With at least a couple of Penn State's starting linebackers on the sideline this weekend due to injury recovery, there should be plenty of opportunity for young or backup LBs to establish a presence during Saturday's Blue-White Game.
Speaking to reporters this morning on a conference call, senior-to-be Von Walker highlighted three position-mates who have been making noise behind the scenes at practice this spring and might be set up to have a strong performance this weekend. They are: Jason Vranic, Jan Johnson and Brandon Smith.
"The guy that I usually say is Jason Vranic," Walker said. "He came in here (as a walk-on transfer from Erie C.C.) and he's an awesome guy, an awesome 'backer. He still is trying to get the ropes at linebacker right now, but he's shown tremendous improvement and he's stepped in an as a player so much. He's an awesome guy, so look for him.
"Jan Johnson, he wrestled here at heavyweight, too, and now he's playing linebacker and he's picked stuff up. He played last year, too, but you probably didn't hear of him that much, but this year keep an eye out for him. He's stepped in and he's done an unbelievable job. He's an awesome player, so those two guys and Brandon Smith.
"I love the way Brandon Smith plays. He's one of the toughest guys I know, so definitely keep an eye out for him, too. Those guys are all extremely hard workers, and I wouldn't expect anything but good things from them on Saturday."
- Walker also noted a few standout plays on the defensive side of the ball. Although he didn't want to focus much on his own performance, he acknowledged that he caught an interception earlier in spring practice.
But that wasn't the best play of the spring for defense. Instead, that could go to defensive end Evan Schwan.
"Evan Schwan got an interception and it was a pick-six during practice and it was awesome," Walker said, adding how it's not often that you see a defensive lineman running toward the end zone. "You saw AJ or Carl maybe get a pick last year, but you don't see it that much, so for Evan to get an interception, obviously, we all went crazy."
Speaking to reporters this morning on a conference call, senior-to-be Von Walker highlighted three position-mates who have been making noise behind the scenes at practice this spring and might be set up to have a strong performance this weekend. They are: Jason Vranic, Jan Johnson and Brandon Smith.
"The guy that I usually say is Jason Vranic," Walker said. "He came in here (as a walk-on transfer from Erie C.C.) and he's an awesome guy, an awesome 'backer. He still is trying to get the ropes at linebacker right now, but he's shown tremendous improvement and he's stepped in an as a player so much. He's an awesome guy, so look for him.
"Jan Johnson, he wrestled here at heavyweight, too, and now he's playing linebacker and he's picked stuff up. He played last year, too, but you probably didn't hear of him that much, but this year keep an eye out for him. He's stepped in and he's done an unbelievable job. He's an awesome player, so those two guys and Brandon Smith.
"I love the way Brandon Smith plays. He's one of the toughest guys I know, so definitely keep an eye out for him, too. Those guys are all extremely hard workers, and I wouldn't expect anything but good things from them on Saturday."
- Walker also noted a few standout plays on the defensive side of the ball. Although he didn't want to focus much on his own performance, he acknowledged that he caught an interception earlier in spring practice.
But that wasn't the best play of the spring for defense. Instead, that could go to defensive end Evan Schwan.
"Evan Schwan got an interception and it was a pick-six during practice and it was awesome," Walker said, adding how it's not often that you see a defensive lineman running toward the end zone. "You saw AJ or Carl maybe get a pick last year, but you don't see it that much, so for Evan to get an interception, obviously, we all went crazy."
