Pro Football Focus today named Penn State safety Jaquan Brisker a first-team All-American, a major surprise given that Brisker was only third-team all-Big Ten by the league’s coaches and just honorable mention by the media.
Pro Football Focus does its own thing, though, using its detailed metrics to grade players. And in PFF’s view, Brisker was one of the best safeties in the country this season.
Brisker is the only Penn State player selected to the All-American team by PFF, which lists first, second and third teams, as well as an honorable mention at each position.
This is what PFF had to say about Brisker in its story:
First-Team: Jaquan Brisker, Penn State
Brisker went from Lackawanna Community College to first-team PFF All-American in just two years.
No FBS safety recorded a better PFF grade while in the box, and Brisker quite easily displayed the best tackling of any player at the position, as he missed just one of his 60 tackle attempts on the year.
That strong tackling and play against the run down in the box, as well as his playmaking in coverage (seven play on the ball, five passing stops), led Brisker to a Power 5-best 85.6 PFF grade.
Brisker is projected to go in the fifth or sixth round in the NFL draft, according to some draft sites. He also has been invited to the Senior Bowl, where he’ll have a chance to increase his stock even more.
Jaquan Brisker (@JaquanBrisker) from @PennStateFball is headed to the @Reeses Senior Bowl!!!
😤😤😤#WeAre #TheDraftStartsInMOBILE #BestOfTheBest@JimNagy_SB @PaniniAmerica #RatedRookie pic.twitter.com/0PPB7W5A8i— Reese's Senior Bowl (@seniorbowl) December 18, 2020
This is Brisker’s season profile from his Penn State page:
Awards: Named third team All-Big Ten by the coaches and honorable mention by the media.
Season: Made eight starts…One of 14 players to make their first career start…Named the Coaching Staff’s Defensive Player of the Week vs. Rutgers (12/5).
at Indiana (10/24): Tallied three tackles…Recorded first career tackle for loss. Ohio State (10/31): Collected a career-best eight tackles, including four solo stops. Maryland (11/7): Recorded six tackles, including four solo…Added a pass breakup. at Nebraska (11/14): Collected seven tackles…Added a pass breakup. Iowa (11/21): Tied a career high with eight tackles, including a season-best five solo stops…Assisted on a tackle for loss…Added a pass breakup. at Michigan (11/28): Made five tackles, including one solo. at Rutgers (12/5): Recorded four solo stops…Added two pass breakups, a career best. Michigan State (12/12): Recorded a career-high nine tackles, including six solo…Grabbed his first interception of the season and the third of his career in the first quarter…Registered a career-best 1.5 tackles for loss…Added one pass breakup and two QB hurries.
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