Just got back from a doctor's appointment and I'll admit it that I was shocked by the news about Troy Reeder's decision to transfer from Penn State to Delaware. There are no two ways about it, Reeder's decision to transfer to Delaware is a big, big loss for this Penn State football team.
Not only was Reeder Penn State's 4th leading tackler on the team with 67 tackles, 5.5 TFL and posting an interception, but after Nyeem Watman-White's season ending knee injury in the opening game of the season against Temple, Reeder became the starting Will outside linebacker as a redshirt freshman and So. Jason Cabinda took over Wartman-White's starting MLB position.
That means true freshman Jake Cooper [ 6-1, 226] will enter spring practice as the projected starter at the Will outside linebacker position. Wartman-White's rehab for his season ending ACL injury against Temple will most likely keep him from seeing any contact work in spring practice, but Wartman-White is expected at this point, if his rehab continues on schedule, to be back at his MLB position for the 2016 season.
If Wartman-White is indeed ready to go this fall I anticipate Cabinda will be moved to the Will OLB position and 5th-year senior Gary Wooten to back up Wartman-White at MLB. Sr. Brandon Bell is the projected starter at the SAM OLB position backed up by So. Manny Bowen and 5th-year senior Von Walker.
At this point Penn State has recruited two OLBs in its class of 2016: Cameron Brown [6-5, 210] and Shaka Toney [6-3, 205] and personally I now think it would be in Penn State's very best interests to recruit two additional LBs. One additional OLB and MLB Brendan Ferns [6-3, 226] from St. Clairsville, Ohio with Ferns becoming an extreme high priority.
Experienced depth with game experience at all three linebacker positions, especially at both outside linebacker positions, is now a big question mark for the upcoming 2016 season.
But if Wartman-White is not physically prepared to play this fall then the MLB position becomes a major question mark. Under that scenario, Cabinda would probably have to remain at MLB and Cooper would take over the starting WIll OLB position. Depth with game experience at all three linebacker positions would become a very serious situation if Wartman-White isn't ready to go in the fall.
It has been indicated to BWI that the reason for Reeder's transfer to Delaware is because he wants to be a teammate of his brother at Delaware and he wants to be closer to home. Maybe that is the most surprising aspect to me why Reeder has selected to transfer to Delaware, which is just a three hour drive from Penn State.
Man there really is a lot to talk about at 1 PM tomorrow in my chat.
Not only was Reeder Penn State's 4th leading tackler on the team with 67 tackles, 5.5 TFL and posting an interception, but after Nyeem Watman-White's season ending knee injury in the opening game of the season against Temple, Reeder became the starting Will outside linebacker as a redshirt freshman and So. Jason Cabinda took over Wartman-White's starting MLB position.
That means true freshman Jake Cooper [ 6-1, 226] will enter spring practice as the projected starter at the Will outside linebacker position. Wartman-White's rehab for his season ending ACL injury against Temple will most likely keep him from seeing any contact work in spring practice, but Wartman-White is expected at this point, if his rehab continues on schedule, to be back at his MLB position for the 2016 season.
If Wartman-White is indeed ready to go this fall I anticipate Cabinda will be moved to the Will OLB position and 5th-year senior Gary Wooten to back up Wartman-White at MLB. Sr. Brandon Bell is the projected starter at the SAM OLB position backed up by So. Manny Bowen and 5th-year senior Von Walker.
At this point Penn State has recruited two OLBs in its class of 2016: Cameron Brown [6-5, 210] and Shaka Toney [6-3, 205] and personally I now think it would be in Penn State's very best interests to recruit two additional LBs. One additional OLB and MLB Brendan Ferns [6-3, 226] from St. Clairsville, Ohio with Ferns becoming an extreme high priority.
Experienced depth with game experience at all three linebacker positions, especially at both outside linebacker positions, is now a big question mark for the upcoming 2016 season.
But if Wartman-White is not physically prepared to play this fall then the MLB position becomes a major question mark. Under that scenario, Cabinda would probably have to remain at MLB and Cooper would take over the starting WIll OLB position. Depth with game experience at all three linebacker positions would become a very serious situation if Wartman-White isn't ready to go in the fall.
It has been indicated to BWI that the reason for Reeder's transfer to Delaware is because he wants to be a teammate of his brother at Delaware and he wants to be closer to home. Maybe that is the most surprising aspect to me why Reeder has selected to transfer to Delaware, which is just a three hour drive from Penn State.
Man there really is a lot to talk about at 1 PM tomorrow in my chat.
