The cornerback position for Penn State in 2024 is a transitional one. The top three cornerbacks from the 2023 roster are gone. However, head coach James Franklin and new defensive coordinator Tom Allen have looked to the transfer portal, and recruiting, to fill the gap. As a preview of the 2024 cornerback position at Penn State, it will be all about replacing production.
Penn State 2024 Cornerback Position Preview: Replacing Production
Allen starts his first season as defensive coordinator facing questions at the cornerback position. It would be easy to leave things as-is, after the defense’s success in 2023. However, Allen will look to bring some new wrinkles in, specifically from his last coaching positions at Indiana. Some of the key questions include, will he be able to replace the production from this defense in 2023? Will he be able to motivate players with a very different personality and style than prior coordinator Manny Diaz? Also, importantly for this topic, will he be able to onboard two (or three) new starters at the cornerback position?
Penn State’s Past Cornerback Standouts
While Penn State has historically been known as Linebacker U, there have been solid contributors at the cornerback position as well. There have been many that have gone on to successful NFL careers. Some of the better-known alumni at the cornerback position include Justin King, Alan Zemaitis, and Kim Herring.
More recently, players like Joey Porter Jr., Daequan Hardy, and Kalen King have represented the Nittany Lions well from the cornerback position. Hardy and King were both drafted into the NFL in 2024.
Performance of the Cornerbacks in 2023
Penn State’s cornerbacks played well in 2023. Two of the top three from the depth chart will be in the NFL in 2024. The third (Johnny Dixon) would likely have been drafted had it not been for a hip injury at Senior Bowl practice.
Losing a player the caliber of Porter, Jr. was a significant challenge for the cornerback position heading into 2023. Luckily, there was depth on the team that ensured the position still performed.
Dixon arrived in Happy Valley in 2021 after transferring from South Carolina. In 2023, Dixon led all FBS cornerbacks with four and a half sacks. He started 12 games at cornerback, finishing with 26 tackles, three pass breakups and an interception. Consequently, Dixon was named third-team All-Big Ten by the coaches and honorable mention by the media.
In his third season, King also had a solid 2023 campaign. While he started 12 games, he opted out of the Peach Bowl. King produced 29 tackles along with two pass breakups. As a result, he earned second-team All-Big Ten honors from both the coaches and the media. King was a seventh-round draft pick of the Green Bay Packers.
Hardy wore a few hats for Penn State in 2023. In addition to serving as a cornerback, he was also a return specialist. He was a second-team All-America honoree from CBS Sports as a punt returner after leading the nation with two punt return touchdowns. At cornerback, he appeared in 11 games, making 22 tackles to go with a sack, seven pass breakups, and two interceptions. He was named a third-team All-Big Ten cornerback by coaches (honorable mention from the media). Hardy was a sixth-round draft pick of the Buffalo Bills.
Replacing Cornerback Production in 2024
The Penn State defense lost its top three cornerbacks following 2023. If the Peach Bowl is any indication, this position is an area of concern for Allen. Dixon and King opted out of playing in the Peach Bowl, but Hardy still played. While Ole Miss had a big offensive day, it did give valuable playing time to some of the depth players that will be relied upon in 2024.
Cam Miller is one such player. He is likely to be a starter as a junior, likely in the second spot. In his first start in the Peach Bowl, he had a tough game and commented after the game that it was a good learning experience. This should keep him humble as he steps into the starting lineup, and more open to Allen’s teaching.
Zion Tracy is another player who picked up painful learnings in the Peach Bowl. He appeared in all 13 games on defense and special teams in 2023 as a true freshman. Tracy will likely be a depth piece at cornerback in 2024.
Entering the fold are one to two potential starters from the transfer portal. A.J. Harris is a transfer from Georgia. The true sophomore will likely take the top spot on the depth chart entering the 2024 season. He is a former five-star recruit who instantly becomes the top option for the defense. Jalen Kimber also joins via the transfer portal, from Florida. This was his second time in the portal, previously transferring from Georgia to Florida. He will have one more year of eligibility after this season.
Also competing for playing time will be Elliot Washington II, Audavion Collins, and Kolin Dinkins. If all goes according to plan, they will not see much time at cornerback. However, they can get acclimated through special teams.
Coaching Will be Key
Allen has run a 4-2-5 defense, indicating that a nickel cornerback (or safety) could be very important to the defense’s success.
Coach Terry Smith is working along with Allen to get the most out of the cornerback position. Smith is entering his 11th season as the cornerbacks coach and defensive recruiting coordinator. He also became the associate head coach after the 2020 season. Smith is no stranger to Penn State, as he was a wide receiver for the Nittany Lions.
It is hard to argue the success that Smith has had with his cornerbacks over the years. His development of players like Porter, Jr., King, Dixon, and Hardy is hard to argue. There are multiple players with All-American and All-Big Ten honors that have developed in Smith’s cornerback room.
Additionally, his recruiting prowess has kept Penn State in the Top 25 in recruiting classes. For example, Kimber noted his relationship with Smith as a key component of his transfer to Penn State.
The Bottom Line
As a preview of the 2024 season and the cornerbacks, this position moves from one of strength in 2023 to a question mark entering 2024. The team loses production and experience with the departures of King and Hardy via the NFL Draft. Similarly, Dixon is an additional costly loss from the 2023 team.
Harris, a transfer from Georgia, and returning junior Miller will likely take the starting spots. As a young and relatively inexperienced tandem, their ability to step into their new roles will be key. Kimber, a transfer from Florida, and depth pieces returning from last year’s team will fill out the depth chart.
Bringing it all together is new defensive coordinator Allen. Accordingly, his defenses at Indiana can be a preview of what to expect from Penn State in 2024. Running a 2-4-5 scheme would mean a nickel cornerback on the field in addition to the two starters. Smith, a great position coach and recruiter, will look to get the players ready for their new roles.
The ability to stay healthy is also of paramount importance for the cornerbacks. Special teams are a great way for depth players to get experience.
In looking at the Penn State 2024 cornerback preview, if all goes according to plan, the 2024 Penn State cornerbacks will be serviceable at best. Consequently, it would be a surprise if they were a strength of the defense again. First, the new defense of Allen must mesh well with Smith and his players. Additionally, Harris, Miller, and Kimber must continue to grow. Next, the unit must stay healthy, and if or when there are injuries, the next player must step up. The Penn State defense should continue to be successful if those factors are satisfied.
