Picture clearing at corner
Top four appear set to start season
Penn State’s top four cornerbacks are coming into focus.
Cornerbacks coach Terry Smith said that Kalen King, Johnny Dixon, Daequan Hardy and Cam Miller have separated themselves from the rest of the room just more than two weeks before the Nittany Lions take on West Virginia Sept. 2.
The first three names were expected by most after having a significant role in the defense last season.
Miller, a sophomore cornerback who appeared in 11 games in 2022, stuck out above the other young guys.
“Those are the guys and we got to get them polished and ready to go,” Smith said.
King finished 2022 with 18 pass breakups, good for No. 3 in FBS. Dixon recorded 10 pass breakups of his own.
With Joey Porter Jr. gone to the NFL, King has had to step up as the Nittany Lions No. 1 corner.
“His approach really hasn’t changed. He’s a business-first guy, he’s about his work,” Smith said. “He had a really good scrimmage and he was challenged. They threw at him a few times, and he did what he’s supposed to do. He’s just being consistent, so we’re just happy where he’s at right now.”
Hardy has also been consistent.
Entering his redshirt-senior season, he has played in every game over the past two seasons as the primary nickel cornerback in pass coverage sets.
In 2023, Hardy could see more snaps outside of the slot, which is something he’s currently balancing during practice.
“We have to balance the reps so we don’t give him too many reps, but he has to get equal reps outside on the perimeter and inside at the nickel,” Smith said.
Beyond the top four, there is hardly any proven depth.
Mississippi State transfer cornerback Audavion Collins has the most college experience. True freshmen Elliot Washington II, Zion Tracy and Lamont Payne Jr. round out the rest of the room.
Tracy and Washington were specifically mentioned to have taken some strides after enrolling early in January.
“We have two young guys that are starting to emerge in that group, Zion Tracy and Elliot Washington,” Smith said. “Audavion Collins is also kind of taking some strides as well, so I’m happy with all those guys including Lamont Payne.”
The quality of Penn State’s cornerbacks, specifically King, Dixon, Miller and Hardy, has benefitted the offense as well.
The Nittany Lions’ wide receiver room lost some experienced talent to the NFL after both Parker Washington and Mitchell Tinsley found their way on to NFL rosters.
Receiver has been a competitive position all summer and is still up in the air with under 20 days left until the season opener. According to Franklin, there hasn’t been a clear top guy yet.
However, “iron sharpens iron,” and the frequent practice battles between the receivers and cornerbacks has been a plus.
“If we’re going against the best [defensive backs] in practice, then the game should be easy,” Harrison Wallace III said. “I can say that just going against them every day makes us better and builds our confidence and builds their confidence.”