighs 270 pounds, 20 pounds heavier than last year, and he's a lot stronger, faster, so that just shows you what type of athlete he is and what he brings."
Zettel added that "Sickels is also a very productive player."
Behind Nassib and Sickels, additionally Zettel said he has seen "tremendous improvement since last year" from defensive ends Torrence Brown.
I'll be honest with all our Lions Den members, at the beginning of spring practice I never expected to name Nassib as the biggest surprise for me on defense coming out of spring practice. But I'm glad that has turned out to be the case because with the graduation of Deion Barnes and C.J. Olaniyan, Penn State desperately needed Nassib and Garrett Sickles [6-4, 262] to step up their game in spring practice for Penn State's defensive line to keep performing at the high level it established last fall.
This post was edited on 4/17 7:45 PM by BWI PHIL GROSZ
This post was edited on 4/17 7:51 PM by BWI PHIL GROSZ
I think I'm probably correct when I admit that one of my two selections for the biggest surprise of spring practice is Worley will catch most Lions Den members by surprise. Not only did Worley catch the attention of James Franklin who stated '[Worley] has done some good things this spring", but Franklin also emphasized the fact that Penn State needed to find a fourth cornerback [CB] in spring practice with senior Jordan Lucas [6-0, 199] moving from his boundary CB position the last two years to the free safety position in spring practice.
Worley now appears to be the backup boundary CB behind senior Trevor Williams [6-1, 201] coming out of the Blue White Game tomorrow afternoon. What has really impressed both Terry Smith and Bob Stoops with his play this spring has been his toughness and hard hitting ability. Worley physically may be the smallest member of Penn State's secondary on its spring practice 2-deep depth chart [5-10, 183], but Lucas and several other members of Penn State's defense have all commented that Worley might be the hardest hitter in Penn State's secondary.
Worley has solid 4.5 40-yard speed and reportedly is 100-percent healed from his ACL injury that took place in late October [2013] during his senior year at Coatesville [Pa.] High School. If that is indeed the case I expect Worley to have a big impact on Penn State's punt and kickoff coverage teams on special teams this fall.
Nassib, I'll admit it, surprised me with his performance this spring. At 6-6, 270 Nassib has not only added about 20 pounds to his frame and physically appears ready to take over the strongside DE position, he has also gained the respect of teammates like senior All Big Ten DT Anthony Zettel.
Despite losing two starters from a year ago, Zettel is growing more confident with potential replacements -Garrett Sickels.
"I think both of them have a lot to offer to help the d-line," Zettel said. "Carl is really unorthodox, a lengthy guy, but he's also a big guy. He weighs 270 pounds, 20 pounds heavier than last year, and he's a lot stronger, faster, so that just shows you what type of athlete he is and what he brings."
Zettel added that "Sickels is also a very productive player."
Behind Nassib and Sickels, additionally Zettel said he has seen "tremendous improvement since last year" from defensive ends Torrence Brown.
I'll be honest with all our Lions Den members, at the beginning of spring practice I never expected to name Nassib as the biggest surprise for me on defense coming out of spring practice. But I'm glad that has turned out to be the case because with the graduation of Deion Barnes and C.J. Olaniyan, Penn State desperately needed Nassib and Garrett Sickles [6-4, 262] to step up their game in spring practice for Penn State's defensive line to keep performing at the high level it established last fall.
This post was edited on 4/17 7:45 PM by BWI PHIL GROSZ
This post was edited on 4/17 7:51 PM by BWI PHIL GROSZ
