Penn State position analysis: Defensive back

A senior free safety, Allen is perhaps the most outgoing of the Nittany Lions, a regular on Twitter and Instagram and a constant source of energy in the locker room and on the practice field. He also is their hardest hitter and their most prolific tackler, with a team-high 110 tackles last season. He contributed 22 tackles against Minnesota, tying him for fourth on the Lions' all-time list for a game. He also came up with two of the most memorable plays of the season: a blocked field goal against Ohio State that directly led to the go-ahead touchdown, and his fourth-down stop (with Grant Haley) of Wisconsin's Corey Clement that gave Penn State the Big Ten title. His determination, tenacity and leadership give the Lions secondary a major boost.

With no acknowledgement from coach James Franklin on whether cornerback John Reid (St. Joseph's Prep) will return at any time this season from a serious knee injury suffered in the spring, the starting nod there probably will go to senior Christian Campbell. Campbell, who is 6-foot-1 with a 39-inch vertical leap, made two starts last season but sat out two games because of injury.

Senior Grant Haley, who will be the toast of Happy Valley for years after his return of a blocked field goal for the deciding touchdown against Ohio State, has started 22 games and is a solid hitter on the edge. But it's no secret that the coaches want to see more interceptions – the secondary accounted for just six of Penn State's 10 interceptions last year, and Haley didn't have a single pick. Nonetheless, his knowledge of the defense and his coverage ability make him a valuable force on the corner.

Redshirt junior Amani Oruwariye, the only Lion to record a pick-six last season, saw significant action and provides good depth. Versatile redshirt freshman Zech McPhearson figures to be in the mix. Two highly touted freshmen – Lamont Wade and Tariq Castro-Fields – have turned heads early in training camp and could see playing time if they don't redshirt. Wade, an early enrollee, was particularly impressive in the spring.

With the graduation of Malik Golden, the Nittany Lions have two candidates to fill his spot, senior Troy Apke and redshirt junior Nick Scott. Franklin thinks Apke has done a good job of stepping up in challenging for the starting berth. Third-year sophomores Ayron Monroe, one of the Lions' best special-teams player, and Garrett Taylor will contend for playing time at safety.